Montrose Firearms Auction features stellar estate collections of Mike Stewart and Tony Rodriguez

GREENSBORO, GA.- On Saturday, December 13, Montrose Auction in Central Georgia will present a fully-curated 657-lot live gallery sale led by top-notch firearms and militaria from two venerable estate collections. The lineup features prized Ruger revolvers from the estate of Mike Stewart and military arms and artifacts from the estate collection of Pedro Antonio “Tony” Rodriguez. In addition, the widely varied selection includes scores of desirable handguns, a 19-piece collection of Luger semi-automatic pistols; high-grade Browning rifles and superior-quality shotguns sourced from several fine collections.

Mike Stewart (1938-2016) was a well-known and highly respected expert on collectible Ruger revolvers. Active in the Ruger Collectors Association from its early years, Mike was recognized by his peers as a master scholar and sure-shot authority on the subject of vintage Rugers. His interests also extended to classic American firearms including Colt Single Actions, Great Western revolvers and Winchester lever actions; and custom-crafted knives. The December 13 auction includes 25 exceptional Rugers from Mike’s collection.

A customized Ruger Flat-Top Blackhawk .44 Magnum Revolver converted to fixed sights has a 4-5/8-inch barrel and high-polish blue on the barrel and chamfered cylinder. It has a finely checkered hammer and a very nice tuned action that has not been converted to a Transfer Bar System. The handsome ivory grips are genuine and fit quite well. In overall Very Good condition, it is estimated at: $650-$850.

Like the Flat-Top, three other Rugers that are expected to attract strong interest likewise have actions that have not been converted to a Transfer Bar System. They, too, have genuine ivory grips. The first, a customized Ruger Old Model Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum Revolver in high-polish blue, has been cut to a 6½-inch barrel (or could be original?) and has a finely-checkered rear sight, ejector knob and wide hammer spur. The grips are carved with a steer head on the right and large eagle head on the left. Graded in Excellent condition, its pre-sale estimate is 550-$750.

Another customized Ruger Old Model Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum Revolver, with a 4¾-inch barrel, displays high-polish blue and has a checkered wide hammer spur, wide grooved trigger, and serrated rear sight. Its ivory grips retain great color and grain, and fit perfectly. This gun is in Excellent condition and shows only a few light handling marks. Estimate: $550-$750

A customized Ruger Old Model Blackhawk Flat-Top .44 Magnum Revolver in high-polish blue with a 4-inch barrel has a checkered rear sight with rounded corners and a checkered hammer spur. Its ivory grips have a thick contour. Grader in Very Good condition, this attractive gun has only a few minor dings and scratches on the grip frame. Auction estimate: $550-$750

Graded Very Good and showing no use, a customized Ruger New Model Single-Six Bisley Revolver, 22 LR with fixed sights, has a 4-5/8-inch barrel and steel-grip frame with Sambar stag grips. It has a checkered hammer spur and ejector knob. Bidding is guided by a $350-$550 estimate.

Those with an eye for historically-significant Lugers will want to delve into Lots 291 through 297. Manufactured in the first and second decades of the 20th century, these fantastic German pistols carry individual estimates ranging primarily in the $1,000-$2,500 range and rising to $3,500-$4,500 for an exceptionally fine 1917-dated WWI DWM 9mm Navy Luger with a 6-inch barrel.

Tony Rodriguez (1946-2025) was a Cuban immigrant whose family fled Castro’s communist regime in 1962 to settle in Georgia. An outstanding high school student, Tony went on to forge a rewarding career with CSX Railroad, retiring as an engineer after 40 years of service. He was a lifelong firearms collector and had an abiding passion for military firearms and artifacts, especially war relics, e.g., rifles, bayonets, handguns, ammunition and other historical items. Over his lifetime, he assembled a diverse and well-curated military collection that reflected an incredible amount of knowledge amassed throughout his collecting journey.

An item that Tony held in high regard was a USMC J Unertl 8-power sniper scope with a metal screw-in lens caps and scope rings with adjustment knobs, with the original storage tube.

This scope was issued to US Marine Corps snipers during World War II and the Korean War, mounted on the legendary M1903A1 Springfield and later Winchester Model 70 sniper rifles. This item is going to grab collectors’ attention. Its auction estimate is set at $2,500-$3,500.

An unusual gun from Tony’s collection, a Romanian Mk II semi rifle, 5.45 x 39 with a 16.50 modern barrel, has an adjustable rear and fixed front sight, with laminated skeletonized stock. A detachable box magazine will convey to the auction bidder who ultimately claims the gun. In Excellent+ overall condition, it is expected to sell for $750-$1,250.

Premium-quality shotguns are cataloged with Lot Numbers 280, 287, 307, 310, 313 and 315, while the selection of high-grade Brownings may be found from Lots 240 through 274 plus Lot 289. Just one coveted example from the latter grouping is a Remington 121 Fieldmaster Slide Rifle, .22 LR, with a single-bead front sight, Rutledge bore for .22 rifle-shot cartridges only (as barrel marked), tube-fed magazine, and pistol-grip walnut stock. Graded Excellent, its metal surfaces retain their original finish and have minimal handling marks. As Montrose’s catalog description notes, this rifle’s configuration confirms it was manufactured sometime between 1936 and 1954, and that it is one of only 3,000 produced with a 24-inch barrel. Estimate: $900-$1,500

“It takes decades of perseverance to build and upgrade a collection to the level achieved by Mike Stewart and Tony Rodriguez,” said Trey Cottle, president of Montrose Auctions. “Whenever firearms collections as refined as theirs appear in the auction marketplace, it’s a gift to the collecting community. It takes time, a lot of networking and an ongoing financial commitment to reach the top echelon of gun-collecting, which Tony and Mike definitely did. Any bidder who is lucky enough to end up with a piece from either of those gentlemen’s collections can feel confident that their new acquisition comes with meaningful provenance.”

Montrose Auction’s December 13, 2025 Firearms Auction will start at 10am ET, following an in-person preview from 8-10am. The sale will be held onsite at Alligood’s, 203 North Main St., Greensboro, GA 30642; on GA 44 only 2.7 miles from I-20 exit 130. Live online bidding will be available through Montrose Live, LiveAuctioneers, and Proxibid. To leave an absentee bid, reserve a phone line for bidding on auction day or for additional information about any auction item, call 478-376-4559 or email staff@montroseauction.com. Online: https://www.montroseauction.com. Georgia Auction License No. GAL2006