Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#31

Post by jmra »

benenglishtx wrote:Anybody interested in knowing the prices paid for guns at the auction? I was there and took decent notes.
Give us the biggest surprises, the extremes. What went the highest over what you valued it at and what (if anything) was a deal.
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#32

Post by puma guy »

AndyC wrote:
benenglishtx wrote:Anybody interested in knowing the prices paid for guns at the auction? I was there and took decent notes.
Yes please, Ben.
:iagree:
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#33

Post by Lumberjack98 »

puma guy wrote:
AndyC wrote:
benenglishtx wrote:Anybody interested in knowing the prices paid for guns at the auction? I was there and took decent notes.
Yes please, Ben.
:iagree:
:iagree: :iagree:
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#34

Post by WildBill »

Lumberjack98 wrote:
puma guy wrote:
AndyC wrote:
benenglishtx wrote:Anybody interested in knowing the prices paid for guns at the auction? I was there and took decent notes.
Yes please, Ben.
:iagree:
:iagree: :iagree:
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :hurry:
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#35

Post by mud farmer »

WildBill wrote:
Lumberjack98 wrote:
puma guy wrote:
AndyC wrote:
benenglishtx wrote:Anybody interested in knowing the prices paid for guns at the auction? I was there and took decent notes.
Yes please, Ben.
:iagree:
:iagree: :iagree:
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :hurry:
:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :iagree:

Curiosity killed the cat but I'll risk it.

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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#36

Post by Dreamliner »

Maybe some of those will show up on the used market now but over priced......

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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#37

Post by Hector »

Even with excellent provenance I don't think there are very many collectors of Dr. Brown memorabilia.

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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#38

Post by howdy »

benenglishtx wrote:Anybody interested in knowing the prices paid for guns at the auction? I was there and took decent notes.

Any chance of that list still being posted
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#39

Post by benenglishtx »

I am so sorry.

I forgot completely that I had promised to post the results here. This data is now many weeks old, but it still gives some insight into what goes on at an auction like this - local celebrity, lots of guns, more than a few knowledgeable gun buyers but not as many as at a guns-only auction house.

This is an edited version of a much longer narrative I posted to another forum, so if it looks familiar to you then we just go to the same places. I've cut out all the pithy observations and attempts at humor.

-------------------------

Executive Summary - The auction was a mixed bag. Careful folks found a few good deals. Most prices were too high. The atmosphere was pretty intense and sometimes weird.

------------------------

Long Version -

Here are a few prices and comments on things other than guns.

Skins

Dozens of skins were sold. According to the announcements, Brown had hundreds of skins in processs at Conroe Taxidermy. The skins sold were tanned and suitable to take home. There were hundreds of “wet" skins still at the taxidermy shop that were abandoned by the court. Some examples:

Large bear - $1000
12-foot alligator with head - $1200
Full hippo, with feet - $225
At least a dozen miscellaneous gemsbock, wildebeast, and unknowns went for $100. A bunch of really nice, smaller skins sold monotonously for $100.

Vehicles

The Harley 2001 Road King Police Special with just under 14K miles sold (with title) for $8250.
The large BBQ trailer from Pits & Spits (about 12 feet long and equipped with everything) sold for $8000.

Collectibles


Dallas Cowboys game-used helmet sold for $325.
1967 Super Bowl ticket stub sold for $500.

On to the firearms -

Notes -
  • The all-caps firearms descriptions are direct quotes from the listing published by the auction house. All errors are left intact.
  • Prices shown are hammer prices. Add a 12% buyer premium and 8.25% sales tax to come up with an out-the-door price.
  • Where the price has a question mark next to the number, I’m unsure of what I heard. The number will be close to right.
  • Where the price has no number and just a question mark, I zoned out completely and have no idea what the price was.
  • Where the price shows “pulled”, the item was not offered for sale. Someone has filed an objection with the bankruptcy court claiming that they, not the doctor, owned a number of the firearms. Those items were pulled until the court decides what to do.
  • Not all the firearms he owned were in this auction. The court recently “discovered” that the doctor also owned a large home in Bentwater (wherever that is) and the auction house has been ordered to clean it out. In the course of preparing for this auction, they found the case and purchase paperwork where the doctor bought a Krieghoff shotgun for ~$80K. They haven’t found the gun. IOW, there will be more auctions in the future. In fact, one is already scheduled for March where his extensive collection of Mont Blanc pens will be sold. I wouldn’t be surprised if more firearms are discovered by then.
  • I’ve chosen to make my comments, where I feel the need to be either snarky or informative, under each item.
  • For the impatient or the skimmer readers, I’ve put the best deals in bold red.
1. ARSENAL 7LR 107 CR AK 47 7.62x3 RIFLE - pulled
2. A SQUARE .460WBY RIFLE - $1100
3. B WEST CHINESE AK47 7.62X39 RIFLE - $1000
4. BENELLI SEMI PUMP 12GA SHOTGUN - pulled
5. BENELLI SUPER 90 12GA SHOTGUN - pulled
6. BERETTA MOD 21A22 PISTOL - $400

7. BERETTA MOD 92F9MM PISTOL - $1200
This was a special edition. All the small parts were gold plated and the overall finish was miles better than normal. A very, very pretty gun. Not $1200-pretty, but the price isn’t as stupid as it initially seems.

8. BERETTA MOD 950BS 22CAL PISTOL - $300
9. BERETTA MOD 92F 9MM PISTOL - $650

10. BLASER JAGDWAFFEN R84 .375 HSH PISTOL - $4200
Screaming Deal #1
This was not a pistol. It was a mid-grade (silver receiver with engraving) R84 rifle with three barrels in .375 H&H, 7mm Remington Magnum, and .22-250. The extra bolt needed for the .22-250 was also there. Condition was flawless as far as I could see. I hung in bidding for a while but dropped out at $3500. Seeing as it would cost somewhere north of $10K to put together this do-everything combo, I call this the first screaming deal of the day.

11. BROWNING 6MM PISTOL - $400
This was not a 6mm, it was a 6.35, i.e. a .25ACP Baby Browning. It was a nice one, too.

12. BROWNING 7MM RIFLE - $1200
13. BROWNING INVECTOR 12GA SHOTGUN - $900
14. BROWNING MEDALLION HORNET 22CAL RIFLE - $950
15. BROWNING BUCK MARK 22CAL PISTOL - $525

16. BROWNING INVECTOR 26 10GA SHOTGUN - $1100
This was a sawed-off abomination. Ithaca did a 10-gauge riot gun called, iirc, “The RoadBlocker” back in the day. This looked like a poorly-thought-out attempt to duplicate that gun.

17. BROWNING BL22 22CAL RIFLE - $975
18. BROWNING 8500 12GA SHOTGUN - $850
19. BROWNING A BOLT 270CAL RIFLE - $925

20. BROWNING 22CAL RIFLE - $1800
I wanted this one. It was the classic .22 auto with finish upgrades, the silver receiver and gold inlay. I just didn’t want it at $1800.

21. BUSHMASTER XM15-EZS 223 RIFLE - $1000

22. CALICO LIBERTY 3 9MM PISTOL - $1500
These things are fun toys. This one came with the 50-round helical magazine. 100-round mags are also available. Realistically, I’ve seen them sell for around $1K in the recent past and that’s how much I bid. And the bidding just zoomed right past me.

23. COLT WOODSMAN 22CAL PISTOL - $700
This, and the one below, were both early field models. They had fixed sights, no embellishment other than that wonderful pre-war Colt blue, and they inspired lust in me. They just inspired more in other folks. But if I didn’t already have more .22 pistols than anyone could ever need, I woulda sunk my teeth into one of these and not let go. Man, they were pretty.

24. COLT SEMIHBAR SPORTER AR-15AZ RIFLE - $1100
I don’t know much about ARs, but this was an M-4-looking thing.

25. COLT WOODSMAN 22CAL PISTOL - $950
26. COLT NEW FRONTIER 22CAL REVOLVER - $725

27. COLT COMMANDER 45CAL PISTOL - $2900
Customized by Cylinder and Slide with their "Safety Fast" system where you can keep the hammer down then cock it on the draw by pushing down on the safety.

28. COLT SPORTER .223CAL RIFLE - $1800
29. COLT PYTHON 3575 REVOLVER 2“ - $2500
30. COLT ANACONDA 44MAG REVOLVER - $2700
31. COLT DIAMONDBACK 22CAL REVOLVER 4“ - $1900
Grrrr. I wanted the two diamondbacks in this auction and didn’t get them.

32. COLT PYTHON 357 PISTOL 6“ - $2500
33. COLT 45 COLT REVOLVER - pulled
34. COLT AR-15 HBAR SPORTER 12GA/223 SHOTGUN/RIFLE - pulled
35. COLT AR-15 223/5.56 RIFLE - pulled
36. COLT ARMY 45CAL REVOLVER - $3100
37. COLT ARMY 45CAL REVOLVER - $5000
37A. COLT DIAMONDBACK 38CAL 4“ - $1800
38. AMERICAN DERRINGER DA38 38CAL PISTOL - $350?
39. DESERT EAGLE 50AE 50CAL PISTOL - $2000

40. DPMS PANTHER ARMS A-15 223/5.56CAL RIFLE - $1000
Very heavy barrel, no muzzle attachment of any kind, and a gas block with a section of rail on top. It looked like something set up for varmint hunting.

41. FNH BDA-380 38CAL PISTOL - $700
42. FREEDOM ARMS PREMIER GRADE 454CAL REVOLVER - $2500
43. GAUCHA-IGA COACH GUN 12GA SHOTGUN - $750

44. GLOCK 17 9MM PISTOL NO CLIP - $550
This was a well worn Gen 1. I’d like a Gen 1 but I was hesitant at this price. Did I pass up a good deal?

45. GP WASR-10-AK47 WASR-10/63UF 7.62X39 RIFLE - $850
46. GRENDEL P30 22MAG PISTOL - $550
47. HAWKEN RIFLE 58/52CAL RIFLE - $875
48. HK SP89 9MM PISTOL - $3900
49. HK USP 45CAL PISTOL - $850
50. H&R TROOPER 158 410 RIFLE - ?

51. INTERDYNAMIC KG9 9MM PISTOL NO CLIP - $2200
I was, frankly, peeved that someone else at the auction knew what this was. It was a true KG9, not a later derivative; it fires from an open bolt. It’s allowed to exist legally only because of a restrictive ATF letter ruling that says the separate sale of a bolt from this gun results in the transfer of an unregistered machine gun. Despite the fact that it was covered in rust, open-bolt fanbois would happily pay $3K and up for these. I hung in until $2100 when I realized that the guy I was bidding against was just holding up his bidder card without moving. At Websters, that means “Jump me another bid increment every time someone else bids.” He was going to buy it no matter what. Everyone in the room was looking at us like we were crazy to be bidding thousands on what looked to be just a badly rusted TEC-9 knockoff. When the hammer fell, I congratulated the successful bidder and told him I was surprised that two of us who knew what that thing was had showed up. He just nodded, acknowledged my congrats, and said he hoped it would clean up nicely.

52. ITHACA M49 22CAL RIFLE - ?
53. IVER JOHNSON 25CAL PISTOL - $300
54. MARLIN GLENFIELD 30 30-30 RIFLE - $650
55. MARLIN GLENFIELD 60 22LR RIFLE - $400

56. MAUSER 30-06 RIFLE - $1200
Actually, this was a Springfield 03 A3 that had been badly sporterized a long time ago and not treated well since. The price shocked me.

57. MAUSER OBERNDORF 416 RIGBY RIFLE - $2100

58. MGA ULTA LIGHT 340WBY RIFLE - $1100
Screaming Deal #2
The base price on these rifles is $3750 and you have to be willing to wait a long time. This rifle has some extra-cost options that surely pushed it well above $4K. After I got this rifle home, I looked it over even more carefully than at the preview. It has handling marks atop the barrel but the bolt lug wear is non-existent. A look down the barrel shows a few flakes of powder. If it weren’t for that, I’d say it was unfired. I have a theory. The length of pull on this rifle is close to normal so it wouldn’t fit the previous owner at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if the good doctor fired one shot from the rifle, it knocked the snot out of him, and he put it away.

59. MIL INC/TAURUS THUNDER FIVE 410/45CAL REVOLVER - $400?
60. MOSSBERG 185KB 20GA SHOTGUN - $300
61. MAGNUM RESEARCH MOUNTAIN EAGLE 22CAL PISTOL - $400?
62. NB DAVIS & SONS DOUBLE BARREL 20GA SHOTGUN - $400

63. NORINCO 87S 7.62X39 RIFLE NO CLIP - $950
This is actually an 86S pre-ban bullpup. I dimly remembered that this gun, being pre-ban, is considered something of a desirable collectible among AK aficionados so I bought it. Since the auction, I've been offered $1300, so I guess I got a good (not great) deal.

64. NORTH AMERICAN ARMS GUARDIAN 32CAL PISTOL - $500
65. NORTH AMERICAN 22CAL REVOLVER - $525

66. ORDNANCE TECH MAGNUM RESEARCH 30-06 PISTOL - $1300
The auctioneer touted it as a “rare piece” and the entire crowd responded. That auctioneer could get a job herding cats; the whole room conspired to pay a truly ridiculous price. It’s one of the nicer examples of that particular design but $1300 is just stupid.

67. REMINGTON SPEEDMASTER 22S RIFLE - $450
68. REMINGTON 11 12GA SHOTGUN - $475
69. REMINGTON 870 EXPRESS MAGNUM 12GA SHOTGUN - $400
70. REMINGTON 870 EXPRESS 12GA SHOTGUN - $400

71. REMINGTON XP100 35REM PISTOL - $525
Custom ‘smiths and pistol silhouette shooters will pay roughly this amount just to get the actions and throw everything else away. I intend to shoot this one, however. I’m a sucker for XPs; I think this makes 6 I now own. The price was a little below fair retail and half what some jokers on gun sales web sites are asking so I feel good about this purchase. Nothing earth-shattering but I can always use another XP.

72. REMINGTON 1100 20GA SHOTGUN - ?
73. REMINGRTON 11 12GA SHOTGUN - $925
74. REVELATION 110 22S-L-LR RIFLE - $325

75. RIFLES INC ULTRA LIGHT 300WBY RIFLE - $1500
This was bought at a great price but it was clearly custom made for the doctor. The length of pull of the stock is ridiculously short. It was bought by a tall fellow with long arms. I sure hope he bought it for someone else. If he tries to shoot it the only thing that will prevent the bolt shroud from breaking his nose is the concussion he’ll get when the scope bell whacks his forehead.

76. RUGER 1022 22CAL RIFLE - $375?
77. RUGER SINGLE SIX 22CAL REVOLVER - $450
78. RUGER NEW BEARCAT 22CAL REVOLVER - $475

79. SANTA BARBARA 7MM MAG RIFLE - $825
Weatherby collectors are fascinated by the connection and shared influences between Weatherby and Santa Barbara. However, the Weatherby collectors weren’t out in force at this auction so I can’t figure out why this horrifically abused rifle with a mutilated bore sold for this much.

80. SAVAGE 240/U 24LR/410 RIFLE - $500
81. SAVAGE 2400 308/12GA RIFLE/SHOTGUN - $900
82. SIG SUAR P220 45ACP PISTOL NO CLIP - pulled
83. SIG SAUR P220 45ACP PISTOL NO CLIP - pulled
84. SMITH & WESSON 5904 9MM PISTOL - $600
85. SNAKE CHARMER 2 410GA SHOTGUN - $300
86. TANFOGLIO GIUSEPP GT27 25CAL PISTOL - $200
87. WINCHESTER / TAYLORS & CO NO. 2 STAGE 45/70CAL RIFLE - $1450

88. THOMPSON CENTER ARMS 223 REM PISTOL - $700
Man, this was on old one. It had the Puma scope and angle mount that T/C sold starting back in the late 1960s.

89. THOMPSON CARBINE SEMI 45CAL RIFLE - $2100?
I got distracted during this one. Some bidders were trying to remove the Coke machine they bought and in the process, during the bidding for this rifle, they managed to break some artwork that had been bought by still other bidders. I really am glad it’s not my job to mediate the kind of disputes that will arise when crap like that happens.

90. UZI ACTION ARMS 9MM RIFLE - $1700
91. WSR AK-47 7.62X39 RIFLE - $650
92. WEATHERBY MARK V 378CAL RIFLE - $1300
93. WEATHERBY MARK V 300CAL RIFLE - $1550
94. WEATHERBY MARK V 416CAL RIFLE - $1500
95. WEATHERBY MARK V 460CAL RIFLE - $1650

96. WINCHESTER REPEATING 12GA SHOTGUN - $1550
This lever action was represented by the house as being manufactured in 1892. It was so loose and everything rattled so much when I inspected it that I would be afraid to shoot it. Apparently, some others don’t agree with me.

97. WINCHESTER 9422M 22WIN RIFLE - ?
98. BERSA THUNDER - $675

Ammo sales and miscellaneous

I did not have the most current inventory list so this I was unprepared for this part of the auction. I missed some good stuff.

800 rounds of WWB .308 Win for $880. That was stupid.
750 rounds of 7.62x51 147 milsurp in battle packs for $550
1000 rounds Wolf 7.62x39 for $550. Again, stupid.
Screaming Deal #3 - a lot consisting of 1 box of .460 Weatherby ammo and 2 boxes of .416 Rigby ammo - $30
Screaming Deal #4 - a lot consisting of two boxes of .454 Casull and 8 blister packs of blue Glasers, mostly in .38 and .357 - $30
Screaming Deal #5 - a lot consisting of at least two dozen brand new Briley shotgun chokes - $90. These thing usually cost about $20 to $80 each and the box looked to have almost exclusively the more expensive ones. I only found out about this when I congratulated the guy who bought the .416 Rigby ammo. I told him “You got the deal of the day.” He responded with “That wasn’t the deal of the day. This was.” Then he showed me the chokes. I have no idea how I missed that lot and I’m kicking myself for not paying closer attention.

Miscellaneous

There were hundreds of (I think) "Steadi-Pod" rifle rests. Dr. Brown invented and patented them. There was a small manufacturing facility churning these out at his ranch. They sold out at $10 each which I thought was pretty high for an adjustable plastic stick.

Optics

There was a shed-load of scopes. This guy liked to buy multiples. For example, there were a dozen identical Swarovski 3x9 scopes and 8 (I think) 1.5x5 scopes from the same maker.

I got a price on the Zeiss Diavari C 3 X 9 X 36 scopes. I think he had 7; the high bidder took them all at $725 each.

----------------------------------

Again, I apologize to all for not posting this timely.

As an update, they still haven't found the doctor's $80K Krieghoff yet, so there may be more guns coming up for auction in the future.
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#40

Post by Lumberjack98 »

Very interesting. Thanks so much for the update benenglishtx.

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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#41

Post by WildBill »

AndyC wrote:Fascinating to hear about this - I've literally never attended an American auction, much less a Texas-based firearms auction. Thanks for the lengthy details, Ben :cheers2:
:iagree: I haven't been to a Texas-based firearms auction either, but I am not sad that I missed this one.
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#42

Post by puma guy »

WildBill wrote:
AndyC wrote:Fascinating to hear about this - I've literally never attended an American auction, much less a Texas-based firearms auction. Thanks for the lengthy details, Ben :cheers2:
:iagree: I haven't been to a Texas-based firearms auction either, but I am not sad that I missed this one.
I went to an auction recently down toward Manvel that had some weapons. Some old, some newer, all well used. The prices were crazy. You couldn't handle the guns at all because they were under plastic wrap. I remember a mediocre M1 Carbine: unknown make and unknown if it was all original went for over two grand. On the other hand there was a 300 CC Honda Four Wheeler that went for a song. I already have two or I would have bid on it. They had brand new automobile lift that probably costs $8-10,000 that sold for less that a thousand dollars.
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Re: Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

#43

Post by benenglishtx »

puma guy wrote:I went to an auction recently down toward Manvel that had some weapons. Some old, some newer, all well used. The prices were crazy.
That's usually what happens at this auction house, too. If the crowd is clueless about guns, there will almost always be someone who thinks "Guns are worth a fortune. I must have it!"

Auction houses that have an FFL tend to throw a few old junkers into every auction. There are plenty of 100-year-old, rusted pieces of junk out there that are worth $50 as curiosities or paperweights. There are also uninformed buyers who will pay $150 for them. At least a couple of those buyers are present at every auction, it seems.
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