Who died?

#1

A gun dealer in Illinois has a large old collection on consignment which he is auctioning on GUNBROKER.com. He does business as CANDU.

He decribes the collection so;

“This is part of a large collection of historical military items. The owner of the collection had been collecting since 4 years of age. He lived near a military base during his childhood years. This collection is quite large with thousands of pieces, approximately 80% U.S. with some rare, experimental and one of a kind items. Many items have been acquired from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds as well”.

Some of these items I have not seen for sale since the CHICAGOLAND show run by the late Bob Strauss 40 years ago.

I am not collecting and so am not buying BUT would like to know who the collection belonged to.

Many collectors just pass away without notice. That is a shame.

#2

Here’s the company handling the sell-off with pictures:

ratworxusa.com/pagCollection.aspx

I asked them who’s it was. They wouldn’t say. Not sure that the collector is dead.

Back before I decided to start unloading, I acquired quite a few of the pictured items. An unbelievable collection.

#3

It may be from a collector who died many years ago and whose surviving inheritor is only now putting stuff up for sale. It also might be from a gun or militaria collector who collected ammo & ordnance items on the side and who was not a member of the IAA, or who kept a low profile. It could also just be a made up story, but that seller has decent feedback, so it’s probably true.

#4

Yes, all those things +. As for the seller, a top notch crew there. One of the best on GB, by far.

#5

Some of the listings on GB say the collector recently passed away at the age of 75…no name…

Randy

#6

I’ve dealt with Rat Worx, even bought a few things from him. He’s primarily into guns, and the cartridges are a sideline. I’ve talked to him and the Mrs. over the phone a couple of times and he and she impressed me as being honest. (Of course, a crook also pretends to be honest).

I’ve been buying on GB for several years, and on 2 or 3 other auction sites and from individuals who have very nice collectable cartridges. Only a couple of them are IAA members. One or two have since joined but most simply are not “club” types.

Ray

#7

From the items which I am seeing the collector had to be active 40 or more years ago as well as within the last couple of decades. 4 is pretty young to start an ammo collection. I was 8 and looking back; that was too young to have live ammo but I did. I now wish that I had the ammo which I tore apart just to burn the powder !

#8

[quote=“SlickRick”]Here’s the company handling the sell-off with pictures:

ratworxusa.com/pagCollection.aspx

I asked them who’s it was. They wouldn’t say. Not sure that the collector is dead.

Back before I decided to start unloading, I acquired quite a few of the pictured items. An unbelievable collection.[/quote]

Thank you. I see some items there which I sold. If I still had a memory I would know who it was. Some of these items get sold and resold so maybe not. This is a nice general collection.

#9

The collection being sold is part of the estate of Bob Faris, Wickenburg, AZ. He was employed as a Small Arms Civilian Test Technician at Aberdeen Proving Ground and later Yuma Proving Ground before he retired in the early 1980’s.

Ray

#10

[quote=“RayMeketa”]The collection being sold is part of the estate of Bob Faris, Wickenburg, AZ. He was employed as a Small Arms Civilian Test Technician at Aberdeen Proving Ground and later Yuma Proving Ground before he retired in the early 1980’s.

Ray[/quote]
Ray, I knew Bob’s stuff pretty well and the items pictured on the website are not his. I would expect it will be some time, if ever, before any of his collection becomes available. Bob died on the 12th of this month. He was 82. JH

#11

My mistake. :(

#12

This fellow seems more likely to be local to that shop in Illinois. Shipping that heavy hardware is a serious job and expense. If you don’t believe me I will introduce you to my hernia doctor. I have packed and hefted tons of this junk.

Sorry to hear that Faris has passed on. He was an asset to the community for many years.

#13

Some really good stuff showing up on this sale. Too bad I am not collecting any more.