Around 325 lots of antique arms, firearms, swords and more will cross the block on Sunday, October 9, at Nadeau's Auction Gallery, in the firm's showroom facility located at 25 Meadow Road in Windsor, starting promptly at 11 a.m. (EST). Windsor is located in north central Connecticut, just north of Hartford and not far from the Massachusetts state line.
The sale will be packed with over 25 highly collectible Winchester rifles, plus other rifles by makers such as Savage (two with bayonets), Springfield, Parker, L.C. Smith, Spencer Roper (three will be sold); Vetterlis, Henry (reproductions), Whitney, Bullard and various flintlock and percussion rifles. Swords will include an example used in battle by a general in the War of 1812.
Pistols will feature Smith & Wesson, Remington, Sharps, Derringer, Connecticut Arms, Cooper, Colt (Confederate, Navy, Army, London and replicas), plus boarding pistols. At press time, many fine late additions were continuing to pour in. Only a handful of lots - about a half-dozen - will carry reserves. The rest will be sold absolute (everything sells, regardless of price).
"We held our first sale of this type earlier this year, after spending about a year on the required paperwork and licensing, but it did well and was well worth the effort," said Ed Nadeau, owner of Nadeau's Auction Gallery.
 Pistols will feature Smith & Wesson, Remington, Sharps and Derringer |
"Right now we're the only auction house in Connecticut that holds an FFL (Federal Firearms License) and we hope to stage 2-3 such auctions per year."
Previews will be held Thursday and Friday (October 6-7), from 2-6 p.m.; Saturday (October 8), from 8:30-11:30 a.m.; and on Sunday (October 9, auction day), from 9 a.m. until the first gavel comes down (at 11 a.m.). Online bidding will be facilitated by Artfact.com.
Winchester rifles and shotguns are hugely popular among collectors. Three lots expected to do well include a Model 101 pigeon grade 3-barrel skeet shotgun, still in the original box (estimated at $2,000-$4,000); a Model 1895 .30-40 caliber lever-action rifle with nickel steel barrel (estimated at $1,500-$2,500); and a Model 1886 .40-82 caliber rifle with 22-inch barrel (estimated at $1,500-$2,500).
Other Winchesters will feature a Model 1894 .38-.55 caliber lever-action rifle with 26-inch round barrel (estimated at $800-$1,200); a Model 1892 .25-20 caliber lever-action rifle with 24-inch round barrel (estimated at $800-$1,200); a Model 1894 .38-55 caliber lever-action rifle with 26-inch round barrel (estimated at $800-$1,200); and Chief Crazy Horse Commemorative Model 94, new in box.
