Gun auction draws hundreds in Dell Rapids

• Gun auction

Hundreds of prospective buyers inspect the nearly 200 guns up for auction Saturday at the Dell Rapids Event Center in Dell Rapids. The entire collection of guns, ammunition, fishing gear and tools belonged to Dean Stoner who died in October. (AP photo)

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DELL RAPIDS (AP) — One man’s gun collection drew hundreds of people and their thousands of dollars to Dell Rapids this weekend.

Nearly 200 guns belonging to Dean Stoner, a rural Wentworth resident who died in October, were put up for sale Saturday. And the line of potential bidders stretched outside of the building when the auction started.

Stoner’s wife, Mary, said she was overwhelmed by the turnout.

“Dean would be so pleased to think of all the years he spent collecting, this is what it comes to,” she said. “I hope whoever ends up with the guns enjoys them as much as he did.”

The collection of 194 guns included rifles, handguns and shotguns, as well as gun cabinets, ammunition and other outdoor gear and equipment. Many of the guns were in pristine condition and some of the commemorative guns had never been fired.

“It’s one of the most awesome collections I’ve seen from one party,” said Lee Burggraff of LandMark Realty and Auction, which handled the sale.

Burggraff, whose favorite firearm was an original 1851 Navy Colt revolver, expects proceeds from the sale to reach $100,000. Mary Stoner said her husband had no need to justify to her the money he spent on his hobby, but he always made a practical case about the investment.

“I like to think he’s smiling down, saying ‘I told you so. It’s better than money in the bank,’” she said. She also acknowledged it was a day of mixed emotions.

“It was kind of sad walking in,” Mary said. “It’s like losing him all over again.”