Tag Archive for: World War II

World War II veteran Leon Gautier, photographed in July 2017. He was the last surviving French D-Day military commando, and he died July 3 at the age of 100. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Alain Le Pape. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

In Memoriam: Leon Gautier, last French D-Day military commando, 100

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World War II veteran Leon Gautier, photographed in July 2017. He was the last surviving French D-Day military commando, and he died July 3 at the age of 100. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Alain Le Pape. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

World War II veteran Leon Gautier, photographed in July 2017. He was the last surviving French military commando to participate in D-Day, and he died July 3 at the age of 100. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Alain Le Pape. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

PARIS (AP) – Leon Gautier, the last surviving member of an elite French unit that joined U.S. and other Allied forces in the D-Day invasion to wrest Normandy from Nazi control, has died. He was 100. The death was announced July 3 by Romain Bail, the mayor of Ouistreham, an English Channel coastal community where Allies landed on June 6, 1944, and where Gautier lived out his final decades. He had been hospitalized for the past week with lung trouble, Bail said.

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Milestone presents fine sporting, Civil War & Old West firearms, June 10-11

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Very fine Winchester Model 1866 Yellow Boy .44-caliber rimfire rifle designed by Oliver Winchester as the continuation to the famed Henry rifle. This example, manufactured in 1886, features a gunmetal brass receiver with full-length octagon barrel and full-length magazine. Barrel has two-line Winchester address, German silver sporting blade front sight, and elevation-adjustable rear sight. Excellent full-size stocks. Estimate $15,000-$25,000

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Over the weekend of June 10-11, Milestone Auctions will open its doors to an arsenal of antique, vintage and other fine weapons chosen expressly for the summer edition of its Premier Collectible Firearms sale. The 1,421-lot auction event, featuring the types and brands of military, civilian and sporting arms hobbyists yearn for, welcomes absentee and Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.

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Morphy’s Firearms & Militaria Auction hits the bull’s-eye at nearly $7M

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Circa-1988 Armi Fabbri bespoke over/under shotgun with demi-bloc 27in nitro proof blued steel barrels, serial no. ‘E701,’ Italian proof marks. Flawless example with engraving by Claudio Tomasoni, presented in fitted Fabbri leather case. Sold for $84,000

DENVER, Pa. – Collectors turned out in force for Morphy’s April 11-13 Firearms & Militaria Auction, which surpassed even seasoned experts’ pre-sale expectations as it closed the books at nearly $7 million. Morphy’s president and principal auctioneer Dan Morphy reported an average selling price of $5,600 per lot, a result he attributes to the firearms department’s focus on “quality consignments versus volume” and a lineup of Class 3 and sporting arms that discerning collectors found hard to resist. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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Maj. Donald Brownlow’s WWII relics lead the charge at Mohawk Arms, Dec. 17

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General George S. Patton Jr. three-star collar insignia, which he wore during World War II, from the Donald G. Brownlow collection, estimated at $1,500-$3,000

General George S. Patton Jr. three-star collar insignia, which he wore during World War II, from the Donald G. Brownlow collection, estimated at $1,500-$3,000

BOUCKVILLE, N.Y. – Historically significant examples of militaria spanning multiple conflicts and generations from several collections will come up for bid in Militaria Auction #88 scheduled for Saturday, December 17 at Mohawk Arms, starting at 9 am Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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A cigar box containing more than 100 US Navy challenge coins, including the pictured Seal Team coin, made $230 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2018. Image courtesy of Affiliated Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

Military challenge coins evoke pride and camaraderie

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A cigar box containing more than 100 US Navy challenge coins, including the pictured Seal Team coin, made $230 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2018. Image courtesy of Affiliated Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

A cigar box containing more than 100 US Navy challenge coins, including the pictured Seal Team coin, made $230 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2018. Image courtesy of Affiliated Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Challenge coins have a rich history in the United States military, representing  patriotism, sacrifice and honor; and an esprit de corps among those who served their country together. They have been carried by soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Veterans Day provides a fitting opportunity to look closer at these items that are prized by those who earned them and widely admired by history buffs and militaria collectors.

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Antique Colts, WWII Lugers featured Oct. 29-30 at Milestone firearms auction

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Colt pinched-frame .45-caliber Single-Action Army Revolver manufactured in 1874 and one of a shipment of 15 guns sent to J.P. Moores & Sons (NYC) that year. Accompanied by 1985 letter of documentation from Colt factory historian. NRA Silver Medal winner in 1989. Estimate $40,000-$65,000

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Over the weekend of October 29-30, Milestone Auctions in suburban Cleveland will host an exciting 1,469-lot Premier Collectible Firearms sale featuring the types of antique, military and civilian weapons hobbyists yearn for. As always, there will be excellent examples to suit every pocketbook, with a historical timeline that starts in the pre-Revolutionary War era and advances through every successive conflict of the centuries to follow. Absentee and online bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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WWII parachuting hero canine’s medals to sell at Noonans, Oct. 12

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P.D.S.A Dickin Medal for Gallantry earned by War Dog Rob for his service to Britain during World War II. It and an extensive archive on the extraordinary animal will be sold at Noonans on October 12 with an estimate of £20,000-£30,000. Image courtesy of Noonans and LiveAuctioneers


P.D.S.A. Dickin Medal for Gallantry earned by War Dog Rob for his service to Britain during World War II. It and an extensive archive on the extraordinary animal will be sold at Noonans on October 12, estimated at £20,000-£30,000. Courtesy Noonans and LiveAuctioneers

LONDON – The hugely emotive P.D.S.A. Dickin Medal for Gallantry, otherwise known as the V.C. (Victoria Cross) for animals, and the R.S.P.C.A. Red Collar for Valour awarded to War Dog Rob for his outstanding service during the Second World War, during which he undertook 20 parachute descents while serving with Infantry in North Africa and the 2nd S.A.S. Regiment in Italy, will be auctioned by Noonans on Wednesday, October 12. It is a highlight lot in a sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria and is estimated at £20,000-£30,000. The proceeds will be given to the Taylor McNally Foundation. It is being sold with an extensive archive including Rob’s collar, a portrait painting, photographs, a certificate, manuscripts, books and letters. View the fully illustrated catalog on LiveAuctioneers.

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The facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, photographed in September 2019. A state law passed in August requires museums to post signs that identify works looted by Nazis between 1933 and 1945. The Met has identified 53 such works in its collection. All were acquired after they were returned to their owners or heirs, but Met officials announced an intention to label them regardless. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Hugo Schneider. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 Generic license.

New York museums to disclose artwork looted by Nazis

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The facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, photographed in September 2019. A state law passed in August requires museums to post signs that identify works looted by Nazis between 1933 and 1945. The Met has identified 53 such works in its collection. All were acquired after they were returned to their owners or heirs, but Met officials announced an intention to label them regardless. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Hugo Schneider. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 Generic license.

The facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, photographed in September 2019. A state law passed in August requires museums to post signs that identify works looted by Nazis between 1933 and 1945. The Met has identified 53 such works in its collection. All were acquired after they were returned to their owners or heirs, but Met officials announced an intention to label them regardless. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Hugo Schneider. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 Generic license.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Museums in New York that exhibit artworks looted by Nazis during the Holocaust are now required by law to let the public know about those dark chapters in their provenance through placards displayed with the stolen objects.

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Circa-1942 A. Lange & Sohne German military issue pilot watch head, est. £7,000-£10,000. Image courtesy of Fellows

WWII German pilot’s military-issue watch a historical highlight at Fellows, Aug. 8

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Circa-1942 A. Lange & Sohne German military issue pilot watch head, est. £7,000-£10,000. Image courtesy of Fellows

Circa-1942 A. Lange & Sohne German military issue pilot watch head, est. £7,000-£10,000. Image courtesy of Fellows

BIRMINGHAM, U.K. – A World War II watch found in a drawer in Coventry, England, could sell for more than £7,000 (about $12,160) at Fellows on Monday, August 8. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. The military watch, worn by a German Luftwaffe pilot in WWII, was discovered by a family while sorting through their late father’s possessions. The family had no idea that the watch existed, let alone its value.

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Brian Manifor appointed Firearms Acquisitions & Promotions Specialist at Morphy Auctions

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Brian Manifor, Morphy Auctions Firearms Acquisitions and Promotions Division specialist. Image provided by Morphy Auctions

DENVER, Pa. – Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, takes great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Brian Manifor to the position of Firearms Acquisitions & Promotions Specialist. For the past four years, Manifor has served as a consultant to Morphy’s, utilizing his exceptional knowledge of Gold Rush, Western and Indian relics and art.

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