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LOT 1596
Extremely Rare Presentation Series
Whitney Firearms Inc. Wolverine
Semi-Automatic Rimfire Pistol with
Original Box, Serial Number “27” - Serial
no. 27, 22 LR cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl.,
black/anodized grey finish, plastic grips.
Manufactured by Whitney Firearms Inc. in
New Haven, Connecticut, c. 1956-1957, as
one of a reported total of just 28 Wolverine
pistols made outside of the standard
production serial ranges specifically for
special presentation. Designed by Robert
“Bob” Hillberg (1917-2012), an intuitive
firearms designer who had worked for High
Standard Mfg. Co. as the head of research
and development, the Wolverine was constructed from a
“monobloc” frame made from cast duraluminum, shaped
with sweeping aerodynamic and retro-futuristic lines
that earned it the nickname of the “Buck Rogers pistol”.
Earmarked by Hillberg himself as a special series to be
reserved as gifts, the presentation pistols were taken
from regular production and were identical to the
standard pistols, with the exception of a special “1” to
“37” serial number range, though reportedly only 28
of the 37 frames were built up into complete pistols
as discussed on page 92 of “The Whitney Wolverine”
by Antonio J. Taglienti. Features fixed blade front
and spring insert notch rear sights on a matted rib, the one-line Whitney
address marked on the right of the frame with “WHITNEY” on the left side,
a cylindrical bolt with serrated knobs at the rear, subdued hammer and
thumb safety, and the two-digit serial number “27” on the front strap. Fitted
with a pair of checkered brown plastic grips. Includes a Whitney Firearms
picture box, with matching serial number on the end label, containing a manual and papers.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 99% original black and grey anodized finishes with limited minor edge wear,
limited minor handling marks, and well-defined grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is exceptionally fine
with some minor storage wear. Overall a very attractive example of a presentation series Whitney Wolverine pistol with
the original box!
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
LOT 1598
Exceptional Whitney
Firearms Inc.
Wolverine Semi-
Automatic Rimfire
Pistol with Box - Serial
no. 34586, 22 LR cal.,
4 1/2 inch round bbl.,
bright finish, plastic
grips. Manufactured
by Whitney Firearms
Inc. in New Haven,
Connecticut, c. 1956-
1957, as one of 10,793
Wolverine pistols
completed prior to the
company being sold and changing names to “The Whitney Firearms Co.” in mid to late-1957. Designed
by Robert “Bob” Hillberg (1917-2012), an intuitive firearms designer who had worked for High Standard
Mfg. Co. as the head of research and development, the Wolverine was constructed from a “monobloc”
frame made from cast duraluminum, shaped with sweeping aerodynamic and retro-futuristic lines that
earned it the nickname of the “Buck Rogers pistol”. Features fixed blade front and spring insert notch
rear sights on a matted rib, the one-line “WHITNEY FIREARMS INC.” address marked on the right of
the frame with “WHITNEY” on the left side, a cylindrical bolt with serrated knobs at the rear, subdued
hammer and thumb safety, and serial number on the front strap. Fitted with a pair of checkered white
plastic grips. Includes a Whitney picture box with matching serial number on the end label, containing
an extra magazine, manual, and papers.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with a professional bright polished finish, with limited minor handling
evidence. The grips are excellent with well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very
fine with some minor storage wear. Overall a very attractive and eye catching example of a Whitney
Firearms Inc. Wolverine pistol!
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 1599
Desirable Cased Early Production MBAssociates Mark I Model B Gyrojet Pistol - Serial no. B027, 13 mm
cal., 5 inch round bbl., black finish, walnut grips. Manufactured prior to 1968. Instead of conventional cased
ammunition, the Mark I Gyrojet uses 13 mm solid fuel rocket projectiles. Since these rocket projectiles do not
require a solid chamber to contain ignition nor extractor equipment to eject a casing, the entire pistol is greatly
simplified over conventional handguns and constructed from mostly lightweight materials. This particular
Mark I falls into one of the ranges named by the BATFE in their Curio & Relic List (Section III, page 43 of the
1972-2025 Edition) as exempt from NFA classification. Features adjustable blade front and fixed notch rear
sights, front-mounted hammer, internal single-stack box magazine with viewing slit in the left side of the grip,
“PATENT PENDING” marked on the right and the two-line MBAssociates address on the left of the barrel ‘rib’,
three-line model, and caliber markings above the serial number on the left of the frame, and a safety lever on
the left rear portion of the frame. Fitted with a pair of smooth walnut grips. Also included with the pistol are a
walnut MBAssociates display case fitted to the pistol with red felt interior, a commemorative coin themed for
Robert Goddard (credited as the inventor of the first liquid fueled rocket), nine inert display cartridges, one fired
cartridge, and one unfired “soft tip” gyrojet round.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, 98% plus original black finish, showing some handling evidence. Mechanically
excellent. Case is good, with some wear and tear concentrated on the lining.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1597
Scarce Texas Longhorn Arms
Inc. Grover’s Improved Number Five
Single Action Revolver with Holsters - Serial no.
K275, 44 Magnum cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue
finish, synthetic grips. Introduced in 1988, and one
of only 1,200 revolvers of this model reportedly
manufactured by Texas Longhorn Arms Inc. The
Improved Number “Five” model was designed
by Bill Grover as a homage to Elmer Keith’s
legendary “Number 5” revolver, with an ejector
rod and loading gate re-located to the left
side of the revolver to allow for loading and
unloading with the right hand, along with a
counter-clockwise rotating cylinder. Features
fixed ramped blade front and adjustable notch rear sights, the model designation marked on top of the barrel with
the caliber marking on the right side, the two-line manufacturer’s address and “longhorn skull” marked on the top
strap, and with the serial number on the underside of the frame. A matching serial number is marked on the front
of the fluted cylinder. Fitted with a pair of yellowed synthetic grips with “M/T/K” on the left and a steer head on the
right. Includes an extra set of standard profile smooth walnut grips, a “GROVER/5” marked Ted Blocker Holsters Inc.
black leather flap holster, and a tan flap-less Ted Blocker holster.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 98% plus original blue finish with faint cylinder drag lines, a light spot of
edge wear at the base of the rear grip frame, and some plum coloration to the frame. Mechanically excellent. Both
holsters are exceptionally fine.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
Collector’s Fact
According to "The Whitney
Wolverine. 22 Caliber Semi-
Automatic Pistol" by Taglienti, only
28 Wolverine pistols were made
outside of the standard production
serial ranges specifically for special
presentation.