Morphy’s September 15-17 Firearms Auction Highlights
The Morphy’s September 15-17 firearms auction returns for a three-day live and online sale at the company’s Denver, Pennsylvania gallery, with nearly 1,200 lots of antique and collectible firearms of superior quality and historical significance. Leading the sale are the Colt 1921 Thompson submachine gun that wounded Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd and a Colt Single Action Army revolver documented to a member of General George A. Custer’s 7th Cavalry. Bidding links to individual lots are included in each item description below.
Inside the September 2026 Sale
All three days of the Morphy’s September 15-17 firearms auction start at 9am EDT at the Denver, Pennsylvania gallery. All forms of bidding are available, including live online via Morphy Live, plus absentee and phone bidding. The fully illustrated catalog is available at auctions.morphyauctions.com.
Featured Lots from the Morphy’s September 15-17 Firearms Auction
Colt 1921 Thompson That Wounded “Pretty Boy” Floyd (Lot 1005)
With a pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$180,000, the Colt 1921 Thompson submachine gun that wounded Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd during an April 9, 1932 confrontation with law enforcement is a strong candidate for the auction’s top lot. Background on the pattern is in our history of the M1928A1 Thompson.
Floyd won that gunfight. He fired five times and fatally shot Oklahoma Sheriff Ervin Kelly with an M1911 pistol. Kelly died clutching the Colt Thompson now up for bid, but not before striking Floyd four times.
Colt Single Action Army from Custer’s 7th Cavalry (Lot 1307)
This Colt Single Action Army carries provenance to Michael Lang, a member of Custer’s 7th Cavalry regiment, and has remained with Lang family descendants for the past 120 years. Serial number 6526 falls at the beginning of the legendary Lot 7.
Lang worked as a blacksmith in Company C and served as personal blacksmith to General and Mrs. Custer, both avid equestrians. The revolver retains all original parts from its 1874 production and is in untouched condition. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000.
C.G. Haenel MKb.42(H): the First Sturmgewehr (Lot 1006)
A rare World War II German C.G. Haenel MKb.42(H) machine gun represents the very first Sturmgewehr, a select-fire rifle chambered for an intermediate cartridge and able to fill many combat roles.
The development was significant. Soldiers could carry more ammunition and switch quickly between aimed and suppressing fire. Nearly all of the 8,000 to 12,000 units produced between 1942 and 1943 went to the Eastern Front, which is why so few are found in the United States. The design led directly to the StG 44. This example has a near-excellent original finish with clean wood. Estimate: $80,000-$120,000.
DWM Model 1902 American Eagle Cartridge Counter Luger (Lot 1216)
Lot 1216 is among the rarest and most desirable early semi-automatic pistols tied to United States military trials. It was made while the US Army was evaluating self-loading handguns to replace revolvers.
Serial number 22432 is one of roughly 50 pistols produced for the US Board of Ordnance during the 1902-1903 trials programme, and was once part of the Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess collection. It is extensively documented in The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols by Görtz and Sturgess. Estimate: $85,000-$125,000.
Related reading: our history of the Luger pistol.
North American Arms Model 1911, Quebec (Lot 1206)
Manufactured in Quebec, Canada at the close of World War I, the North American Arms Company Limited Model 1911 is widely regarded as one of the rarest US-contract-associated 1911 pistols.
When the war ended the contract was cancelled and no completed pistols were ever accepted for military service. A limited number were later assembled from surviving components. This example carries the desirable control number 1111 and is believed to be a presentation piece. Estimate: $60,000-$80,000.
Prototype Colt 1851 Navy Conversion Revolver (Lot 1308)
Lot 1308 is an important prototype or experimental Colt 1851 Navy conversion single-action revolver with a 7½-inch octagonal barrel, brass pin front sight and early New York City address with dashes.
The .38 centrefire revolver is pictured on page 112 of The William M. Locke Collection by Frank Sellers. It is almost certainly a one-of-a-kind prototype for the later factory conversions of the 1851 Navy and the models that followed. Estimate: $45,000-$75,000.
See also our comparison of the Colt 1851 Navy and 1860 Army.
David McKay Brown 12 Bore Over/Under Shotgun (Lot 1274)
A cased David McKay Brown 12 bore over/under with accessories comes from a noted Scottish maker who has kept the Dickson round-action tradition alive.
The gun has 28-inch demi-bloc barrels with a narrow, flat matted rib. The action carries nearly full coverage of well-cut medium open shaded scroll. Bores are excellent and the action is tight, showing limited field use, and the walnut and black morocco case is exceptional. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000.
Nimschke-Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Carbine (Lot 1367)
Manufactured in 1871, this Winchester Model 1866 saddle ring carbine in .44 rimfire was engraved by master engraver Louis D. Nimschke. The receiver carries his full scroll and vine with a figural eagle’s-head motif, as depicted on page 55 of L.D. Nimschke: Firearms Engraver by R.L. Wilson.
Barrel and magazine retain 40 percent dark blue with the balance thinning to period patina. The bore is very good with well-defined rifling, and mechanically the carbine is excellent. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000.
See also our coverage of the Winchester Model 1866.
Rigby Big Game .416 Bolt Action Rifle (Lot 1271)
From London comes a Rigby Big Game .416 with case, a fine example of the classic African cartridge retaining virtually all factory-original finish.
Serial number 7524 was manufactured in 2022 with a 24-inch barrel. The Rigby shipping box holds a leather folio with introductory letter, manual, registration card, and a test target of three shots at 65 yards, fired in July 2022 with Norma 400-grain ammunition and signed by Jamie Holland. Estimate: $18,000-$24,000.
Izumi no Kami Owari Nobuie Katana (Lot 1402)
An Izumi no Kami Owari Nobuie katana with mounts and NBTHK papers measures 38¼ inches overall.
Nobuie originally signed his swords with a different character and changed his signature after receiving the title “Izumi no Kami” from the Imperial Court in recognition of his craftsmanship. This blade is signed Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Nobuie and uses the second character. It has a powerful gunome midare hamon and is housed in a refined set of mounts, an outstanding ubu sword already mounted and papered. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000.
How to Bid in the Morphy’s September 15-17 Firearms Auction
Bidding is open to in-person, phone and absentee, and live online bidders through Morphy Live. Phone-bid reservations and absentee bid submissions can be arranged in advance by contacting the auction house directly.
New bidders need to register an account before the sale. Full details on each method are on the Morphy Auctions bidding page, and the complete catalog for this sale is at auctions.morphyauctions.com.
Auction Details
The Morphy’s September 15-17 firearms auction will be held at Morphy’s Denver, Pennsylvania gallery, with all three days starting at 9am EDT. All forms of bidding are available, including live online through Morphy Live, plus absentee and phone bidding.
For more information, contact Morphy Auctions toll free at 877-968-8880, or email [email protected]. Online: www.morphyauctions.com.
About Morphy Auctions
Morphy Auctions is one of the leading auction houses in the United States for antique and collectible firearms, militaria, and Americana. Headquartered in Denver, Pennsylvania, the company conducts firearms and militaria sales multiple times per year at its purpose-built gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available through Morphy Live and the major auction platforms. The Morphy’s September 15-17 firearms auction continues a track record built on quality consignments and historically significant lots.
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