1740 West La Veta Ave, Orange, CA 92868
Rare Ed Brown 9mm, WWII Militaria Bringbacks & May Auction Preview
[00:26] Caller Robert: Ruger Vaquero Claros, the John Wayne Colt, and What’s Coming in May
Robert from the Valley called in with some genuine auction enthusiasm. He picked up two Ruger Vaquero Claros through telephone bidding in the last auction – the same style of single-action .45 he runs on his property, where he once lost one off an ATV and spent two weeks combing the ground before he found it. The Claros are newer production, so losing one hurts a little less than burying the old SSAs with synthetic ivory grips.
He also put a fine point on what made the previous auction exceptional. The Mexican-rigged Colt revolver with the full rig went for $21,000. A John Wayne-connected handgun brought $29,000. Robert watched the whole thing twice. Jeff’s response to the compliment was simple: wait until May. The catalog is about half built at this point, and Jeff describes what’s coming as stuff that will curl your hair – lot after lot of rare, serious material. Two of the biggest consignors haven’t even delivered their guns yet. Big Joe is heading to Northern California to pick up one collection, then swinging back for a longtime friend’s collection on the same run. May is going to land somewhere around 700 lots.
Beyond May, three more large collections are already staged and waiting: a 400-gun collection, a 150-gun collection, and a 175-gun collection, all queued up the moment the crew returns from End of Trail. Jeff’s projection is that before March is out, they’ll be booking December. Anyone with guns to consign should be making that call now.
[07:40] Walther P22: A Solid First Pickup for New Shooters
James from West LA called in considering a Walther P22. Jeff confirmed he bought one for his wife – got her the teal, sometimes called Tiffany blue, because she liked the color. He kept the plain one for himself. Both have been reliable and fun. For a compact .22 semi-auto, the P22 has a good track record as a first handgun and a training pistol. James also asked about the Springfield Echelon, a 9mm striker-fired pistol that neither host had hands-on time with yet, so that one went without a recommendation either way.
[08:58] What’s Coming to the May Auction: Ed Brown, Snipers, and a Non-Com Sword
The May catalog is shaping up to be one of the strongest the house has put together. Two large military surplus collections arrived simultaneously, and the depth goes well beyond the standard Enfields and Mosins that fill most surplus lots.
The centerpiece so far is an Ed Brown 9mm pistol – a 2011-pattern gun that the Ed Brown company built only in a small handful. Jeff thinks it’s designated something close to ZAV9 or VAS9, but the catalog listing will have the exact designation. The only comparable sale they could find on record went for $15,000. This one is unfired with an extra magazine.
On the militaria side: two Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles, one believed to be Polish and one Russian. An Enfield sniper, all-correct, in its original wood case. A Japanese Type 97 sniper rifle with the original scope – a piece of glass that Jeff describes as genuinely horrendous by any optical standard, but historically complete and intact. And a non-commissioned officer’s sword with bringback papers attached, meaning the chain of custody from the Pacific theater to the current owner is documented. That combination of the artifact and its provenance paperwork together is what separates a collectible from a conversation piece. Every lot in May, Jeff says, is going to be a knockout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Walther P22 a good first handgun or training pistol?
The Walther P22 is a well-regarded compact .22 LR semi-automatic pistol that works well as a first handgun and a training firearm. It has a manageable size, light recoil, and has been produced in standard and colored finishes including teal and the popular Tiffany blue variant. Both hosts on Gunslinger Radio own one and consider them reliable and enjoyable shooters.
What makes Ed Brown pistols valuable and collectible?
Ed Brown Products is a boutique American gunmaker known for exceptionally fitted 1911 and 2011-pattern pistols built to tight tolerances and finished to a high standard. Certain Ed Brown models were produced in very limited quantities, which makes them scarce on the secondary market. An unfired Ed Brown 9mm 2011-pattern pistol from a limited production run recently sold for approximately $15,000 at auction, reflecting both the quality of the build and the rarity of the piece.
What are WWII bringback papers and why do they matter for militaria collectors?
Bringback papers are official military documents issued to American servicemen authorizing them to bring a captured enemy weapon home from a theater of war. They typically identify the weapon, the soldier, and the circumstances of capture. For militaria collectors, bringback papers are significant because they establish documented provenance – a verifiable chain of custody from the battlefield to the current owner – which substantially increases both the historical value and the auction price of the accompanying weapon.
What is a Ruger Vaquero Claro and how does it differ from a standard Vaquero?
The Ruger Vaquero Claro is a variant of the standard Vaquero single-action revolver fitted with a Claro walnut grip, which offers a richer wood grain and warmer appearance than the standard grip material. The Vaquero itself is a fixed-sight, transfer-bar single-action .45 Colt revolver built specifically for Cowboy Action Shooting and Western-style use. Both the standard and Claro variants are practical working revolvers well suited to competition and property carry.
How do I consign firearms to a Gunslinger Auctions sale?
Gunslinger Auctions accepts consignments on an ongoing basis for their scheduled auction events. With major sales booked well in advance – the May 2026 auction is already approaching 700 lots, and December is filling up – contacting them early gives your collection the best chance of placement in a high-traffic sale. Reach them by phone at 714-939-1172 or through gunslingerauctions.com.
Sources, Credibility, and Continuing the Conversation
The auction estimates and collection details here come directly from the Gunslinger Auctions team with decades of buying, selling, and appraising behind them. Practical advice leans best when tempered by cautious humility – verify provenance documentation with a specialist before bidding on militaria, and consult current auction records for the most accurate valuation of rare firearms.