I went to a auction today (Sat) and found a eight gun collection with three single shots.

This collection was safely stored at the bottom of the Rogue River, here in Southern Oregon. No one knows for how long it waited to be found but, it was just found last Thursday and brought to the auction on Friday and it sold today as a one lot.

I'm a Borchardt guy so, I was interested in that one and I don't have a Saddle Ring, Trapdoor Carbine or a DST 1874 Sharps. The Henry, I didn't care about and who needs those old muzzle stuffers, any how but, I thought about that turn barrel one

My question here is what do you guys think that the whole collection sold for in that one lot?

Frank

Whoever bought that lot has a 'unique' collection. Whoever perpetrated this 'crime' should be shot at dawn if he is still alive. Probably some hopolophobe Democrat who inherited them.  It's anyone's guess how much they bought, but there is a lifetimes work in the restoration of them. Me? I'd probable bid $50.00 for them, no more. 

Harry

That's pretty darn neat!!

I love how the Sharps has the hammer cocked back and the lever down ready to be reloaded. Way Kool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As to your question about the selling price for the lot. Just a guess but I would say $10,000 if there was a good crowd at the auction. 

John Gross

I'm jumping in at $1500. Could have gone anywhere on this one.

Because of the brass framed Henry............................... uh..............850.00.

   Joe.

Rustyrelx, came closest. A woman bought them for $1400!

A local friend and shooter that is a long time collector, said that he thought they were worth about $5000. He told me about the Cody Museum but, I had never heard of it and he also said that just the Henry would have been worth around $2000+. I guess "beauty is in the eye of the beer holder" but, I didn't drink enough of it yesterday 

I was with Harry on the value. I would have paid $50 for the Borchardt, just to see if I could get it a part and save some of it and none of the others were of any value to me. I guess I've learned something!!!! But, as usual, "a day late and a dollar short".

It was suggested that the military dumped them and here was a Army fort, Fort Lane near the river that came about as the result of a Indian war but, was closed in 1857 or so, long before, even the Trapdoor came about. Even if the Army would have dumped Indian rifles, at a later date, they would have kept and used the carbine and the Borchardt and someone would have hung on to (a officer) the 1874, I'm sure.

Now, my take on how they arrived in the Rogue River......... The divers that found them though that because of there condition, he though that they had been in the river about 10 years, if so, I believe that they may have been stolen and dumped there because they thought they would get caught. My other thought was it was the result of a divorce. As they say, Hell has no fury..................

Anyway, it was a very interesting collection of rifles.

Frank

I know nothing about deterioration of wood and metal, in water. I was taking the word of someone that knows more than me about it and searches the river bottom for treasures. It did make a little sence to me, as the Rogue river is a fast moving river with lots of rapids and even faster with heavy rain falls. Very little of the metal is desolve by rust and I saw nothing in regard to deep pitting of the Borchardt. It would have been a great project to try to take a part.

Only the person or persons that threw them in will know how long they've been there.

Frank

The town of Buffalo (?), Wyoming has a museum with artifacts donated by local ranchers and farmers, which my wife and I visited back in the 80's. It was fascinating to see some of the items that were found lying in dry creek beds etc. out in the middle of nowhere.
There were a couple of rifles that were found as I recall. I think one was a Sharps ??

Also, the recent book by Dale Olson about Burgess rifles has some neat stories regarding people finding some of those rare guns in obscure places.