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Woody's Biography
Woody was a well-known gun collector/dealer throughout the Northwest and Midwest areas. Having grown up on a ‘hard scrabble’ ranch in eastern Montana’s Missouri Breaks country during the depression, he made his own money starting at a very early age trapping and shooting coyotes. When WWII came along he was one of the first from his community to be drafted but was rejected as 4-F for a medical condition. He then spent the first year of the war working for Douglas Aircraft and then a year trucking on the Al-Can Highway. He finished the war back in the Jordan, Montana area trucking with his uncles and future father-in-law.
Soon after the war he purchased a bar in Jordan, Montana, and in 1950 he sold that bar and purchased a bar in Circle, Montana, which was then undergoing an oil boom. This was the start of his serious gun dealing and collecting, having obtained a federal firearms license. Licensing rules were much more relaxed in those days. He ordered guns for people in the area and developed his interest in old guns, particularly Winchesters and Colts, from examples obtained in these early trades.
In 1958 Woody sold his bar business and purchased the hardware store next door. As much gun shop as anything else, this was his base of operations for the next thirty years.
The late 1950’s were the formative years for the whole gun show scene we see today and Woody was among those first collectors and dealers. He attended his first gun show in 1958, did a few more in 1959, and by 1960 he was a fixture at virtually all the Montana, Dakota Territory, Minnesota, and Wyoming shows. A typical year included Denver area and several Wisconsin shows. He also was very active at Canada’s Saskatchewan and Alberta shows in the days before their rigid gun control. The border crossings were easy, nonchalant affairs as long as the firearms were bona fide antiques and no hand guns were involved.
Woody’s gun collection, cowboy leather gear (mostly of Miles City, Montana manufacture by Al Furstnow Co. and Miles City Saddlery Co.), and coin collection will be sold at auction in Billings, Montana, on March 31st, 2005, in conjunction with the Billings gun show which will run from April 1 through 3 at the Metra in Billings, Montana.
Woody was fortunate enough to have owned several engraved Henry rifles over the years, and the finest example was serial number 2093 which he is proudly holding in the accompanying photo taken shortly before his final illness. This Henry is a Samuel Hoggson engraved piece, which retains a very high percentage of remaining gold wash on the receiver and an equally high percentage of blue on the metal. This rifle will be the key item in the upcoming auction, having been appraised at $60,000 to $80,000 six years ago at the time of his death. Current estimates indicate it may top $100,000.
Other key items are a serpentine lock Hollis & Sons Hudson Bay Indian trade musket, which is also a high condition piece. It is extremely rare, as most of this type are found in poor condition. Also, there is an example of the Northwest Mounted Police 1876 Winchester saddle ring carbine in decent condition - another gun rarely found with any finish remaining.
Other items of interest include a cherry stocked American colonial flintlock musket, a Winchester 1886 lightweight deluxe in 45-70 with 95% finish and Lyman receiver sight, and a Colt Thunderer 41 with nickel finish and pearl grips.
The cowboy leather gear is also noteworthy because it is higher condition than usually encountered. Examples are such items as a fine pair of Angora ‘wooly” chaps and 2 fine condition saddles.
The coins include a rare quarter dollar gold piece as well as many other coins of interest.
Auction Sale Bill
Table of Contents
Conditions of Auction
Back to Woody's Guns Home Page