RockIslandAuction

With the 1849 Pocket serving as Colt's most produced revolver of the 19th century, this example stands as one of the very best. The factory rosewood cased set comes with two incredibly rare matching barrels (4-inch and 6-inch). Not just smothered in factory engraving, it's the distinct and wonderfully executed early style, featuring several wildlife vignettes. It is a historic presentation, given to Henry Beach who provided the steam engines for Colt's Armory in Hartford. Best of all it is in spectacular condition. As near mint as one could ever hope to find, it is awash in high polish factory blueing, plentiful original silver plating, supremely crisp markings and cylinder scene, deluxe walnut grips, beautiful case hardening, and high condition accessories. It is a collection defining piece that can simultaneously add beauty, history, and rarity.

Established in 1812 by Thomas Boss, Boss & Co is London's oldest gunmaker and continues to produce "Best Guns Only." They remain one of the world's premier makers of bespoke shotguns, with lengthy wait times to receive one, and often 6-figure price tags. These three Boss shotguns exude the quality and beauty for which the maker is known. Best yet, these masterfully crafted shotguns can be had without the lengthy wait and at a substantially lower price. In Boss and Co's own words, "The owner of a Boss & Co gun has the satisfaction of knowing that he has the best gun that money can buy, and that no one has a better gun."

Colt's first foray into the double action market was the Colt Model 1877 revolver. Known as the "Lightning" in its .38 LC chambering, it was very popular in police departments. True to form, this stunning Colt Lightning was presented to Hartford PD Sergeant Lyman Smith during the Hartford "Foot Guard Fair" in 1888 - a celebration and fundraiser for the First Company Governor's Foot Guard, a state military unit. Awarded to Sergeant Smith via a popular vote, this exhibition grade Colt 1877 Lightning remains in remarkable condition. It is easily among the finest known to exist. Preserved to near perfection is the master engraving of Cuno A. Helfricht, the nickel plating, the bright gold washed cylinder, the iridescent pearl grips, and the mirror-like nitre blue small parts.

For decades, Dr. Robert D. Beeman has been at the forefront of air gun collecting and research. Also the founder of Beeman Air Guns in 1972, he has been called the "Father of the Adult Airgun Market of the United States." Now, selections from his phenomenal collection are available at Rock Island Auction Company. While Dr. Beeman has long specialized in large bore antique air guns, the highlights here show the extraordinary variety resulting from his dedication. Pistols, rifles, various countries, interesting mechanisms, and variations of the famous Girandoni system (made famous by Lewis & Clark) are just part of what is to be discovered in this fascinating assemblage of repeating air guns.

The origin of Colt takes us through some of the biggest names in the field of fine arms collecting: Paterson, Walker, & Dragoon. Each is a treasure in their own right and a coveted addition to any collection. Not only are examples of all three Colts to be found in our upcoming May Premier Auction, but each one has a unique twist, adding to its rarity and significance. It's a succession of early Colt revolvers that keeps the surprises coming.

Tom Selleck needs no introduction. A star of the silver screen and primetime TV, he is a household name. However, Mr. Selleck should also be well-known to collectors of fine arms. His deep appreciation for historic firearms has resulted in a well-curated collection of diverse, high condition arms, often in rare configurations. Lever actions, sporting arms, fine engraved examples, desirable semi-autos, and classics of the Old West are all wonderfully represented in the Tom Selleck Collection.

The abundance of fine combination guns and drillings in our May Premier Auction practically demanded its own video. RIAC sees its fair share of these items, but seldom such fine examples in such numbers - including an example from the Tom Selleck Collection. Coming to RIAC from several different collections, this happy circumstance provides collectors a variety of makers, engravers, calibers, and unique barrel configurations to make a fascinating addition to even the most advanced collections.

"The Africa" is a Watson Brothers double barrel, sidelock ejector dangerous game rifle chambered in 4 bore REWA. As Magnificent as it is powerful, the Africa is the culmination of 10 years' work from some of the finest gunmakers in the British firearms trade. The 4 bore REWA is the modern iteration of the Victorian era's quintessential dangerous game blackpowder round. This Watson Bros. double barrel, 4 bore rifle brings that shooting experience into the modern propellant era with superlative quality and thrilling gusto.

The extraordinary career of General Nelson A. Miles is a reflection of the country he served for so long. He fought in her Civil War, earned a Medal of Honor and put Jefferson Davis in chains. He fought in the Indian Wars, and later advocated strongly for Native Americans. He eventually became the leader of the U.S. Army as the country prepared for the Spanish-American War. In 1900 he became the 10th and last Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army, and even volunteered his services for the Great War. Individual objects with this type of legacy and provenance are far and few between. To have an assortment of them is all but unheard of. Nelson Miles' Winchester 1895 and presentation sword are oustanding and well-preserved pieces of American history. RIAC Lead Historian Seth Isaacson puts it best, "Nelson Appleton Miles is one of the most underappreciated and yet significant American military commanders of the 19th century."

Sub-gauge shotguns are immensely popular with collectors, and the enthusiasm shows no signs of abating. Combine that with the classic appeal of a Best Quality, engraved Holland and Holland Royal Model side-by-side shotgun, and you've got a fine sporting arm as desirable by collectors as it is by hunters. Wonderfully engineered, the diminutive shotgun does not simply place .410 bore barrels on a larger action. Instead, this purpose built .410 action mates perfectly to the barrels, providing superb balance, superior line, and a light flick up to the shoulder. It's everything you'd expect from one of the most renowned gun makers in the world.

The Greg Lampe Collection is renowned among collectors for its meticulous research and the extraordinary high condition of its objects. The latter of which becomes especially apparent when viewing this outstanding grouping of early American military muzzleloading rifles. From the Harper's Ferry 1803 through the Civil War, the condition is near unmatchable. For those looking to upgrade the quality of their current collection, or those looking to collect the very best, the Greg Lampe Collection is the opportunity you've been waiting for.

A pair of Colts this good is bound to attract its share of attention. Indeed, this matched pair of factory engraved, silver & gold plated, Civil War-era Colt 1861 Navy revolvers with their presentation deluxe case have been featured in numerous significant books on Colts, and been housed in prominent collections documented back to 1924. The pair is so well known one could readily consider them celebrities in the world of Colt. It has in spades the trifecta of what fine arms collectors seek: stunning artistry, superb condition, and a fascinating history.

SSGT Clarence E. Craver was part of the top secret unit that flew OSS combat missions into occupied Europe during World War 2. Flying aboard the B-24 "Mary Jane Ace of Spades" Craver took part in Operation Carpetbagger and other clandestine missions above France, Denmark, Italy, and Yugoslavia. From their specially modified planes they dropped leaflets, supplies for rebels and partisans, and OSS agents into enemy territory often at night and at low altitude. Notably, they also helped support the pending Normandy invasion. The only thing more impressive than the danger is the courage of the men who undertook such operations. This is SSGT Craver's flight jacket, with "Mary Jane Ace of Spades" depicted proudly on the back, flying in a moonlit sky. After flying 50(!) missions, its sleeve still bears damage from hot flak, a reminder of just how harrowing these top secret OSS flight missions could be.

The Tommy Gun, known formally as the Thompson submachine gun, was such an icon of American firepower, it made its way into anti-American propaganda during World War 2. This particular Tommy gun remains in extraordinary condition, is an extremely early 3-digit serial number, and comes with a fascinating double shipment in its history.

What happens when you send 85 artists a small chasing hammer head and ask them to embellish it however they see fit? The result is the fantastic showcase shown here. This grouping was assembled over several decades by master engraver John Rohner, known to many in the community as the "Godfather of the American Engraving Renaissance." Instead of the large cost and space requirements to collect firearms cut by each of these artisans, Rohner instead shipped them chasing hammer heads with no preconditions on how they should be embellished. This cased collection is a wonderful exhibition of each artist's style, techniques, and creative vision. Owning a single piece from any of these master engravers would be the highlight of a collection, but to own 85 examples from a who's who of modern master engravers is an extraordinary opportunity.

Many design platforms today owe their origins to the German StG-44. Birthed during World War 2 by Huge Schmeisser, the select-fire Sturmgewehr utilized an intermediate 7.92x33 Kurz cartridge which allowed for a smaller overall profile, was more appropriate for the common distances of engagement, and provided more controllable recoil. Stamped parts made production inexpensive and quick. The StG44 quickly made their mark on the Eastern front where it was found to be accurate, offered more range than the MP40, more CQB potential than the Kar 98k, and could still lay down suppressive full-auto fire. This particular example is in extraordinary condition, with 90% of its original World War 2 combination phosphate & blued finish and all matching numbers, right down to the RARE ZF4 scope. STG44 were not chosen for sniper or DMR duty, but this scope clearly indicates that such things were once strongly considered by Mauser, enough to warrant a scope specially calibrated for the 8mm Kurz cartridge.

Due to high paratrooper casualties during the Battle of Crete, in 1941 the Luftwaffe submitted a request for a new weapon. It would be shoulder fired, should under 1 meter long, weigh as much as a K98k, be select-fire, accept detachable box mags, take a bayonet, and still use the standard 8mm Mauser cartridges. In a wondrous feat of engineering, all the requirements were met (or nearly so) and the result was the FG42, for "Fallschirmjägergewehr 42" translated as "Paratrooper rifle 42." Through its various prototype stages and even after deployment, the already advanced rifle continued to be fined tuned, resulting in several variants known to collectors today. This video features the rare Type 1, the earliest of the full production models readily identified by its sharply-angled pistol grip. Also known as "Type E," these were the only production models that utilized milled receivers. Krieghoff manufactured an estimated 2,000 Type 1 milled receivers, before switching to stamped receivers for the Type 2 and 3 versions. An FG42 is a pinnacle of machine gun collecting, but the early and rare Type 1 offers serious bragging rights to the collector lucky enough to add this example to their collection this Spring.

Our May Premier will offer an outstanding selection of not just 100+ machine guns, but some of the highest condition, rarest, and most desirable items of the genre. Whether you're looking for the earliest pre-World War 1 belt feds, or those from the Vietnam era and beyond, the May Premier has your collection's next addition.

We're working hard to prepare our May Premier Auction for you. Until we publish the online catalog, please enjoy this sneak peek into this exciting event.

We often say "you never know what you'll find at a RIAC auction," and today's video is a perfect example. It's a fine mixture of obscure rarities, beautiful engraving, classic wheelguns, and military arms... and that's just in ONE row of cabinets!

⚠️ SPOILERS IN THIS VIDEO ⚠️ With the season finale almost upon us and a second season recently announced, it seems the perfect time to take a look back at the collector arms used in Season 1 of the TV series "1923." The prequel to "Yellowstone," offers four different settings, three of which happen to be major gun collecting genres: World War 1, the Old West, and Dangerous Game hunting. Each setting is packed with classics from the genre, and Joel & Seth walk us through each one.

In our Preview Hall videos, we rarely get a look inside the DOZENS of handgun cabinets. We look to remedy that this auction, as Joel attempts to pick just ONE favorite out of each cabinet. It's a great way to showcase the volume, condition, and wide variety of arms in this auction... and these are just the handguns!

Preview Day is the day before every Premier and Sporting & Collection Auction! We're open to the public and it's a full day to walk around, inspect, pick-up, and touch any item in the auction. Normally, we walk around and show you the highlights, but today we're taking you inside our handgun cases and Joel picks his favorite from each one! They're all items coming up for auction on Day 1 of our February Sporting & Collector Auction. It's a great way to see the variety and the quality that's in every single RIAC auction and why our Preview Day is "the best gun show you've never been to."

RIAC Senior Videographer Matthew Peake says it best, "Smith and Wesson has been at the forefront of gun making since the 1850s." Today he has selected four very collectible Smith and Wesson revolvers from our upcoming February S&C Auction that show perfectly the S&W's ability to innovate and thrive in the revolver market.

Cowboy action shooting is a great, fun way to put some lead downrange, meet new folks, compete, and to become more familiar with the classic firearms that helped shape America. Last time, Jacob Millichamp showed us three of the most popular shotgun options for cowboy action shooting matches. Now, he shows us three revolvers that'd he be happy to sling in his holsters any day.