"Frontier Issued"
 

“Frontier Issued” is a fancy new term coined by Rock Island Auction to describe the western arms collection of Mr. John Fox in the September sale. It is a collection of western working guns showing much wear and use, most would call them wall hangers, interesting historically but beyond being able to put into usable condition. It is interesting because the collection connects the gun to the time/place and the hard use most of these tools were put to by the men of the period on the western frontier. It seems to be that guns with character and little original finish were cast off by most collectors as unworthy in earlier times. As time marches on do you think this will change? Will worn-out Parker wall hangers that connect the gun to say the golden era of waterfowl hunting be more sought after in the future? Are modern-day collectors too insensitive to these historical items and too quick pass them off?

There are individuals out there that collect old thimbles, some who collect porcelain Frogs, so there will be a market for these. The big money will be those with historical significance..Find one from Custers screwup or one from Gettysburg that can be traced and there will be added value..One that Tom used to kill Pigs with on his 40 acres, not so much.


The younger people today know next to nothing about frontier times and care less....It probably will be a small market....

Place a pristine Parker alongside a new Benelli and tell most younger hunters the choice is yours....Where is the smart money????

I thought they call guns like that “relics”.

I guess as years pass things go from junk to relic to important historical artifacts. LOL!!

These old relics make great wall art. I have bought and sold a few, just for wall decorations.
Over the years I have upgraded the wall hangers to where we have some seriously functional "shooters" hanging on walls now.
That's how collecting works, I think.
BTW, I remember when Damascus guns were considered relics just because of the barrel steel.

Well. I have seen this sign more than once

“We buy junk - we sell antiques “

This is an interesting topic...

I think all of our classic American SXS's can be similarly categorized, and some just as romantically.

Prarie Issued - Upland Issued - Flyway Issued - Low Country Issued, all of which, like Frontier Issued, assign the guns to an era of life in America. And a lot of these guns also remain in "wall hanger" condition.





.

I know that Benelli quote is very true , or they will ask why spend 1000s on a vintage sxs when you can buy a Stoeger uplander for $500 . I have been asked that quite a bit in person .

It is the same with rifle scopes....The old 3, 4 and 6 powers that were efficient and balanced well on a rifle are no longer adequate to kill Deer at 300 yards..

Most of the young crew today need 4x20x50mm, with big knobs and a reticle that looks like a Christmas tree. All to kill a Deer out of a tree stand-you mean you actually walk around?-at 100 yards.

Not all but very many, and admittedly there are some who use the new stuff with amazing accuracy....However, the outdoor shows have changed how America hunts...

I doubt they will find anything shiny in relics...

Hust because it's new doesn't make it bad, but it's just geared so that we'll always want to buy what's new, bigger, and better... that's the hype.





.