It sold in December 2017 at Rock Island Auction for $5175.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/72/52/ad-topperweins-winchester-model-94-lever-action-carbine

Did you guys ever watch Dragnet? Just the facts ma’mam!

Ok, Adolf Topperwein died in March 1962 at age 92. So by this guns serial number it was made in 1940. In 1940 Topperwein would have been 70.

I should also mention, I by no means consider myself expert of all things concerning the Topperweins. 

Now not facts, just my speculations, I suppose at 70 years old a nice presentation gift at that age would have been a nice gesture from the Winchester company. Say this is true. Now to say this rifle was never used in one of his exhibitions, may also be true, but how would you prove that? From what I’ve read the Topperwein’s didn’t stop touring until 1951. So there is 11 years of wide open possibilities. 

I find George’s letter most interesting, he just like everyone else was human, which makes it possible for him to make mistakes. But I believe his letter has merit. One thing I find somewhat frustrating has exactly to do with such a letter of his. Madis mentions a bound book of presentation guns that had various salesman and the like recorded in it. Now the question is, Where is that book now? In fact, where is most of George’s reference materials. From everyone I’ve talked to about this very topic, collectors, dealers, friend’s of George’s, nobody knows what happened to such things! This is a frustrating problem. 

That aside. The gun itself I’d say is somewhat unusual from a standard eastern carbine. The grain of the wood is somewhat fancy and some nice sights to boot. The engraving is intriguing. It appears to be in the white, which I’m not sure if that tells us anything, but it is what it is, sort of speak. 

I do ask myself though, would most people that were going to try and fake such a gun, just merely put Adolf initials? Why wouldn’t you put the full first & last names? So there would be no doubt as too who owned the gun to begin with. 

If the book George mentions could be found, I think it would help with the provenance of the piece for certain. Also to see Mr. Coffey’s hand letters would be helpful as well. 

Will also add, I do suppose it is fine that Mr. Merz is aloud to make some profit. I do imagine paying employees, and overhead does factor into things. I don’t think his markup is nowhere near as bad as “Dad’s Old Guns” on Gunbroker.

Sincerely,

Maverick 

To see Ad using a Winchester 94 in a show jump to 18:40 in this video.

 I have bought two gun’s with history from Leroy, one I paid a premium for, the other not. My experience has been very favorable, I appreciate history and don’t mind paying for it, marrying gun collecting and history interests me. In both cases the history was limited and accurate, I was able to build on it and create a very thorough provenance. The documentation is with the gun for posterity. These gun’s appeal to non gun collectors if the subject is a common name known to non gun collectors. As to value, I’m not sure Topperwein is a commonly known name to a non gun guy. Imagine the price if the initials were J. W. (John Wayne). T/R   

I have no reason to doubt Leroy and several reasons to believe him. As Maverick rightly observes Ad probably owned dozens of guns and many were probably presentation guns like this one. I’m a fan of the Topperweins but even if the provenance indicated it had been used in their exhibitions I’d be hesitant to pay this price. OTOH I’m quite certain it’s worth every penny to the right collector.

Mike