“Firearm collectors and enthusiasts were struck by a bombshell recently when Rock Island Auction Company revealed the catalog for its September Premiere Auction, which includes an M1 Garand once owned by President John F. Kennedy,” notes Daniel Hu, a reporter for the news site OutdoorHub.

“Touted as one of the most historically significant M1 Garand rifles to ever be put up for auction, the gun was acquired by Kennedy during his time as a senator through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship,” Mr. Hu says.

And from the auction house itself, which advises that bids could hit $100,000: “Since this rifle was issued to Senator Kennedy in 1959, well before he was elected to the Office of the President of the United States, this rifle could very well have accompanied him directly into the White House.”

The rifle has been placed in the “curio and relic” class, and the condition is pretty good - actually rated “excellent overall,” with 99 percent of the original hand polished and blued finish still remaining with just some minor wear on the right side receiver rail, “from the limited test firing it has seen,” the auction company states.

Find all the particulars, documentation and historic details here

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.