JAMES D. JULIA FIREARMS AUCTION RECORD
Published November 3rd, 2008
A Colt Walker pistol, made for use in the Mexican War and considered to be the finest example in existence, sold for a spectacular $920,000 at a James D. Julia auction in October.
This was the most expensive single firearm ever sold at auction in the world. The total sale gross was nearly $12 million.
The rare Colt Walker, specifically known as A Company #210 was consigned by an octogenarian from Libby, Montana. The gun had been in his family since its original acquisition at the Mexican War. His great, great, great uncle, John Reese Kenly originally from Maryland, enlisted and served in the Mexican War at Vera Cruz. He was decommissioned and later re-enlisted and was assigned to Jalapa. At Jalapa he was military commandant and in charge of the hospital. At the hospital it is believed Kenly acquired the Walker. A Company #210 had originally been issued to Texas Ranger Samuel Wilson who had scratched his name in the bottom of the trigger guard. Wilson died at Jalapa and it was likely at the time of his death in the hospital that Kenly obtained the gun. The Walker pistol, produced by Colonel Colt was mutually designed with input from Captain Walker of the Texas Rangers. At the time that Colt finished the pistols and rushed them to Texas to be used by the Texas Rangers in the war, they were the most powerful handgun in the world and continued to be for over 100 years until the 1940s. Walker wrote that the pistol was as effective as a common rifle at 100 yards and superior to a musket even at 200 yards. The Walker included its rare, original flask and was the talk of the gun trade for the months leading up to the auction.
Julia’s next firearms auction is scheduled for March 2009. For more details go to www.jamesdjulia.com or contact them at (207) 453-7125.
