Guns That Won The West

Recent firearms auctions proved profitable for sellers and buyers alike.

- John Langellier

The old saw about guns that “won the West” may be overstated, yet undoubtedly, armament did play a major role in frontier expansion along with the railroad, stagecoaches and other 19th- century technology. Certainly, collectors favor firearms, as indicated by Rock Island Auction Company’s February 14-17 Regional Gun Auction (#1032) with 7,136 lots, and Morphy-James Julia Auctions’ February 5-7 Field & Range Firearms sale with 2,578 lots. In both auctions, most of the listings dated from the 20th and 21st centuries, but several representations of the Old West were included.

For instance, the opening lot up for bid by Rock Island Auctions was a classic Winchester First Model 1873 lever-action in the popular “cowboy caliber” of .44 center fire. Estimates ran from $6,500 to $9,500, with the price realized coming in at $8,625. (All prices realized include buyer’s premium.) Another .44 calib