Antique gun advertisements just hit different. They take us back to a simpler time when guns and ammo were more affordable, the advertising was more direct, and the artwork featured on them was without rival.
That’s probably why antique gun ads have become so incredibly collectible. Well, that and because paper and cardboard don’t stand the test of time the way the blued steel and walnut products they were advertising do. Consequently, some of them are quite rare, which is why it’s really impressive that Richmond Auctions’ upcoming sale on November 18 features more than 170 different lots filled with all kinds of these ads. Essentially, there’s something in the sale for every gun room or man cave – or anywhere else in your house, for that matter.
The ads in the Richmond Auctions sale take on all different kinds of variety. There are wall calendars, die-cut countertop displays, banners, posters, wooden displays, thermometers, bullet boards, product racks, and even a stained glass window from Stevens!
Gun shops and hardware stores used to be visual feasts with all of the interesting advertisements that were placed everywhere, but today’s marketing departments just don’t churn out ads like these anymore. Some of it can be blamed on a shift in society and how we buy things. With the modern online marketplace at our fingertips, tangible display pieces are less relevant or necessary. The rest can probably be blamed on legal departments.
If you’re a fan of wildlife art, there are offerings with pheasant, geese, ducks, quail, brown bear, ram, moose, black-bellied plover, mule deer, mountain lion, and more dog breeds than you can count. There’s also a great throwback fashion element to the ads, showing all sorts of neat hunting attire from a century ago.
Beyond guns and hunting, there are also ads for “gun-adjacent” items, such as Remington cutlery, Winchester pliers, baseball bats, and roller skates, and even a Kirkpatrick gunpowder dispenser.
To see the entire catalog with tons of detailed photos and to register to bid in the sale, visit www.richmondfirearms.com. You can also reach out directly to Seth Meredith, VP at Richmond Auctions, if you have any questions. His email is seth@richmondauctions.com.
About Logan Metesh
Logan Metesh is a historian with a focus on firearms history and development. He runs High Caliber History LLC and has more than a decade of experience working for the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, and the NRA Museums. His ability to present history and research in an engaging manner has made him a sought-after consultant, writer, and museum professional. The ease with which he can recall obscure historical facts and figures makes him very good at Jeopardy!, but exceptionally bad at geometry.
