The Rock Island Auction Company, the world’s largest firearms auction house, says that this old lever gun is special. It is the most expensive rifle to ever be sold at auction. This rifle sold for $1,265,000.00 in 2016, the highest price ever paid for a rifle at auction (and double what RIAC had expected). The rifle was sold for a high price due to its Serial Number 1 and special connection with the Wild West and Indian Wars. See RIAC’s Most Expensive Weapons. Rock Island Auctions said: “This 1886 Winchester was the most expensive firearm ever sold in an auction at the time… This particular model 1886 also happened to be the serial number one!” The gun was also presented by Lieut. George E. Albee presented the Medal of Honor to Capt. Henry W. Lawton upon Lawton accepting surrender of Apache leader Geronimo.” The historic Winchester Model 1886 Serial Number 1 was given to Captain Henry W. Lawton to honor Lawton’s successful raid in order to capture the renegade Apache Leader Geronimo. The rifle was given to him by his friend Lt. George E. Albee who worked for Winchester. Both Army officers are Medal of Honor recipients. This rifle “represents 25 years of bloodshed in the Southwest between the U.S. Army, the Apache Indians and the end Indian Wars.” The serial number and the outstanding condition of this rifle would be enough to bring six figures at auction. “When you add one the most famous names from the Old West, you have a large crossover appeal”, said RIAC president Kevin Hogan. Click on the links below to read the illustrated full story of Captain Henry W. Lawton’s capture of Geronimo. The Prize for capturing Geronimo: Part I. The Prize for capturing Geronimo: Part II. Lawton, a “soldier of soldiers”, fought in the Civil War and the Indian Wars. He also fought in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War. His career ended with the rank Major General. He led an Army contingent which traveled 1300 miles in order to capture Geronimo during the summer of 1886. In 1899, he was killed in action at the battle of San Mateo in the Philippines. Ironically, the leader he faced in the Philippine Revolutionary forces was named Gen. Licerio Geraldimo. Strange but true. Rock Island sells more than 25,000 firearms a year. But “never before has Rock Island offered Serial Number 1 for a production-grade, investment-quality weapon”, said RIAC. The rifle’s history is unique and its provenance is well-established. “This truly is a treasured national treasure”, said RIAC. This is the first Winchester Model 1886 with the single-digit ONE stamped at the lower tang. The barrel is also marked “Albee To Lawton 45-70″. The story of the rifle begins with two brothers who served together during the Civil War. One chose to pursue a military career for life, while the other chose to pursue firearms and their research,” said RIAC. “When the former Captain Henry Ware Lawton captured Geronimo, in 1886 the latter Lieutenant George E. Albee was working for Winchester, and was able to secure the serial number one of Winchester’s newest rifle design. He gave it to his lifelong friend and old war buddy to commemorate Lawton’s remarkable achievement. Prices for rare, collectible firearms continue to rise
RIAC reports that: “High-value collectibles such as fine art, vintage watches, and classic cars have outperformed traditional investments in recent years and show no signs of slowing down. Rare firearms also have seen similar trends, which is not surprising given that the most sought-after firearm classes share many of these same traits with other investment-grade collectibles. The fine arms market has experienced a significant appreciation due to a number of factors, including scarcity, tangibility and artistry. Historical significance, popular appeal and strong demand have also contributed. In the past two years, more than 120 lots have achieved six-figure prices or higher. Four of these items exceeded the million-dollar threshold.
