St. Michaels, Maryland – Guyette and Deeter's February 2025 Sporting Arms Auction was met with great enthusiasm from the sporting arms field. The auction offered a diverse array of sporting arms from very useful fine quality hunting guns to the most desirable and ornate available in the world.

The sale was headlined by a spectacular and fresh to market Parker Bros. A-1 Special 12ga gun. The gun was consigned to Guyette and Deeter from the family it has resided in for 3 generations. The gun remained in exceptionally fine condition and has been documented since its birth in 1917 when it was ordered by southern lumber baron John W. McWilliams. The gun was deaccessioned by the family after 108 years to help fund a special needs trust for future generations. Carrying a pre-sale estimate of $125,000-$175,000, the gun found a new home with a passionate collector, after a fierce bidding battle that landed at an astounding $216,000! This represented a new high watermark for the most valuable Parker Shotgun sold this decade and the most valuable single arm sold by Guyette and Deeter's Sporting Arms division.

Fine Parker Shotguns are a mainstay with Guyette and Deeter and the sale had several truly fine offerings including some very desirable smaller gauge skeet guns. These guns, built during the later production era for the game of skeet are quite desirable to Parker Collectors because of the features they are built with including checkered wood butts. This sale included a very rare VHE Grade 410 bore which was estimated at $30,000-$45,000 and sold at $66,000. Another very rare high original condition VHE Grade 28 gauge gun sold at $66,000 as well. A historically important Parker DH Grade Gun which was described as the last Damascus barreled gun ever built in North America was estimated $6,000-10,000 and made $12,000!

Other notable sales included a stunning pair of John Wilkes 10 gauge shotguns. The two impressive waterfowl guns were embellished by one of the world's most recognized firearms engravers of the 20th and 21st centuries, Ken Hunt. The pair carried a pre-sale estimate of $75,000-$125,000 and sold for $102,000.

Another very high art object in the sale, a fascinating tri-bore 28 gauge built by Ferlach maker, Johan Fanzoi. This unique arm had three 28 gauge barrels and was engraved by master engraver V. Pelli of Creative Arts. The gun was engraved in incredible detail with exquisite game scenes in a most lifelike fashion. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $25,000-$40,000 and found a new home at more than twice its pre-sale high estimate at $90,000!

The sale included an amazing array of Browning Shotguns, some calling it the best selection to come to market in the past 10 years. The Browning's were led by two which landed at $45,000 each. One was a masterpiece accomplished by Rocco Capece which was designed to copy a predecessor's masterpiece. It was an astonishing work of art with carved stocks and opulent gold inlays. The other was also a more modern production gun, a "B-25 Windsor" Model which also represented the best the company could produce. It was profusely engraved, and gold inlaid as well and had wonderfully carved stocks. The sale had a total of 20 Browning Sporting Arms bring over $10,000 each!

Guyette and Deeter is now seeking consignments for its September Fine Sporting Arms Sale. The sale will include collections from around the U.S. and feature a variety of best quality sporting arms right in time for fall gunning seasons. Contact Guyette and Deeter via phone at (410) 745-0485 or via email at Guns@GuyetteandDeeter.com to discuss your consignment.