This winter, the eyes of the global collecting community will turn to Maine as Poulin Antiques & Auctions prepares for its highly anticipated four-day Midwinter Premier Auction. Running from February 26 through March 1, 2026, this extraordinary sale features more than 2,300 lots, headlined by the prestigious Military Museum Collection of Shooters Outpost of Hooksett, New Hampshire.

In December, Shooters Outpost owners Jim and Carey McLoud made the “sad but necessary announcement” that the firearms museum, first opened in 2018, would be closing.

“We have contracted what I feel is the very best place to dispose of these historical items,” Jim McLoud said in a statement. “The space where the museum is will be used for something to enhance the store itself. Hundreds of machine guns will find great forever homes , as well as some artifacts that will be donated to other museums.

This event will be a landmark offering of rare, fully transferable Pre-86 and Post-86 NFA firearms ever brought to auction. The star attractions include two powerhouse “Minigun”–six-barrel rotary machine guns firing 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute–dealer samples from the Shooters Outpost collection. The first is a turnkey JLM/Garwood M134 (est. $125,000–$150,000), and the second is an ASI/General Electric M134 (est. $75,000–$125,000), representing the pinnacle of modern rapid-fire technology.

For enthusiasts of WWII German engineering, there is a “Holy Grail” MG-42 used by the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. Estimated at $80,000–$110,000, this is the earliest known example featuring its factory-original slab-side charging handle—a configuration nearly always lost to later retrofits.

The auction’s reach spans the full breadth of military history, from historical pieces to Vietnam rarities. Of particular interest is a Vietnam “bringback” Hotchkiss Universal submachine gun. Known as the “Transformer Gun” for its unique folding design, this rare 9mm (est. $100,000–$150,000) was captured near Saigon in 1964 and is accompanied by the veteran’s original amnesty paperwork.

Civil War collectors will find exceptional provenance in a double-cased pair of factory-engraved Colt 1855 Root revolvers presented to General Alfred Duffié (Lot #4055, est. $40,000–$60,000). Additionally, a rare first-model Confederate Griswold and Gunnison revolver offers a tangible link to Southern manufacturing history (est. $25,000–$35,000).

Full of iconic pieces of Americana, the show will include Hollywood legends and master craftsmanship, including the “John Wayne Remington,” a Remington New Army Revolver used by The Duke himself in the film, The Big Trail (est. $15,000–$30,000); the “Ulrich Winchester,” a rare Winchester 1873 signed by legendary engraver John Ulrich (est. $35,000–$50,000); and the “Custer Tribute Colt,” a Michael Dubber-engraved masterpiece that won the prestigious Howard Dove award (est. $20,000–$30,000).

“We are thrilled to present this encompassing collection from the Shooters Outpost Military Museum,” Poulin Antiques & Auctions president Nick Poulin said. “This is the finest collection of NFA items to ever be offered at auction, and we will continue to highlight this outstandingly curated collection throughout 2026.”

Bidding is available live at the Poulin gallery in Fairfield, by phone, or online via PoulinLive, iCollector, Proxibid, and other major platforms. Live previews will be held February 24-25 and by appointment.

For more information, to request a catalog, or to register for bidding, visit www.poulinauctions.com.