RockIslandAuction

Three days. 5,800 guns. It's this summer's biggest auction for gun collectors. Our June 21-23 Sporting & Collector Auction is open to the public, or you can visit us on June 20th for our full day of preview. Either is a great way to spend time this summer and find something new for your next range day.

Machine guns and NFA items of all kinds are a red hot field of collecting at Rock Island Auction Company. Whether collectors were seeking a new range toy, a historic machine gun, or a sound investment, the selection at our May Premier was fantastic. Here are just a few of the highlights in this auction's 100 Class III items and their outstanding results.

Jacob and Samuel Hawken are among the most famous makers of American muzzleloaders. Their half-stock and full-stock rifles are emblematic of the American frontier era, and bear strong similarities to other early American woodworking artisans. They are quintessential Americana. In a bidding battle between our RIAC Live bidding platform against a live phone bidder, the numbers quickly rose and more than doubled the Hawken rifle's high estimate.

Boss & Co. is one of London's top gunmakers and their name is synonymous with fine, Best Quality guns. This masterfully factory engraved 20 gauge sidelock O/U came with a case, two barrel set, and plenty of pre-auction excitement. It pushed this Boss shotgun past its high estimate to a collector who clearly appreciated its quality and timeless aesthetic.

The Colt Model 1903 is a U.S. military sidearm with a rich history. This particular example narrowly avoided a life in the service to be come an absolute showcase piece that has been wonderfully preserved for over 100 years. It all resulted in this factory engraved Colt almost doubling its high estimate as it crossed the podium.

The bids were flying faster than ever on the final day of our May 2023 Premier Auction. Collectors were right to do so, as they were vying for some absolute giants in the fine arms field, and these opportunities are always fleeting.

It's a king of fine arms collecting! This Winchester 1866 rifle, gold finished and master engraved by Conrad Ulrich is the type of gun that has filled books and the world's best collections for decades. Its pre-auction estimate was $75,000 - $110,000, but how much will this example bring when it crosses the podium?

Everybody loves a Friday! Collectors were excited for a big auction weekend and the bids were flying during the first day of our May 2023 Premier. Here are just a few of the day's heaviest hitters as they cross the podium.

How much does an FG42 cost? With prices on these scarce German paratrooper rifles rising sharply, that answer is constantly changing. In RIAC's May 2023 Premier Auction, a rare Type 1 example brought a sum higher than any other previously offered by the auction house, and quickly became its highest selling machine gun to date.

Since we receive so many inquiries of what items featured in our videos have brought at auction, we've put together our now-customary video to show some of the auction's exceptional results.

Colt 1861 Navy revolvers are already significantly rarer than other Civil War-era models by the manufacturer. Now plate them in silver, trim them in gold, cover them in factory engraving, relief carved grips, and add a presentation to an accomplished Civil War serviceman, and you have a recipe for one of the most well-known and best documented of all the American Civil War Colt revolvers. It's a one-of-a-kind pair that one savvy collector can now appreciate for all its beauty, rarity, and unique history.

The Colt 1903 is part of a U.S. military sidearm heritage that extends back to 1889. The Colt New Army & Navy revolver has fought on foreign shores, been carried by heroes, and was quite a step forward in revolver adoption for the United States. This gorgeous example, bears the inspection marks of its military bretheren, but clearly saw no such duty. It's been slathered with engraving from the Helfricht shop, if not by Helfricht himself, wears checkered ivories with lovely mellowed tones, and still shines with nitre blue so bright it practically glows in the dark.

The Cochran turret revolver is not your typical revolver! The 7-shot, .36 caliber, utilizes a disc shaped cylinder with its chambers oriented outward like the spokes of a wheel. Despite this design earning him some success with cannons in the Ottoman Empire, as a pistol in the U.S. it was competing directly with Samuel Colt and his Paterson revolver. Today, these simple and well-made turret revolvers are one of the most desirable pieces of firearms curiosa, and they have the pre-auction estimates to prove it.

The hottest news out of SHOT Show this year was the new reproduction StG-44 announced by PSA, but did you know they weren't the first to do it? In 2009 SSD (Sport System Dittrich) imported their PTR-44 into the U.S. and it was a near EXACT copy of the original. Took original mags, fired 8mm Kurz, right down to some of the same markings, only modified for semi-automatic fire only. They were so exact, their $5,000 cost quickly justified by those who couldn't afford to purchase an original or who didn't care to go through the tax stamp process. Only about 200 were ever imported, driving their prices up even further and keeping the PTR-44 in high demand still today.

A RIAC Premier Auction is like no other event in the world, and a quick glance around our Preview Hall shows exactly why. Where else could you find cannons, high art collector arms, a stage coach, machine guns, historic guns, and a gorgeous 1967 Chevelle all in the same room? Come join us! Our full day preview and 3-day Premier Auctions are all open to the public. We can't wait to show you why we're the #1 firearms auction house in the world.

Whether it's cars, fashion, or wine, Italian artisans have set a global high standard in the world of luxury and designer goods. Their shotguns prove no exception. Three of the world's most notable shotgun makers hail from Italy: FAMARS, Perazzi, and Beretta. All are showcased here in highly embellished, superbly crafted sporting arms each as pleasing to the eye as they would be afield.

The story of Daniel Moore and his Moore's Patent Firearms Company is so much more than losing a lawsuit to Rollin White. Moore's designs were creative, reliable, and ahead of their time. The proof is in three of his designs shown here, which also show that Moore's Patent firearms provide worthy collection additions to both the novice or the advanced collector.

One lesser-known step in the journey toward today's modern machine guns is that of Joseph Montigny and his Montigny Mitrailleuse. These multibarrel creations arms sought to up battlefield firepower, but militaries were uncertain of how to best implement them. Multiple variations, sizes, and firing mechanisms exist, making these unusual guns endlessly fascinating for those who study firearms engineering or the evolution in repeating arms.

Liege long served as one of the centers of European gunmaking in the 19th century, and along with Paris, took home their fair share of awards at the periods numerous international exhibitions. This stunning shotgun is a fabulous example of the period's "armes de luxe" genre, showcasing their incredible skills in engraving, inlay, damascus, and carving. Celestin Dandoy became the general director of the Liege Firearms Manufactory (Manufacture Liegoise d'Armes a Feu) in 1866 and was clearly up to the task of upholding the region's sterling reputation of superlative European gunmaking and artistry.

Western art and fine arms are two genres of collecting that have been gaining significant ground on their traditional art contemporaries. Not only is John Ulrich's masterpiece Winchester 1895 a meeting of those two collecting fields, but several other intersections as well. It's the combination of noted Western author Zane Grey and Master Engraver John Ulrich, and it's the last of Winchester's famous lever-actions made in the final days of the American West. At a time when Western art was thriving, its best story teller was ordering a rifle from the definitive American rifle maker, embellished with art from one of America’s preeminent master engravers. If the era needed a representative piece or an exclamation point, this is it.

This Colt 1860 Army truly has everything on a collector's wish list: early serial number, fluted cylinder, rare early barrel, factory mahogany case, superb accessories, and is the highest condition example we've ever had the privilege to offer. Colt 1860 Army revolvers with fluted cylinders were only in the early stages of production, and this 3-digit serial number certainly qualifies. The fluted cylinders are scarcely seen with anywhere between 4,000-6,000 ever produced. Rarer still is the early production 7.5-inch barrel with only 2,800 made. Housed in its factory case filled with high condition accessories and you have a Colt 1860 Army at the top of its field.

Jefferson Davis' gun that he surrendered to Union troops on May 10, 1865 marks the end of a war that kept America from being forever changed and split into two different countries. It effectively turned the page on that bloodiest chapter in American history. Save for the Deringer used to assassinate Lincoln, what firearm could hold the significance, the sheer historic importance of Jefferson Davis' surrender revolver. Even after more than a century, it brings with it an abundance of provenance, documentation, corroborating evidence, and an unbroken chain of ownership. It is a historic American artifact of the highest order, and it's only available at Rock Island Auction Company.

These uniquely American blades have gained almost legend-like status for their role on the American frontier. Made famous by James "Jim" Bowie and his famous Sandbar Fight, Bowie knives became immensely popular and saw a wide variety of styles, from the down and dirty to the highly ornate.

Lawrence and Leonard Jerome were wealthy East Coasters who married well, played the stock market better, and retired early into a life of sport and politicking. In 1871, they were invited on a hunt by General Sheridan along with several other business magnates. Chief Guide for the trip Buffalo Bill Cody coined it "The Millionaires Hunting Party."

While many collectors know Starr Arms from their Civil War era revolvers, the family's arms making heritage extends back much further in American history. Today's video shows a selection of Starr Arms from the Greg Lampe Collection, and despite their martial origins, each one remains in spectacular condition.