A gun story to tell, and a favor to ask……

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Tinman357

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A gun story to tell, and a favor to ask……

A friend of mine came in today with an “old pistol” he’s had for hes says "quite a while", two of them actually. Now ya'll don’t know Roy, so I’ll tell you a little about him. Nice, older gentleman, over 95 or better, walks his dog past where I work a few times a day. Roy is a well-known, and very well liked character in the area. He has a liking for slow moving old dogs and tweed sport coats, old fedora hats, pocket watches, and sunshine. He does mention that a smooth scotch in the late evenings is the key to a long life. At a glance, he would be perfectly at home strolling down some narrow side street in 1940’s London. The man exudes an old world grace that is sorely lacking in this modern society.

I have never heard a cross word from the gentleman, very articulate and obviously very well educated. Always a kind word for anyone he meets on his walks, from time to time he apologizes for his slow moving old dog, she’s getting pretty slow at 16. But, I see her waiting on Roy to catch up every now and then. Real sly like, as not to rush him too much. Good dog. They keep each other moving right along, but life moves just a bit slower these days. Get the picture?

Back to the pistols… he comes in and tells me he brought in those old pistols he’s had for “quite a long time”, wants me to tell him what they’re worth and could I help him sell? Say’s he picked up the revolver back about 1945 or so from his friends grandfather who was most likely the original owner and he’d like me to take a look at them and see if they’re worth anything. Roy’s said that his retirement plan didn’t include him living this long, he’s outlived his heirs, and just wants a few things looked after.

First one he pulls out is a very old Iver Johnson “Favorite #2”. None of these have been made since 1884 as far as I know so it’s a bit longer in the tooth than Roy. It’s a .32 rim fire, but he’s got a “box of bullets” he’ll add to the sale if it’s even worth anything. I told him I’d look into it and let him know about what it’s worth. Need to get a few pictures for those who like to see little bits of a bygone era.

Finish challenged, but not bad for what is at least a 130+ year old pistol. Mechanically in good shape, timing is good bore looks good for a black powder, century old pistol. I wish this little thing could tell me where it’s been. In the pocket of a stage coach driver out of Laramie, maybe laying on a table by a glass of whiskey during a poker game at a dusty old saloon outside of Abilene. Maybe in the vest pocket of a newspaper editor in NYC, or just quietly carried, unneeded, by any one of any one of a thousand people in a hundred different towns and cities of this great and fast growing nation of a bygone era. If it could only speak. We’ll never know………. I personally like to think it was once tucked in the bodice of a saloon girls dress in old Tombstone. Roy said if that’s the case, he’ll keep it.



The favor…. Does anyone know a good appraiser in the PNW or an auction house that would be fair to this kind gentleman?

The second pistol he pulled out is a Nazi marked thing that honestly made my blood chill a bit. He didn’t say much about it, I told him to keep it safe and I’ll look into a higher level auction house. Verified that he had his “bring back” papers.



He didn’t seem to want to talk much about it. I got an idea and asked him to write down his story and I’ll see what I can do about it. But as he was leaving, He asked me if I had ever heard of a place in Germany called Birkenau . Patted his pocked and left. Took a while for the room to warm up after that.

I think I need to set aside some time to sit with Roy on his porch and have a scotch with him.
 
The stories guns could tell are beyond belief. Some need told to make us smile, and some need told to break hearts and show the dregs and depravity of the human race, so that with any hope we won’t recreate the situations of that era. A pistol with provenance from Birkenau is one I would not even want to touch, but it’s historical value is such that it needs to be preserved.
 
I know Roy pretty well. Well enough for him to tell me to drop by the house anytime. We talk every few days. Yep, a good single malt. I prefer a speyside. Roy likes a nice bottle of 20yr+ Glenfiddich.

I'll be hearing more of that story if he's willing to tell. But I know better than to push some subjects with men like that. I've known a few very well. He is truly a kind soul, but anyone can see the steel in those grey eyes.
 
Honestly? For a generic gun like the first one, just check completed auctions at gunbroker. That’s the easiest way to determine value.

The second, I’m guessing PP or PPK. The value is all over the place on those. I have quite a few Walthers.

If it’s a normal military issue Walther, really, unless it’s marked somehow, the story of where it came from might add a little value. If it’s an SS gun, the value goes up greatly. (Very specifically marked). If it’s a Party Leader gun, it’s worth a lot. If it’s engraved or named, again, price goes up considerably.

Hang out with him. Let him ramble. One of my best friends was 99 and just passed. I’d try and have dinner with him once a month.
 
I went to High School with some guys whose parents made it out of Birkenau. They always wore long sleeve shirts so you wouldn't see the numbers
tattooed on their arms.
 
Sgt127...
Good advice. Thats what I had in mind. I know the Iver isn't anything special to collectors, but it would be to me. He tried to give both of them to me. I declined. Said that I would do a little research and pay their worth.

The other is a luger. I doubt it's traced to anyone famous or any particular historical event. But just in case I'll take it to a professional.

I care about Roy. He's a good man that's worried about his financial stability. He doesn't have any family left. After recently losing my daughter I can empathise. My own future "golden years" are looking pretty bleak. No family to look after me then. I'm reevaluating my own plans now, so I really feel for him.

I'd already decided that I would pay at least triple what they're worth, just because they're his.
 
If you knew what it was, it would sure help.
My attitude is that it is a war trophy taken from a loser and I am not offended by it, presented in that light.
If on the other hand, Neonazis glorifying the losers are despicable.

it’s a luger. A papered one. All kinds of interesting variations wirh Lugers that drive “worth” to collectors.

But from Birkenau? That’s an easily verifiable story, potentially. Whoever does the appraisal needs that info up front.
 
Lugers are always worth a decent amount, even if they are just shooters. Now if they have 3rd Reich proof marks, or matching numbers or are some rare variants, then the price to a collector would go up a lot, into the thousands. With provenance tying it to Birkenau, it needs to go to an auction house to get Roy the most money to take care of him and his canine companion.

As for the revolver, the old ammo might even be worth more than the revolver to collectors.
 
We need more Roys in this world.

I had a similar story about my grandfather. On his deathbed, he left me Nazi officer's dress sword with a Swastika insignia on it. He told me a pretty interesting story of how he got it, but it turns out (years later) I discovered it wasn't really worth a whole lot of money. It was an authentic sword worn by an officer but I guess they're pretty common. You never know with this stuff I guess.

Maybe this is disheartening but my only advice is don't necessarily expect it to be worth a ton. I hope this isn't the case for you, but I've been surprised more than once.
 
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