October Greg Martin Auction
 

I guess it's a sign of the times, but lugers generally didn't do well (for that matter, Colts didn't either). A significant percentage of lots didn't even get bids meeting reserve. A nice Persian Artillery rig was passed over. Again, the double dated police guns were ignored. Only the finish free Borchardt said to have Browning family lineage went for a tidy sum (over $30K). Potential sellers need to be patient and buyers (if you have money) are having a field day.

was the auctioneer blitzing thru the offerings this time ?

I was away at a friends wedding so missed this one

also seemed like this time they were stingy on the pictures with generally only one per item

thanks for the info re the sales

Bill

Hi Bill, I've found the Greg Martin people extremely helpful. If you contact them ahead of time they will take good, clear close-ups to order, usually within 24 hours. Regards, Norm

...And a 1914 "Erfurt" [:D] Artillery with mismatched toggle and magazine went for under $1300... :eek:

Lot #559. *Model 1914 Erfurt Artillery Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol Final Bid: $1,293* Bidding Closed

I could have afforded that... :crying:

Oooohhhh...A Miniature Borchardt...Did Alvin know about this???

Lot #532. Miniature Borchardt Semi-Automatic Pistol Final Bid: $881* Bidding Closed

http://www.gregmartinauctions.com/im...8/69999_01.jpg

Wow...$881...Someone got a deal...

Edit: Thank You! drbuster...I signed up...I think I can do business with these people... :)

Bill, was like a blitzkreig through the lots as you surmised. After seeing what many lots went for, a look a SimpsonLTD's web site boggles the mind. I suppose we will see many of these Greg Martin items appear in future auctions. Hopefully the economic climate will have improved a little by then.

Timing was interesting. One collector (in another gun forum) saw that Browning Borchardt #27 was for sale from a C&R gun store, asking price was ~$30k.

For dealers, if acquired at $30k, and sold at $30k, what's his intention, just for fun?

Please note the time stamp on the photos.

Obviously no. I was out of the country at that time. $881 is great price for miniature.

====

Sorry, I knew it's an old post. I missed some contents in 2010 and 2011.

The Borchardt #27 only came out of the Browning family collection a couple of years ago. I corresponded with Eric Browning shortly before it came on the market. It has a fascinating history. The initial asking price was around $70K, which soon dropped to $50K when offered by Cherry's. After about a year of no sale it dropped to $30K and I suspect it was a Browning/Cherry's colaboration that put it up for auction, where it finally brought the asking price.

The background story on how the gun ended up in the Browning collection is one for the books. According to the account I was given, evidently Hugo Borchardt and John Browning were in the same meeting at FN in Belgium, both attempting to secure contracts for production of their respective guns. Borchardt had brought #27 along, still in the white. The bottom line is that FN opted to go with Browning, whereupon Borchardt stormed out of the meeting leaving his sample behind. Some time later FN offered the gun to Browning (a souvenier?:)) and it remained in the collection until now.

The Browning collection #27, although still in the white, is a standard early production gun and not a prototype. It is interesting to note that some of the parts of the toggle train are blued. A forum member from South America, Emiliano Caramaschi, contacted me not too long after I was inquiring aout the Browning gun. He sent photos of a rather rough but unusual Borchardt. It was also numbered 27! After some correspondence between Emiliano, Dr. Geoff Sturgess and myself it was determined that the gun was a true pre-production example. This was a bit of a landmark discovery as the duplicate serial number helped establish that the prototype, pre-production, and production Borchards had their own individual serial numbering sequence and were not consecutive. Photos of Emiliano's Borchardt will be featured in Dr. Sturgess' publication of the revised and vastly improved opus magnum of Gortz/Sturgess,

I did not forget this miniature Borchardt mentioned by postino. One was for sale on Greg Martin today (again!! God knows how many were made?). But I was outbid. The final price was $1200 (or $1380 with BP) this time.

... :crying: ...

I was looking forward to driving over to Autumn Leaf Lane to see it... :(

Next time. Looks like the market price is around $1k. Not many people collect miniatures, the market is very small. I bet more will come for sale in future.