blake
Life Member
Collection of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
</st1:State>Kentucky Rifles Auctions for $500,000</SPAN>
8/19/2009</SPAN>
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The sale of the late John Holman's collection of 220 antique <st1:State w:st="on">Kentucky</st1:State> rifles and powder horns drew a crowd of more than 1,000 antique gun collectors and $500,000 on Aug. 14 at Dan Morphy Auctions.
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Many of the handmade rifles were made by German immigrant gunsmiths in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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"People came from all over to bid on these guns - Connecticut, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and, of course, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They filled two overflow parking fields," Dan Morphy, the auction company owner, said. "The preview was so busy, we had to hire two extra employees to help out."
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The top-selling rifle, a 1785-1790 J.P. Beck rifle with rococo carving., sold for $20,700.
"Even though we knew the guns would fly, we weren't expecting so many of them to go two and three times their estimate," Morphy said. "There were 30 guns estimated at $1,200-$1,500 that at least doubled their high estimate, with some selling for as much as $7,000.
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Bidders were also able to try for the antique guns via LiveAutioneers online.
8/19/2009</SPAN>
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</OThe sale of the late John Holman's collection of 220 antique <st1:State w:st="on">Kentucky</st1:State> rifles and powder horns drew a crowd of more than 1,000 antique gun collectors and $500,000 on Aug. 14 at Dan Morphy Auctions.
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</OMany of the handmade rifles were made by German immigrant gunsmiths in the 18th and 19th centuries.
<O
</O"People came from all over to bid on these guns - Connecticut, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and, of course, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They filled two overflow parking fields," Dan Morphy, the auction company owner, said. "The preview was so busy, we had to hire two extra employees to help out."
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</OThe top-selling rifle, a 1785-1790 J.P. Beck rifle with rococo carving., sold for $20,700.
"Even though we knew the guns would fly, we weren't expecting so many of them to go two and three times their estimate," Morphy said. "There were 30 guns estimated at $1,200-$1,500 that at least doubled their high estimate, with some selling for as much as $7,000.
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</OBidders were also able to try for the antique guns via LiveAutioneers online.