Elmer Keith’s 44 Auto Mag for sale

Interesting.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/pistols/auto-mag-pistols/elmer-keith-s-44-auto-mag-amp-provenance-box-more-99-.cfm?gun_id=103414904

Quote from the ad:

" Positively the coolest Auto Mag available this decade for the advanced collector!"

REALLY? I guess I don't agree. Smile

" Positively the coolest Auto Mag available this decade for the advanced collector!"

Personally I would pass but, I don't get it ????? what's the big deal here

" Right turn Clyde "

I love that it is mag-na-ported like we did back in the day Smile

Celebrity Guns

So, an Auto Mag once owned by Elmer Keith is offered for sale. Beyond the value of the gun by itself, what additional value is justified because of the celebrity who owned it ?

I am not questioning that he was not a celebrity or if he really owned it or not. I am questioning as to where there is a demand, or a market for celebrity guns. I have never heard of an individual who collects celebrity guns. Is Mr. Keith's AM worth more than Buddy Hackett's AM ?

I would think that an AM that was owned by a person with a very close association to the invention of the AM may command a higher price than one with just a celebrity or a movie association. Unfortunately Harry Sanford made groups of frames with his initials on them many times. His initials were part of the serial numbers on these frames. He did this when he was in need of money and they sold very quickly. I have said before that Harry didn't have a personal gun, he had a factory full of them.

The factory guys were infamous in miss-marking guns and barrels so they could be sold for a higher price. There are reports of more recent miss-marking with questionable letters.

I knew a guy who collected Walther's. He owned a Walther that was once owned by Goebbels'. He didn't own any other "celebrity" guns. So I return to my original question, where is the market for these guns ?

There is no denying that a celebrity gun has a higher value than a production gun. Where is the market beyond one who would pay extra just for the bragging rights. A limited market at best. Not an easy sell.

Just saying,,,,,,Bruce Stark

An armed society is a polite society.

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Mtn_Eagle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List International Auto Mag Joined: 04 Nov 2023 Status: Offline Points: 124	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mtn_Eagle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Elmer Keith’s 44 Auto Mag for sale Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 5:31am
	Interesting. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/pistols/auto-mag-pistols/elmer-keith-s-44-auto-mag-amp-provenance-box-more-99-.cfm?gun_id=103414904

Rumore Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 14 Nov 2008 Location: Inola, OK Status: Offline Points: 524	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rumore Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 4:49am
	If Elmer sold the gun to Jimmy Alcorn, why is the check from Wade Kelley? Tony
	Run it up, until you blow it up, then back it down a bit.

BEEMER1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Location: iowa Status: Offline Points: 1366	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEEMER1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 8:59pm
	Quote from the ad: " Positively the coolest Auto Mag available this decade for the advanced collector!" REALLY? I guess I don't agree.

golden24 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 15 Feb 2019 Status: Offline Points: 505	Post Options Post Reply Quote golden24 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jan 2026 at 3:35pm
	! " Positively the coolest Auto Mag available this decade for the advanced collector!" REALLY? I guess I don't agree. [/QUOTE]

edkel1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 02 Apr 2019 Location: So/Cal Status: Offline Points: 360	Post Options Post Reply Quote edkel1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 8:38am
	" Positively the coolest Auto Mag available this decade for the advanced collector!" Personally I would pass but, I don't get it ????? what's the big deal here
	" Right turn Clyde "

golden24 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 15 Feb 2019 Status: Offline Points: 505	Post Options Post Reply Quote golden24 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jan 2026 at 10:54am
	Just my own thoughts. We can all have our own ideas on what something might be worth, could even be very well in flatted & that's okay. It's just someones personal opinion of an item, someone might what it to be worth 25K or only $1200 .......... Just like our DNA, there are no two of us the same.

Mark F Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Northern VA Status: Offline Points: 278	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mark F Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jan 2026 at 2:38pm
	I love that it is mag-na-ported like we did back in the day

XP001 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Status: Offline Points: 588	Post Options Post Reply Quote XP001 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jan 2026 at 10:59pm
	Buy the story! So many holes in that ad, no firm doc just a lot of guess to fill the holes as wanted. Nice firearm as all Auto Mags are.

Dances with AutoMags Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 13 Oct 2011 Location: Valley Glen Status: Offline Points: 613	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dances with AutoMags Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jan 2026 at 10:49pm
	Celebrity Guns So, an Auto Mag once owned by Elmer Keith is offered for sale. Beyond the value of the gun by itself, what additional value is justified because of the celebrity who owned it ? I am not questioning that he was not a celebrity or if he really owned it or not. I am questioning as to where there is a demand, or a market for celebrity guns. I have never heard of an individual who collects celebrity guns. Is Mr. Keith's AM worth more than Buddy Hackett's AM ? I would think that an AM that was owned by a person with a very close association to the invention of the AM may command a higher price than one with just a celebrity or a movie association. Unfortunately Harry Sanford made groups of frames with his initials on them many times. His initials were part of the serial numbers on these frames. He did this when he was in need of money and they sold very quickly. I have said before that Harry didn't have a personal gun, he had a factory full of them. The factory guys were infamous in miss-marking guns and barrels so they could be sold for a higher price. There are reports of more recent miss-marking with questionable letters. I knew a guy who collected Walther's. He owned a Walther that was once owned by Goebbels'. He didn't own any other "celebrity" guns. So I return to my original question, where is the market for these guns ? There is no denying that a celebrity gun has a higher value than a production gun. Where is the market beyond one who would pay extra just for the bragging rights. A limited market at best. Not an easy sell. Just saying,,,,,,Bruce Stark
	An armed society is a polite society.

Mtn_Eagle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List International Auto Mag Joined: 04 Nov 2023 Status: Offline Points: 124	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mtn_Eagle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 12:17am
	Wildey Moore’s gun came with a certificate of authenticity but went close to the lower estimate at RIA in 2024. Strange that it is missing part of the gas system.