Hard Charging Western Toys Score At Morphy Auction
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has witnessed an impressive vitality and appeal across the board as witnesses by
the results of the current Morphy Auctions event. Western items, which closed
March 31, 2005, were the lead items for the first day of the company’s latest
auction (Additional items in the event close today and Saturday, April
2).
Traditional cowboy items, which have always done well, were joined by
successful TV cowboy items including cap guns in the success in this auction.
What may well represent a furthering of this trend, though, was the performance
of western accessories, apparel and other items.
Top prices were realized
for a number of the offerings, including a Roy Rogers & Trigger 4′ Display
which brought a commanding $9,900. Among the high end winners were a Roy Rogers
Gold Lone Star Cap Guns Gun and Holster Set ($4,675), Dale Evans Shoot’n Iron
Cap Gun, made by Schmidt and widely said to be the best Dale Evans cap gun, with
complete original box ($2,475), the highly desirable Roy Rogers Kilgore Cast
Iron Cap Gun ($2,200), and a Hopalong Cassidy Cap Gun and Holster ($2,200). All
prices listed include the 10% buyer’s premium.
The Shane Single Cap Gun
& Holster, generally acknowledged as the toughest single gun and holster set
to find, brought $1,980, while a Kilgore Long Tom Cowboy Cap Gun with box went
for $1,760. A Johnny Ringo Cowboy Cap Gun and Holster with original box sold for
$1540 and Dale Evans Toy Cap Gun & Holster Set brought
$1,320.
Additionally, a Daisy Annie Oakley Cap Gun Outfit, which features
an unused Daisy rifle, pistol, canteen, holster, and belt in the original box
sold for $1,870.
In recent years, of course, it’s been no surprise for
cap guns to do well, but their strong market presence now seems to be well
established even among the TV cowboys. A Wyatt Earp Cowboy Double Cap Gun with
box sold for $605, while a Wagon Train Cap Gun & Holster in its original box
brought $660. Additional signs of this strength included a Virginian Holster Cap
Gun with original box ($715), a Marx Wanted Dead Or Alive Cowboy Cap Gun ($495),
a Hubley Cowboy Cap Gun & Holster with original box ($825), a Have Gun Will
Travel Derringer Cowboy Toy Cap Gun ($192) and a Wyatt Earp Cowboy Toy Holster
Cap Gun with original box ($880).
The true recognition of the market
value, though, may come from the vibrant prices realized for items which
previously have not been as widely documented in western collecting circles as
have cap guns. Examples include a Roy Rogers Cowboy Truck with original box,
which sold for $605, a Roy Rogers Cowboy Flashlight Display, which went for
$880, and a Bat Masterson Cowboy Cane Display with 12 canes, which brought $660.
Further examples of this new-found depth include the sales of a Hopalong
Cassidy Box Camera with box ($385), a Lone Ranger Sheriff Store Display ($605),
and Davy Crockett Flashlights Store Display ($440).
With the long-term
sustained interest in cap guns now buoyed by the expanded attention the market
will receive in coming weeks, this is a market segment that definitely is worth
further investigation.