Page 496 - 4091-BOOK1

LOT 663
Rare Documented Prototype Whitney Target Semi-Automatic Pistol with
Don Findley Authentication Letter as Pictured
in The Whitney Pistol - Serial no. T2, 22 RF cal.,
6 1/4 inch round bbl., anodized finish, plastic
grips. Manufactured in 1957 as a prototype of an
unreleased Whitney target pistol based on the
beloved Wolverine design. It’s fitted with Patridge
blade front and Micro-click adjustable rear sights,
a compensator, and factory thumbrest grips. The
included letter from author Don Findley describes the pistol as “a one-of-a-kind
factory original prototype” with the prototype serial number “T2” marked on the
front strap and thumb rest grip panels. The letter also states that the project was
scrapped due Whitney Firearms Inc. ceasing production of all firearms in 1957. The target model never went into production. The pistol is also pictured on the cover and pages 164-169 of “The Whitney Pistol” by Don Findley.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 97% plus original black anodized finish with a few minor handling marks, some light muzzle wear, and overall crisp grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. This desirable prototype would be the perfect addition to any Whitney Wolverine or mid-century firearms collection!
Provenance: The Bob Hillburg Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 664
Rare Varsity
Manufacturing A.H.
Tompkins Single Shot Pistol - Serial no. 111, 22 LR
cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This pistol is number
111 out of approximately 200 manufactured between 1947 and 1953. This pistol
features a hinged breech lock design with blade front and adjustable notch rear
sights, serrated trigger and hammer spur and one piece full length walnut stock with
black plastic grip cap. Marked “A.H.TOMPKINS/SPRINGFIELD/MASS.,U.S.A.” on the top of the chamber with the patent information and serial number on the left side and “MF’D. AT/VARSITY MFG.CO.” on the right. Includes a hobbyist case.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 99% plus original blue finish with limited handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Case is very good with storage and handling marks.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 665
Wildey J. Moore’s Personal Wildey Hunter Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. SG-8, 45 Win magnum cal., 8 inch vent rib bbl., stainless finish, walnut grips. Fitted with a red front blade sight on
the barrel rib, standard markings and checkered walnut grips. The gas regulator assembly is absent. An included certificate from a previous sale lists this pistol as coming from the personal collection of Wildey J. Moore, the inventor of the Wildey pistol.
CONDITION: Very fine with some scattered handling marks, and light spotting mostly in the slide serrations. Grips are excellent. Mechanically needs work due to the aforementioned absent gas regulator assembly. This is your opportunity to get your hands on the Wildey Hunter from the personal collection of the inventor!
Provenance: Wildey J. Moore; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 666
Excellent Whitney Firearms Wolverine Semi-Automatic Pistol with Box as Gifted to Contributing Writer Charles Petty from Inventor Robert Hillberg - Serial no. 100313, 22 LR cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl., black finish, synthetic grips. Manufactured between 1955 and 1962 with a futuristic, space age design that utilized a cast aluminum frame in lieu of the standard steel frames of the day. The Wolverine was a straight blow-back design that used a round bolt inside the upper part of the frame with exposed cocking knobs on the rear of the frame and an exposed hammer. It was designed by Robert “Bob” Hillberg (1917-2012), an intuitive firearms designer who worked for High Standard Mfg. Co. as the head of research and development, and was involved in a number of different design projects including the COP .357 Derringer pistol and M37 machine gun. Features fixed front and rear sights, standard markings, and checkered Bakelite grips. Includes an original Whitney box signed on the front in sharpie “To my friend Charley Petty/Bob Hillberg” along with spare trigger parts. Charles E. Petty Jr. (1939-2022) was a contributing writer for several well-known firearms publications, and authored an article on the Whitney Wolverine which was featured in they March-April 1982 issue of “American Handgunner” magazine.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 98% plus original black finish with limited minor handling marks focused primarily on the back strap and magazine release, along with crisp grip checkering. The box is very fine. Mechanically excellent. A standout example of a Wolverine not only in terms of condition, but also as a gift from the inventor to an established firearms writer.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 667
Rare Dardick Model
1100 Auto-Loading
Revolver with Two Boxes of Trounds - Serial no. 1074, 38
cal., 6 inch round bbl., black finish, plastic grips. Manufactured
circa 1958-1962, the Dardick 1100 uses a novel
combination of a fixed in-grip magazine, an open-sided
auto-ejecting three chamber cylinder and a proprietary
plastic-cased triangular cartridge dubbed the “tround”.
This combination permits an ammunition capacity in line
with an automatic pistol while retaining the simple reliability of a revolver. Additionally, the barrel is secured with a single threaded bolt and can be rapidly detached or swapped. Unlike the model 1500, the 1100 was only available in .38 caliber. Included with the revolver is a large number of small parts and two boxes of the iconic Dardick trounds.
CONDITION: Very good, retaining 90% original
black finish with scattered handling marks and
overall crisp grip checkering. Mechanically
needs work as several components are absent,
preventing the hammer from moving to the
rear and cylinder from turning.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
494