Dr. Michael Brown Estate Auction

[cb1000rider]

Impressive collection!

Am I the only one surprised that there aren't more higher end guns on the list?

I assume this isn't a forced sale... If it's a simple estate auction, the family could have easily pre-picked the goodies.

[TBJK]

Man O man. I may have to try to partake in that auction.

[thenick_ttu]

I've never seen or participated in an auction like this. Will most of these guns sell at a pretty good bargan or will everything pretty much go for market value?

[Jumping Frog]

I've never seen or participated in an auction like this. Will most of these guns sell at a pretty good bargan or will everything pretty much go for market value?

You never know with auctions. People sometimes get auction fever and guns could even sell for far more than they are worth.

[WildBill]

I've never seen or participated in an auction like this. Will most of these guns sell at a pretty good bargan or will everything pretty much go for market value?

You never know with auctions. People sometimes get auction fever and guns could even sell for far more than they are worth.

Especially with the notoriety of Dr. Brown. I wouldn't be surprised if someone buys the entire lot.

[Dad24GreatKids]

Impressive collection!

Am I the only one surprised that there aren't more higher end guns on the list?

I assume this isn't a forced sale... If it's a simple estate auction, the family could have easily pre-picked the goodies.

According to the Houston Chronicle this is a bankruptcy sale.

[jiannichan]

I thought this might have been one of my brothers clients...but that was a different guy, Jon Knapp. They had the safe and since he passed, no one had the combination to it so they had to get a locksmith to come out and open it. My brother said he had never seen so many guns owned by a single person ever.

[WildBill]

I thought this might have been one of my brothers clients...but that was a different guy, Jon Knapp. They had the safe and since he passed, no one had the combination to it so they had to get a locksmith to come out and open it. My brother said he had never seen so many guns owned by a single person ever.

Jon Knapp the exhibition shooter? What would you expect?

[jiannichan]

I thought this might have been one of my brothers clients...but that was a different guy, Jon Knapp. They had the safe and since he passed, no one had the combination to it so they had to get a locksmith to come out and open it. My brother said he had never seen so many guns owned by a single person ever.

Jon Knapp the exhibition shooter? What would you expect?

Are you thinking of Tom Knapp? Jon Knapp was an investor and I believe was involved in NHRA as well. I think he was around 50 when he passed.

[puma guy]

Impressive collection!

Am I the only one surprised that there aren't more higher end guns on the list?

I wonder if he bought the Western Auto Revelation 110 .22 on the way up or on the way down? (Actually it's a pretty good litlte rifle, Marlin Model 81.) You can get one for 125 -200 bucks on GunBroker. I'd love to know what this one will sell for. I would attend, but I'll be out of town that day.

[Dreamliner]

Was in the area and stopped by to take a look at what was there. Very apparent that he didn't take care of his stuff. Many of the lot were uncleaned or never clearned, rust, missing mags, and etc..

[howdy]

Was in the area and stopped by to take a look at what was there. Very apparent that he didn't take care of his stuff. Many of the lot were uncleaned or never clearned, rust, missing mags, and etc..

I too stopped by to see what was there. There is a tricked out 2001 Harley that is not listed to be auctioned this Sunday. There is lots of jewelry (gold Rolex, diamond rings etc), lots of coins and gold/silver.

OK...about the guns. I have to agree with Dreamliner, Dr. Brown did not maintain his guns very well. Most guns are fairly old and it looks like he inherited them or bought them used. He has a set of beautiful Colt Army .45ACP revolvers, silver with pearl handles. One has an engraved cylinder. He has a very nice Browning .22 rifle. One Beretta 92F that is a special edition. The rest were just stuff you might find in a pawn shop.

Ammo...4 cases of 7.62 (He had no guns that would shoot 7.62.) And a variety of other ammo not worth looking at. Over all very little ammo.

I was going to go to the auction but I think I will pass this time. They are expecting a huge crowd and I would bid on stuff that I could not win or afford.

[benenglishtx]

I assume this isn't a forced sale... If it's a simple estate auction, the family could have easily pre-picked the goodies.

It's a bankrupty auction. He went into bankruptcy several months before he committed suicide.

I went to the preview and was shocked at the condition of many of the pieces. Many were neglected, many were very badly altered, at least one was completely covered in rust.

To be sure, there were some newer nice things there. However, some of the classics were enough to make my soul cry. For example, there's a .416 Rigby on a Mauser action that looks like it's actually a Rigby-built rifle. At first glance, everything looks right. The stock shape is classic. The front sling attachment is via a barrel ring. The bedding is properly crossbraced.

Then you look closer and realize that it's got rust all over, the bore has been neglected, the stock is dinged up badly. Worst of all, someone cut off the barrel just ahead of the front sight and attached an abominable muzzle brake. The also managed to booger up the front sight while doing the work.

It's arguably a $4K gun but it needs probably that much money put into it to restore it. And there's no way to restore the mutilated barrel.

I don't even want to think about the 10-gauge Browning (originally with a long barrel for duck hunting-type work) with good wood, bluing, and gold inlay that had been hacksawed off at about 16" and an old flashlight crudely attached at the muzzle.

I was really, really disappointed during the preview.

I'm especially disappointed since I was at the first auction 2 weeks ago and everything sold for ridiculously high prices. Seriously, there was furniture with retail price tags from local stores that sold for more than the price on the tags!

I'm going. I'm taking cash. There are a half-dozen nice things I'll try to buy. Realistically, I expect to come home with exactly the amount of money I take into the place, minus the cost of a hot dog and a diet Coke.

[benenglishtx]

I wonder if he had any .22 LR ammo?

None on the ammo table. I was definitely looking for .22LR.

[benenglishtx]

Anybody interested in knowing the prices paid for guns at the auction? I was there and took decent notes.