Only recently discovered, the extensive WWII War Trophy Firearm & Militaria Collection of Colonel Walter Buie has been stored away within the original boxes and trunks in which the items were shipped back by Buie from his WWII service in both the European and Pacific Theaters. In Europe, Buie was commanding officer of the 272d Infantry Regiment (“Battle Axe Regiment”) of the 69th Infantry Division. Shortly after V-E Day, Buie was transferred to Japan where he served as Chief of Staff for the 25th Infantry Division and was present for V-J Day.
The Buie collection is comprised of hundreds of pieces, acquired by Buie while stationed in Germany and Japan. The war trophies were then packed into trunks and wooden crates for shipment back to the States. When found, the items were still contained within the original trunks and crates. Opening each was an exciting discovery, akin to opening a time capsule where one did now know what historical artifacts await.
Centurion Auctions, auctioneers & appraisers specializing in wartime collectibles and firearms, have been commissioned to bring the Buie collection to market.
The firearms are included in the August 2020 Firearm Auction and consist of approximately 50 pieces, many of which are quite scarce. The online catalog for the August 22nd Firearm Auction is posted and available for bidding. Once at the online catalog, search: "Buie" to filter and view only the firearms associated with the Buie collection.
The military collectibles are included in the October 2020 Wartime Collectible Auction and include hundreds of items. Also included in the militaria session are personal items related to Buie and his military career. The online catalog for the October 17th Wartime Collectibles & Militaria Auction is posted and available for bidding. Once at the online catalog, search: "Buie" to filter and view only the firearms associated with the Buie collection.
Colonel Walter Daniel Buie (1900-1986) was born in Nashville, Georgia, and graduated from the United States Military Academy West Point in 1920. He served in various military positions in the United States and abroad for the next 24 years, and in 1941 was assigned as an instructor at Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1942 he was promoted to colonel. He became chief of staff for the 97th Infantry Division at Fort Leavenworth in 1943, and soon after was reassigned as chief of staff to the newly-activated XXIII Corps at Camp Bowie, Texas. On September 5, 1944, Buie was named regiment commanding officer of the 272d Infantry Regiment (“Battle Axe Regiment”) of the 69th Infantry Division. Shortly after, the 272d Infantry was sent overseas, first to England and then to France, Belgium and Germany. In March 1945, the 272d Infantry occupied the front line position of the Siegfried Line, pushing back the German Army, before advancing to the Rhine River. The 272d continued its path across Germany, capturing Fortress Ehrenbreitstein and clearing over 35 towns along the way, including Leipzig. The 272d Infantry eventually made contact with the Russian Army in Berlin in late April, after the Russian Army had already taken the city. The war in Europe ended with V-E Day a few days later. Colonel Buie was immediately transferred to the Pacific Theater, where he served as Chief of Staff for the 25th Infantry Division and was present for V-J Day. After the war ended, Buie stayed in occupied Japan at the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur’s Far Eastern Command. He returned home to the United States and retired from the military in 1954. He held various government positions after retirement, including with the Federal Civil Defense Administration and the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Buie died in 1986.
Colonel Walter D. Buie’s military legacy is not only that he led his “Battle Axe Regiment” (the 272nd Infantry) in combat, helping to secure the Allied victory in Europe, but that he also had the thoughtful foresight to direct his Information and Education Officer, 1st Lt. E. Cline Fletcher, to assemble the material and publish “The History Of The 272 Infantry,” a hardback 176-page book outlining a timeline history of the “Battle Axe Regiment” in WWII.
After V-E Day, being in Leipzig with his Regiment, Buie had the book printed and distributed to all of his soldiers. This publication lives on today as an amazing historical reference of the 272nd Infantry and their accomplishments.
Centurion Auctions is an industry leader in the valuation, marketing, and sale of historically important firearms, military collectibles, documents, and arms. Centurion conducts speciality auctions in both Firearms and Wartime Military Collectibles. Firearm auctions are focused on antique, modern, sporting, collector, and military firearms, as well as NFA machine guns. Wartime Military Collectible auctions center on medals, awards, edged weapons, cloth, headgear, uniforms, gear, and the like. Each auction is comprised of collections from around the globe, to include individuals, dealers, trusts, estates, museums, and life-long collections. Acquisition teams travel nationally in the acquistion of collections and important items. If you are selling firearms or wartime collectibles - contact Centurion for a complimentary consultation.
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Colonel Walter Buie 272d Infantry Regiment (“Battle Axe Regiment”) 69th Infantry Division - WWII Surrender of Leipzig Germany. Pictured with the Captured Commandant of Leipzig. (Buie - front row, far left)
Colonel Walter Buie in Japan assigned (shortly after V-E Day) as Chief of Staff for the 25th Infantry Division (Buie - farthest from camera, seated directly across table)
Colonel Walter Buie in Japan assigned (shortly after V-E Day) as Chief of Staff for the 25th Infantry Division (Buie - standing, 3rd from right)
Colonel Walter Buie Awarded Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster while stationed in Japan. Buie is being congratulated by Colonel C. A. Russell, Asst. Chief of Staff. Photograph taken 9 June 1947 in Tokyo, Japan.
A young Officer Walter Buie. Photo dates to the 1920's.
Colonel Walter Buie WWII War Trophy Firearm Collection Displayed in Original WWII Wooden Shipping Crates in which they were shipped home from the European and Pacific Theaters and recently found.
Colonel Walter Buie WWII War Trophy Militaria Collection Stored in Original Period Trunks in which they were shipped home from the European and Pacific Theaters and recently found.
The following is a list of the Colonel Walter Buie firearm inventory:
CZ MODEL DUO 6.35mm POCKET PISTOL
MAUSER MODEL 1910 NEW MODEL 6.35mm PISTOL
MAUSER MODEL 1934 7.65mm PISTOL
BELGIAN DAMASCUS BARREL PERCUSSION PISTOL PAIR
T.W. PISTOR .50 CALIBER PERCUSSION PISTOL
JAPANESE 9mm BOXLOCK BELT PISTOL
JAPANESE 9mm BOXLOCK BELT PISTOL
JAPANESE .48 CAL BOXLOCK CANNON BARREL BELT PISTOL
JAPANESE TYPE B 7mm BABY NAMBU PISTOL & HOLSTER
1941 WWII JAPANESE NAMBU TYPE 94 8mm PISTOL
SMITH & WESSON No. 2 ARMY JAPAN REGISTERED 1872
JAPANESE COPY OF SMITH & WESSON No.2 ARMY REVOLVER
JAPAN REGISTERED ENGRAVED PERRIN REVOLVER
1890 TULA ARSENAL S&W No. 3 REVOLVER .44 RUSSIAN
1882 GERMAN M1879 10.6X25mmR REICHSREVOLVER
1882 GERMAN MAUSER M1879 10.6x25mmR REICHSREVOLVER
JAPAN REGISTERED LEFAUCHEUX MODEL 1858 REVOLVER
JAPANESE MARKED JAVELLE 12mm DA PINFIRE REVOLVER
1867 JAPANESE MARKED COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER
1876 JAPANESE .38 CALIBER PERCUSSION REVOLVER
JAPAN MADE TERZEROL SINGLE SHOT PERCUSSION PISTOL
JAPANESE KOISHIKAWA TYPE 26 9x22mmR REVOLVER
BELGIAN VARIATION OF FRENCH M1892 8mm REVOLVER
H.COMBLAIN BREVETE DOUBLE ACTION PINFIRE REVOLVER
TIPPING & LAWDEN HAMMER SAFETY PINFIRE REVOLVER
PERRIN PARIS 12mm DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER
D'ARMES ET CYCLES No.26 ROBUST 16 GA SBS SHOTGUN
ST. ETIENNE 16 GAUGE SIDE BY SIDE SHOTGUN
D'ARMES DE BELLEVUE 12 GA SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN
DARNE V SERIES 12 GA SBS SLIDING BREECH SHOTGUN
F. P. GEERINCKX 12 GA SBS HAMMERLESS SHOTGUN
ST. ETIENNE 12 GAUGE SIDE BY SIDE SHOTGUN
FRENCH ST. ETIENNE 12 GA SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN
MANUFRANCE IDEAL No. 3R 12 GA SBS SHOTGUN
RHEINMETALL Nr 4 16 GAUGE JAPANESE POLICE SHOTGUN
EDUARD KETTNER 6.5mm BREAK-OVER HUNTING RIFLE
C.G. HAENEL ORIG AYDT 8.15x46 NORM SCHUETZEN RIFLE
E. PACHMAYER TRAUNSTEIN .17 CAL SCHUETZEN RIFLE
F. JAGER & CO. SUHL 7.8mm / 16 GA COMBO CAPE GUN
AUGUSTIN BUSTINDUI SPANISH MIQUELET BLUNDERBUSS
1943 WWII GERMAN J.P. SAUER K98K 8mm RIFLE
WWII JAPANESE TOKYO ARSENAL TYPE 38 6.5mm CARBINE
WWII JAPANESE TYPE 44 6.5mm CAVALRY CARBINE
WWII JAPANESE TYPE 5 RIFLE 7.7x58mm
WWII JAPANESE KOKURA TYPE 99 ARISAKA RIFLE
WWII JAPANESE KOKURA TYPE 99 LONG 7.7x58mm RIFLE
DUTCH HEMBRUG M95 6.5x53mmR CARBINE
JAPANESE NAMBU PISTOL LEATHER HOLSTER
The following is a list of the Colonel Walter Buie wartime collectible inventory:
WWI IMPERIAL PRUSSIAN INFANTRY OFFICER DEGEN SABER
WWII US VETERAN BRING BACK JAPANESE MENUKI & TSUBA
REPRODUCTION OF THE BOWIE KNIFE BY CARVEL HALL
US WWII NAMED OFFICERS ETCHED PRESENTATION SWORD
WWII TYPE-97 ARISAKA SNIPER RIFLE SCOPE WITH CASE
WINCHESTER GUN OIL 3 OZ. CANS - LOT OF 2
FIENDOIL GUN OIL 3 OZ. CANS - LOT OF 3
VINTAGE FIENDOIL 35 CENTS 2 OZ. GLASS BOTTLE & BOX
GORHAM STERLING TEA SET US MILITARY ACADEMY - BUIE
REDLICH & CO STERLING SILVER PRESENTATION PITCHER
JAPANESE CLOTH DOLLS ON STANDS - LOT OF 2
JAPANESE KIMONOS AND OTHER FABRIC
JAPANESE PARASOLS GETA SANDALS OTHER COLLECTIBLES
GERMAN BOOKS AND MAPS - LOT OF 8
1790 ANEKDOTEN VON KONIG FRIEDRICH II BOOK
1746 JOHANN l. FRISCH GERMAN - FRENCH DICTIONARY
LATE 1880s FRENCH BOOKS - LOT OF 4
1840s EMILIE CARLEN NOVELS IN GERMAN - LOT OF 4
19TH CENTURY GERMAN BOOKS - LOT OF 5
19TH CENTURY GERMAN BOOKS - LOT OF 6
1841 GERMAN MARTIN LUTHER BIBLE OLD NEW TESTAMENTS
19TH C. BIBLES & RELIGIOUS HISTORY BOOKS LOT OF 5
WWI “THE 26TH INFANTRY IN FRANCE” HISTORY BOOK
WWII “HISTORY OF THE 272 INFANTRY” BOOK
WWII “HISTORY OF THE 272 INFANTRY” BOOK
WWII “HISTORY OF THE 272 INFANTRY” BOOK
1930s 40s GERMAN TRAVEL & HISTORY BOOKS - LOT OF 9
1930s GERMAN LANGUAGE HISTORY BOOKS - LOT OF 10
CHINESE & JAPANESE BOOKS, GUIDES, MAPS - LOT OF 20
TOURIST LIBRARY SERIES JAPANESE GOVT. RAILWAYS
BROWNING HISTORY BOOK & 1960s CATALOGS - LOT OF 4
1813 ORDONNANCE PROVISOIRE POUR LA CAVALERIE BOOK
1682 GERMAN BIBLE PUBLISHED BY JOHANN STERN
JOHANN HUBNER CONVERSATIONS - LEXICON, 1782
19TH CENTURY CHINESE COINS LOT OF 2
34TH YEAR OF KUANG HSU PEI YANG COIN
EARLY 20TH C. CHINESE COINS - LOT OF 12
19TH AND 20TH C. INTERNATIONAL COINS - LOT OF 100
19TH AND 20TH C. INTERNATIONAL COINS - LOT OF 150
20TH CENTURY INTERNATIONAL COINS - LOT OF 87
DESTRUCTION OF GERMAN ARMIES 1944-1945 DOCUMENT
COL. BUIE’S WWII MAPS - GERMANY, JAPAN, GREECE
1960s TRAVEL POSTER, GERMANY
1960s TRAVEL POSTER, JAPAN
1940s EUROPEAN & AMERICAN TRAVEL MAPS & BROCHURES
BROWNING MACHINE GUN .50 CAL INSTRUCTIONS CHART
BROWNING MACHINE GUN 30 CAL GRAPHIC TRAINING CHART
BROWNING 30 CAL MACHINE GUN GRAPHIC TRAINING CHART
WWII US ARMY ISSUE LANGUAGE & OTHER POCKET GUIDES
1913 HONG KONG DOLLAR
20TH C. INTERNATIONAL PAPER MONEY - LOT OF 57
WWII GERMAN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE & ARMY PHOTOS
FRAMED PHOTO PRINTS - LOT OF 4
TRAVEL PHOTO ALBUM OF US ARMY COL WALTER D BUIE
COL. W.D. BUIE WWII & POST WAR PHOTO ARCHIVE LOT
WWII 1945 EAST MEETS WEST & SURRENDER PHOTO LOT
US ARMY COLONEL WALTER DANIEL BUIE ARCHIVE
WWII THIRD REICH PROPAGANDA NSDAP PARTY BANNER
WWII THIRD REICH PROPAGANDA NSDAP PARTY BANNER
EARLY WWII GERMAN NSDAP RAD CAR PENNANT IN CASE
WWII GERMAN EARLY RAD NSDAP CASED CAR PENNANT 105
WWII VET BRING BACK JAPANESE RISING SUN NAVAL FLAG
WWII JAPANESE LINEN MEATBALL FLAG VET BRING BACK
WWII BRING BACK JAPANESE IMPERIAL ARMY LINEN FLAG
WWII HANDMADE US ARMY 272ND INFANTRY REGIMENT FLAG
IMPERIAL GERMAN PRUSSIAN POLIZEI 1928 BLANKET
IMPERIAL GERMAN PRUSSIAN BLANKET 1928 POLIZEI
WII BRING BACK IGOROT WOODEN SHIELD & AXE 20TH C.
WWII THIRD REICH GAS CLOTHING BELT & AMMO POUCH
WWII US ARMY OFFICER'S FIELD GEAR GAS MASK & MORE
20TH C. US ARMY ISSUE SLEEPING GEAR LOT
WOODEN WALKING STICKS - LOT OF 3
1950s GOSSEN SIXTOMAT PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHT METER
WWII GERMAN THIRD REICH HEER M43 WOOL FIELD CAP
GERMAN WWII THIRD REICH HEER 1942 OVERSEAS CAP
WWII US M1 HELMET & LINER FRONT SEAM SWIVEL BALE
US WWII M1 WEBBED HELMET LINER WITH M1941 JEEP CAP
US VET WWII BRING BACK NSDAP MEDAL & BADGES LOT
WWII JAPANESE LABOR MERIT MEDAL & WOUND DECORATION
WWII JAPANESE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN KITE 2ND CLASS
JAPAN ORDER OF THE SACRED TREASURE 4TH & 5TH CLASS
JAPAN WWII ORDER OF THE RISING SUN 1ST CLASS GRAND
WWII JAPAN ORDER OF THE GOLDEN KITE 3RD CLASS STAR
WWII JAPAN ORDER OF THE COUNTRY PILLARS 2ND CLASS
WWII JAPANESE ORDER OF THE SACRED CLOUD 1ST CLASS
US WWII OFFICER'S MEDALS RIBBON BARS PATCHES MORE
WWII US ARMY OFFICER'S ISSUED CLOTHES IN TRUNK
US ARMED FORCES 20TH CENT. JUMPSUIT & PANTS LOT
NAMED US ARMY M-1943 WWII FIELD JACKETS LOT OF 2
WWII GERMAN HITLER YOUTH ELASTOLIN & LINEOL MODELS
GERMAN WWII PERIOD MADE FUHRER HITLER TOY MODEL
WWII GERMAN HITLER YOUTH MOUNTED CAVALRY TOY LOT
THIRD REICH WWII GERMAN WEHRMACHT HEER MODEL LOT
WWII GERMAN HEER TOY MODELS ELASTOLIN & LINEOL
THIRD REICH WWII PERIOD HITLER YOUTH MODEL LOT
WWI - WWII GERMAN MILITARY & NSDAP PARTY PLAQUES
WWII VETERAN BERCHTESGARDEN BRING BACK WOOD ROD
35TH INFANTRY REGIMENTAL WWII PRESENTATION PLAQUE
WWII OFFICER'S NAMED FOOT LOCKER TRUNKS LOT OF 6
FORT LEAVENWORTH COAT OF ARMS CUPS - LOT OF 10
