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closeSunday, Nov. 09, 2008
Treasure trove of weapons: Grigg's owner displays collection at Pasco store
By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer
PASCO -- Charles F. Grigg's fascination with weapons has only increased with age.
He enjoys looking at his collection of old and modern rifles, handguns, swords, daggers, medieval armor and other types of weapons and replicas, says the president of Grigg's Department Store.
"It gives me pleasure," he said.
Most of the display is carefully mounted in Grigg's second floor office inside the store.
"Only 40 percent of our collection is on display. The rest is in storage," said Grigg, 69, who inherited a large part of the collection from his father.
His father, Charlie, began collecting weapons almost 60 years ago. As he went about his business of helping liquidate small businesses, he came across guns and handguns that caught his fancy.
Soon, a collection was born.
Over the years, Grigg has added to it, buying antique weapons at estate sales or at stores in different parts of the world he travels to. He bought the first gun for his collection at age 25, he said.
Each piece has a story, said Grigg, who's neither a hunter nor a target shooter.
One of the revolvers in his collection was used in a murder in Pasco in the 1950s, he said. And he has a World War II German army helmet with the name "Willeittner" on it.
You wonder who he was, Grigg said.
One of his prized possessions is a World War II-era anti-tank gun, which is mounted on a sled. You have look up to find it in the fishing goods section. Grigg bought it from a military surplus dealer in the 1950s.
For many people, the guns in the collection bring back memories.
"That's the gun Grandpa had," is a comment Grigg has heard several times.
Grigg said his collection is not an investment. It's his connection with history.
Tom Campbell, 61, of Richland, shares the sentiment. Collectors are generally fascinated with history, weapons and their workmanship. A collector might be interested in certain kinds of weapons or arms from a particular era or could be an eclectic hobbyist with a diverse collection, said Campbell, an expert on U.S. military firearms.
He specializes in Garand and Springfield rifles. U.S. troops carried the Springfield in both world wars and the Garand, also known as the M1, served in World War II, Korea and early on in Vietnam.
Besides collecting those firearms, Campbell also helps restore and repair World War II guns. He retired as chief master sergeant after 24 years in the Air Force.
Arms collections, especially guns, are popular items at auctions, said Scott Musser, co-owner of Musser Bros. Auctions & Real Estate in Kennewick. Rarity and condition dictate the price, Musser said. At an auction he conducted a few years ago, some Winchester rifles went for $5,000 to $10,000, Musser said.
At the recent gun show in Kennewick, an original French Model 1763 Flintlock musket was on sale for $6,300, while a 2001 edition of the Winchester Model 1886 was on sale for $3,400. The two-day show attracted a sizable number of dealers and gun enthusiasts.
Grigg said some guns in his collection are rare, among them a muzzle-loading rifle from the late 1700s and a gun of an unknown vintage with an elaborately carved butt. The display also includes a powder flask for black powder used to load the gun with, Grigg said.
Most of the handguns in the display range from 50 to 100 years old, he said. He purchased a set of about 15 to 20 guns from a family near Sunnyside about a year ago. He declined to tell the price he paid, saying that's not important.
Generally, provenance -- proof of who has owned a weapon -- and the pedigree of a weapon also determine the price they fetch, said Terry Maurer, an antiques appraiser based in Pasco.
For example, a Civil War revolver that can be traced to a well-known officer likely would be worth several thousand dollars. One without any special lineage might sell for a tenth that price.
About five years ago, highly desirable Colt Single Action Army revolvers that were used in the Old West sold in the Tri-Cities for more than $10,000, Maurer said. To establish value of their collections, some collectors tend to be more concerned about keeping records of the weapons they have, he said. Some collectors like to have fully functional weapons, he said.
About 80 percent of the guns in Grigg's collection could work, he said. But his collection also includes mock-up machine guns used to show soldiers how to take the guns apart, a replica of a submachine gun and a dummy grenade and mock shells. And he doesn't know much about individual weapons in his display.
Grigg said his collection is about enjoying the aesthetics and beauty of firearms. An old ax, a long club, a metal helmet, swords of various eras including medieval European, Japanese and modern imitations of the old, are paired with a variety of firearms, creating a universe of its own. Grigg views his weapons collection in the same way he admires his collection of Norman Rockwell paintings.
They are something to admire and enjoy.
* Pratik Joshi: 509-582-1541; pjoshi@tricityherald.com
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