The Rock Island Auction Company set the summer on fire with its most recent Regional Firearms Auction.
The July 11-13 event turned out to be the largest in the Illinois-based company’s history. Some 6,500-plus guns were moved in the three-day auction. And the volume of sales helped RIAC set another mark.
The $4.4 million in sales made the event the third-highest grossing Regional Firearms Auction the company has staged. And it garnered some truly epic bids for some of the world’s most sought-after firearms.
The bell of the ball turned out to be a New Haven Arms Company Volcanic lever-action carbine. The rifle featured a desirable 21-inch barrel, and drew a winning bid of $21,850.
Also turning heads in the auction hall was a historic first generation Colt Single Action Army revolver that came with a posse of accessories. The revolver at one time belonged to “Longhair” Jim Courtright, one of the first marshals of Fort Worth, Texas and was won with a bid of $18,400.
While firearms obviously were in the limelight of the auction, it was edged weapons that stole the show. A lot containing two Soviet swords and two shorter knives was sold for an astounding $40,250.
The lot was a true sleeper, going on the block at a reasonable $800. But two bidders fought each other for the edged weapons from remote locations, leaving the auction hall awash in astonished murmurs.
Revolvers had a strong draw at the event with every type and vintage piquing interest from buyers.
Of particular note, was a Colt 1860 Army with a two-digit serial number. The revolver was reasonably presumed to have been manufactured in the first months of production. In turn, the early example of the popular and historic handgun fetched a price of $10,925.
Also reaching attractive prices were a Remington 1890 Single Action Army ($4,600), a Colt 1851 Navy ($3,450) and a Texas Longhorn Arms Grover’s Improved No. 5 single action ($2,875)
Military arms, both foreign and domestic, were a major source of interest for bidders and drew corresponding prices. Three arms in particular enjoyed strong bids from this area.
A high condition Mauser “S/42” code “K” date luger with holster went home with a collector for $3,450. And two artillery Lugers drew the same winning bid. The first was a DWM 1914-dated artillery Luger with its accessories; the other a 1914-dated artillery Luger with blond grips.
Also drawing interest from military collectors, were several lots of M1 carbines from various war-time manufacturers. Not one sold for less than $1,000. One specimen, a World War II Inland M1A1 paratrooper carbine, went for $2,185. And a 1918 manufactured Colt M1911 brought in $2,587.
The July event was Rock Island’s second and final Regional Auction of 2014. The company will hold two Premiere Firearms Auctions September 12-14 and December 5-7.
2015 Standard Catalog of Firearms
