Results of Auction of G. Sturgess' Collection?

[Willi Z.]

I hope they post a final "price realized" list. I am curious to see what things like the Kübelwagen and the pair of consecutive serial numbers LSR sniper rifles went for.

Schooner, Maine is a long way for most people to attend. I would have loved to have been there. But yes, absentee bids and phone bidder must have been a tremendous influence.

I am sure I will hear some details at a show I will attend this weekend.

[Hoss]

Thanks for the report, Eric.

BTW: What did the MG08 Maxim go for? It was not part of the Sturgess collection, but was grouped in the same auction session. Yes - it is missing some hard-to-find parts.

$13000 plus fees etc.

Eric

[Hoss]

I hope they post a final "price realized" list. I am curious to see what things like the Kübelwagen and the pair of consecutive serial numbers LSR sniper rifles went for.

Schooner, Maine is a long way for most people to attend. I would have loved to have been there. But yes, absentee bids and phone bidder must have been a tremendous influence.

I am sure I will hear some details at a show I will attend this weekend.

Willi
The Kübelwagen sold for chump change short of 75k those specific rifles no longer have their realised price shown on my list.

Sorry Alan the 08 sold just short of 15k! us maxim owners love that eh? lol!
The lugers were all beautiful imo ooh to be wealthy if only.

Eric

[IMBLITZVT]

Gents
I won an item the fees etc aren't too bad very happy with my purchase the person who won the heavy maxim 08 paid too much though imo he/she will struggle to find the missing parts I know through experience they're tough Alan may agree.

Eric

Eric, I hate to tell you but $13K is a pretty fair/good price. Parts aren't easy but are not hard. Frankly I think it may have been the best deal at the auction that I have heard of. A MG08 Registered sideplate sold last year. Asking price was $14K but I don't know the final sale price. Now that is way high but I think any MG08 on the Sled is worth at least $13K and I have seen guns sell for a lot more!

[sszza2]

I hope they post a final "price realized" list. I am curious to see what things like the Kübelwagen and the pair of consecutive serial numbers LSR sniper rifles went for.

Schooner, Maine is a long way for most people to attend. I would have loved to have been there. But yes, absentee bids and phone bidder must have been a tremendous influence.

I am sure I will hear some details at a show I will attend this weekend.

Willi - I am showing that the consecutive LSR's and another LSR were no sales. As with many collections and auctions - not all that glittered was gold.

Scott

[Alan Smith]

The realized prices are now available on Julia's website (but you must be registered to access the prices).

A whole bunch of the early Parabellum pistols (as well as a number of the WWII German rifles) in the Sturgess collection did not meet the reserve price so they did not sell. IMO he set some reserves too high; likely resulting in missed sale opportunities (as subsequent auctions won't have the same hype and sense of excitement generated by the first session of the collection's auction).

The MG08 realized $14,950 (including premium). It has no lock mechanism; no water drain valve assembly; no steam port fitting; and is missing the top strap for the sled. All of these are hard-to-find and/or expensive parts. Sled appears to have original paint, but the gun's water jacket is a more modern repaint. Condition of the gun's finish is average - nothing special (and it is a very late DWM 1918 production gun - #42661 - so it would most likely have been an unissued gun at the end of WWI).

Did you guys see the Vietnam bring-back AK-47? It is one of the so-called "M22" variants (i.e. a export model produced in China in the 1960's to arm its communist allies). Nice milled reciver gun in excellent condition - $48,875.

[Hoss]

Eric, I hate to tell you but $13K is a pretty fair/good price. Parts aren't easy but are not hard. Frankly I think it may have been the best deal at the auction that I have heard of. A MG08 Registered sideplate sold last year. Asking price was $14K but I don't know the final sale price. Now that is way high but I think any MG08 on the Sled is worth at least $13K and I have seen guns sell for a lot more!

Of course but it all depends on condition there was a superb example sold earlier this year at an auction I forget the collection it came from for over 22k a dream gun.

[Hoss]

Alan
The sled mount on that gun has been repainted mate its also missing the lower receiver sled slide trunnion assembly a friend has been looking for such over 2yrs if anyone knows of a complete one pm me please.

[IMBLITZVT]

....
The MG08 realized $14,950 (including premium). It has no lock mechanism; no water drain valve assembly; no steam port fitting; and is missing the top strap for the sled. All of these are hard-to-find and/or expensive parts. Sled appears to have original paint, but the gun's water jacket is a more modern repaint. Condition of the gun's finish is average - nothing special (and it is a very late DWM 1918 production gun - #42661 - so it would most likely have been an unissued gun at the end of WWI).

Did you guys see the Vietnam bring-back AK-47? It is one of the so-called "M22" variants (i.e. a export model produced in China in the 1960's to arm its communist allies). Nice milled reciver gun in excellent condition - $48,875.

$15K I would think is maybe a bit high but for the prices in that auction, about right. Lock is $600. Drain Value is worth $300 but can often be found for much much less. Steam port fitting is not expensive and plenty of repros cheap. It is NOT missing the top Strap which would be a major thing. Considering a lot of those prices, this is still one of the better deals. However it is missing the upper trunnion lug bushing! Thats a pain but could be stuck in the top strap.

$49K for an AK... thats a $100 gun in Africa! Not saying its not worth it but damn thats not worth it! I would like to fire it once! I have fired several AK FA conversions and I have not been to impressed. I would like to try a C&R to see how it shoots!

Alan
The sled mount on that gun has been repainted mate its also missing the lower receiver sled slide trunnion assembly a friend has been looking for such over 2yrs if anyone knows of a complete one pm me please.

What is the lower receiver sled slide trunnion assembly... I sell most of these parts but don't know what that one is? Are you talking about the Traverse Clamp? Its the piece that connects the bottom plate to the Sled with a pin. The one in the picture is missing the pin but the clamp is there. I have had some of them for sale recently and might have some more for sale again soon.

[Hoss]

Traverse Clamp
Thanks for the correction I didn't see it yes my chum is looking for a complete one with the pin.

Eric

[Ingsoc75]

$49K for an AK... thats a $100 gun in Africa! Not saying its not worth it but damn thats not worth it! I would like to fire it once! I have fired several AK FA conversions and I have not been to impressed. I would like to try a C&R to see how it shoots!

It's only that price because of the 1968 GCA and the 1986 civilian machine gun ban.

Pretty soon even registered MAC-10s are going to be $10K!

[Willi Z.]

Willi - I am showing that the consecutive LSR's and another LSR were no sales. As with many collections and auctions - not all that glittered was gold.

Scott

Thanks Scott. I agree. I was talking to someone at the Allentown Show over the weekend who bought one of the LSRs, but not one of the two lots (3 rifles) you mentioned.

[Bob Hritz]

I watched this with interest. I cannot help wondering if the current hysteria about guns makes anyone nervous about investing the huge dollars into something that may become prohibited, in the future. Apparantly, no one else seems to be worried.

Bob Hritz

[maestro]

I watched this with interest. I cannot help wondering if the current hysteria about guns makes anyone nervous about investing the huge dollars into something that may become prohibited, in the future. Apparantly, no one else seems to be worried.

Bob Hritz

perhaps a different mind set on C&R's

[IMBLITZVT]

Traverse Clamp
Thanks for the correction I didn't see it yes my chum is looking for a complete one with the pin.

Eric

I may have a Chinese one coming up for sale soon if he is interested.

It's only that price because of the 1968 GCA and the 1986 civilian machine gun ban.

Pretty soon even registered MAC-10s are going to be $10K!

Well actually Maxims are still very valuable even without a MG ban. In Europe, these guns still sell for 1/2 to 2/3 of their US registered price. Its not like a $25K M16 that would go to being worth $1K if that. The NFA actually drove down the price. The GCA did little to the price as there are more Maxim in US than any other single country. The 86 Ban is really the one that drove prices. Yes I have watched my $2.5K M11 (9mm Mac) double in price in what, 5 years...

I watched this with interest. I cannot help wondering if the current hysteria about guns makes anyone nervous about investing the huge dollars into something that may become prohibited, in the future. Apparantly, no one else seems to be worried.

Bob Hritz

Bob, the current hysteria has not seemed to move into the MG world to much. We are seeing a jump in Uzi and M16 prices but they are falling back too. Any guns could be prohibited in the future, so those with 50 pistols... about the same risk. Most people think MGs are illegal already and so we are not seeing a huge increase in laws against them like semi autos are. Life is to short to worry about it, got to get your toys and enjoy them while you can.