Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this ONCE IN A LIFETIME FIND. This semi-auto pistol today for a penny start auction is the INSANELY COVETED Auto Mag TDE Model 180 Expermental Prototype!
This example was owned by the Automag Company founder and creater of the Automag Pistol Harry Sanford. This example is highly documented and is featured in the book "The life and death of Auto Mag, Harry Sanford's Bold Adventure"
The following is information we deduced from the research that we conducted that resulted in some very interesting info:
On 2 Aug 1972 while testifying at the Auto Mag Corp. bankruptcy hearing, Harry only admits to having three Auto Mag handguns. One of the guns was the only gun found at the factory. XP0009. Harry turned over to the court XP0007 and XP0012 that was a full sized frame fitted with a .45ACP barrel. The three guns were included in the bankruptcy sale to James C. Thomas III.
Less than two years after Harry testified that he only had three Auto Mags, this picture of Harry with all these guns makes me smile. He may not have had them but somebody did. This collection was sold to Mike Mace who sold it to Doug Beasley who broke up the collection and sold it to the four winds.
Click here to view our other Live Auctions!
This example was owned by the Automag Company founder and creater of the Automag Pistol Harry Sanford. This example is highly documented and is featured in the book "The life and death of Auto Mag, Harry Sanford's Bold Adventure"
The following is information we deduced from the research that we conducted that resulted in some very interesting info:
On 2 Aug 1972 while testifying at the Auto Mag Corp. bankruptcy hearing, Harry only admits to having three Auto Mag handguns. One of the guns was the only gun found at the factory. XP0009. Harry turned over to the court XP0007 and XP0012 that was a full sized frame fitted with a .45ACP barrel. The three guns were included in the bankruptcy sale to James C. Thomas III.
Less than two years after Harry testified that he only had three Auto Mags, this picture of Harry with all these guns makes me smile. He may not have had them but somebody did. This collection was sold to Mike Mace who sold it to Doug Beasley who broke up the collection and sold it to the four winds.
Click here to view our other Live Auctions!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Auto Mag
Model: TDE Model 180
Serial: XP0007
Caliber: .44 AMP
Finish: Stainless
Barrel Length: 8 3/8" Vent Ribbed
Optics/Sights: Ramp on Ramp Base Front and Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Fully Checkered Walnut
Action: Semi-Auto
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Contents:
This TDE Model 180 will ship with the original 6 1/2" vent rib barrel. This example is in Superb condition showing no evidence of regular consumer use or handling that we can see!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: TDE Model 180
Serial: XP0007
Caliber: .44 AMP
Finish: Stainless
Barrel Length: 8 3/8" Vent Ribbed
Optics/Sights: Ramp on Ramp Base Front and Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Fully Checkered Walnut
Action: Semi-Auto
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The .44 Auto Mag pistol (AMP) is a large caliber semi-automatic pistol. It was designed between 1966 and 1971 by the Auto Mag Corporation to make a semi-automatic pistol chambered in .44 AMP. The pistol's reputation and looks have made it popular in cinema and novels and several versions are listed as "Curios and Relics" by the ATF.
In 1970, Auto Mag Corporation president Harry Sanford opened a factory in Pasadena, California. The first pistol was shipped on August 8, 1971, and the factory declared bankruptcy on May 3, 1972, after making fewer than 3,000 pistols. The company opened and closed several times from 1973 through 1982 under several different names: TDE (Trade Deed Estates), OMC, Thomas Oil Company, High Standard, and AMT (Arcadia Machine & Tool).An additional 6,000 pistols were produced and sold during this period for a total of about 9,000. Sanford continued to sell spare parts until his death in 1996. His son Walter continued to sell the remaining parts online through automagparts.com. Production guns were made in .44 AMP. Experimental pistols were made in .45 ACP, .30 AMP, .357 AMP and .41 JMP. Changing calibers usually required only exchanging the barrel – the frame, magazine and bolt could be used with all calibers except .45 ACP.
Auto Mag Corporation was short-lived for several reasons. The design team, headed by Mark Lovendale, took the AutoMag pistol from a unreliable experimental machined chrome-moly steel prototype designed by Harry Sanford and Max Gera and created a more production oriented and marginally reliable stainless steel version. The Lovendale design team was convinced the Auto Mag pistol was not ready for production and needed more changes to improve reliability and could not be produced at a profit. The design team believed that even with a correct finished design, the wholesale price of the pistol had to be greatly increased or the company would go bankrupt. The design team was unable to convince Sanford, and they all resigned. The pistol was then produced by the remaining staff, and put into production. Unfortunately the expensive manufacturing processes and materials, function unreliability and need for many parts to be produced by sub-contractors made the gun unprofitable resulting in bankruptcy of the original company.
Contents:
This TDE Model 180 will ship with the original 6 1/2" vent rib barrel. This example is in Superb condition showing no evidence of regular consumer use or handling that we can see!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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About Us
From a small town hobby, to a leader in the investment and collector grade firearms industry. Bryant Ridge Firearms is here to offer the best in quality and customer service when you are looking to unload your collector grade firearm collection.
