"For whatever reason, [collectible firearms] are on the rise," said Patrick McWilliams, Manion's firearms specialist, as we reported, last month.
According to McWilliams, Manion's - the renowned seller of militaria, medals and other war related memorabilia - has seen plenty of historic weapons sell for several thousands of dollars in recent months.
The latest example in this trend auctioned a few weeks ago, at Fontaine's Auction Gallery in Massachusetts, US. The gun, a Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver achieved a four figure hammer price.
 A Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver, sold for $8,625 |
The First Model Dragoon in question is 44 caliber, has a good bore and the top of the barrel is marked "Address Samuel Colt New York City" in one line.
The gun was reportedly owned by a sheep rancher in Alturas, California.
Upon his death in 1895, the grandfather of its present owner - then 18-years-old - and his mother travelled from Connecticut by train to Reno, Nevada and then by stagecoach to Alturas, California to settle her brother's estate.
As a part of the settlement, the son was given his uncle's Colt pistol. Since that time, the Colt has been handed down through three generations of the family.
One of the star lots in the January auction at Fontaine's, the Dragoon realised $8,625.
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