ST LOUIS, Mich. — Gail Mepham decided to collect guns after he retired from his business, Gail’s TV. This meant his estate auction featured a large selection. The auction was conducted by John C. Pavlik Sr. and his son, John. Many of the items had been packed away for 30 to 40 years. The selection was varied from a wasp’s nest to a 46-inch flat-screen Toshiba TV that crossed the block for $625.

The gun that captured the most attention was a .38-55 caliber Winchester Chief Crazy Horse Commemorative rifle. This gun was in its original box and had only been removed from the box twice before – to take pictures. This final selling price was $1,300.

Other Winchesters included: a Model 70 XTR Sporter Mag., 7mm bolt-action with a Simmons 2.8-10 44mm scope that sold for $700; a Winchester 1897 Model 12 that saw $250; a Winchester Model 94, .32 special that earned $425; and a Model 12 16 gauge Winchester that crossed the block for $400.

A Ruger no. 1 lever-action 22-250 with a target barrel and scope found a final bid of $600; a Browning BPR .22 magnum pump gun, automatic with a tube feed earned $650; and a Beretta A3905T 12 gauge automatic with a 3-inch vent rib sold for $550; as did a Weatherby 44.

A Franchi 48-12 12 gauge automatic with a vent rib sold for $500.

A Remington 870 Express Magnum 12 gauge pump gun with a vent rib sold for $300; a New England .30-06 single-shot earned $250; and a Browning 270 with a scope sold for $425.

Mossberg guns included a Model 153 .22LR automatic with a 3-9 scope and a fold-down forearm that sold for $350; and an Accumag 12 gauge pump with a 3½-inch chamber that earned $325. The Steel Pro gun safe to hold the guns sold for $400. For those who would rather hunt with a bow and arrow rather than a gun there was a Barnett Quad 400 crossbow that found a final bid of $350.

The two lawyer’s stacking bookcases were certainly eye-catching pieces. The doors of both were graced with leaded glass which was in very good condition. The first to cross the block was a five-section piece with a top and bottom and the second, which immediately followed, was a two-stack piece, also with a top a bottom. They found several interested individuals resulting in intense bidding with the hammer falling at $1,600 and $1,000 respectively.

A 6-foot tall oak china cabinet with claw feet, curved glass sides and a bow-front glass door also found many anxious to become its owner and the gavel fell at $800. A smaller china cabinet with curved-glass sides and door sold for $525.

One of the chairs was very interesting. It was dark wood with an elaborately carved back, found many interested buyers and sold for $370.

Among the many other chairs a platform rocker sold for $80, and a comfortable La-Z-Boy saw a final bid of $75.

Several tables found their way to the auction block and a marble-top table (unfortunately there was a crack in the marble) sold for $180, and a pair of tables with inlaid tops crossed the block for $55.

An oak secretary/bookcase, drop-front with carvings and double glass sold for $200 (needed glass on one side); and a stick and ball shelf unit earned $220. To keep track of time or keep you on time there was a very nice Model 100 grandfather clock from the Emperor Clock Co. that sold for $225.

A small tabletop cylinder phonograph with approximately 30 Edison cylinder records sold for $300 while an old Victrola, a Victor Talking Machine from the George P. Bent Co. in Chicago, windup record player crossed the block for $250.

You’ve heard the phrase a square peg in a round hole. At this auction there was a round mirror in a square frame! Complete with applied carvings and hat or coat hooks, it crossed the block for $200.

There was a very large selection of glassware ensuring that everyone could probably take home a piece or two – or perhaps more. Examples included a cranberry cruet set with etched glass that sold for $220; a cranberry toothpick in a diamond pattern that earned $50; and a large lot of green glassware that crossed the block for $150.

A hand-painted chocolate pot accompanied by six cups and marked Nippon sold for $65; a small souvenir mug from Ashley, Mich. earned $55; and a lot of three pieces of jadeite settled for $75.

The ample supply of lamps offered a similar opportunity as did the glassware. An oil lamp with frosted glass sold for $110; and two oil lamps, one with a hand-painted shade and predominantly green and the other a cream-color shade with hand-painted flowers sold for $70 and $60 respectively.

Examples of other items that crossed the block included: a button-style concertina that sold for $50; a Dandy glass butter churn that earned $95; and a set of six silhouettes that found a final bid of $100. The hammer fell at $90 for a stagecoach doorstop; a reverse painting on glass of a house by a lake earned $130; and a reverse painting on glass of a windmill saw $80.

Off in the ring with all the “men stuff” – tools, automotive stuff, yard tools, etc. there was a Suzuki GZ250 that sold for $1,675 and a Cub Cadet 2160 riding mower that earned $1,500.

Contact: (989) 463-4903,

www.PavlikLLC.com.