James Julia, the auctioneer in Fairfield Maine, auctioned a number of Bullard single shots today.  The prices, especially of the target rifles, were high.   

#1252, the nicest of the lot, a two barrel set (32-40 and 22-5) with a Pope mould and Re/De, went for $19,500 + commission (with commission, that's almost 22,500).   

#1253, that I thought might be within reach because it had a non-period scope mounted on it, went for $7000+commission.   

#1254, another two barrel set, not in quite as nice shape as the first set, and without tools, went for $9000+commission.

#1256, a heavy target rifle with non-Bullard double set triggers, went for $5500+commission.

#1263, a two barrel set in 25-20SS and 32-40, which had been restored, went for $5500+commission.

From what I could tell (I was bidding over the phone), the Bullard hunting rifles were going for more reasonable prices, in the neighborhood of $3000.  I had high hopes of picking up a nice Bullard target rifle today, but it was not to be  .

Sharps rifles didn't seem to be doing particularly well.  #1266, a Sharps employee custom target rifle, went below estimate at $10,000+commission.  #1267, a 1853 Sharps sporting rifle, went below estimate at $13,000+commission.

There were several rifles built or rebuilt by John Madole.  The nicest was #1268, an 1877 "Sharps" that had apparently been made from scratch, engraved by Lynton McKenzie and stocked by James Corpe.  It sold for $22,500+commission.

#1282, a Ballard #9 Union Hill with Schoyen barrel and Sidle scope, all in very fine condition, sold for $7,000+commission.

At this point I dropped out.

Regards,
Doug Nelson

Hi FITZ!  Doing pretty well here.  Yes, I plan to be at the Hartford show Saturday morning, and hope to see you there.  I was at the Springfield show on Saturday, and half expected to see you, Verne and Stanley.  Of course Gary Quinlan had some nice stuff, though nothing that made me want to run out and put a second mortgage on the house.  I did buy something from him that I am quite pleased with-- a Perfection mould in .28!  I'd never seen one before.  He is cleaning out an old gun shop, and has much more "stuff" than usual-- bullet moulds, scopes, gun parts, etc.  In fact, he had two other perfection moulds, both in .32 .

'Til Saturday,
Doug