Rock Island Auction Company’s (RIAC) Regional Firearms auction held Feb. 25 through 28 was the largest event to date for the company. With 9,000+ firearms and over 4,400 lots, they made it a four day sale. By the end, Rock Island had a new record for participation with nearly 22,000 sealed bids. The bids were only those received through the RIAC website. The number of lots and the total gross for a regional auction were also records. The total came out to 7.3 million.
Winchesters, Colts, and Smith & Wessons were scooped up day one. By mid-day the excitement had not abated, with jump bids being hollered out in the auction, even for lots that typically do not enjoy such raucous enthusiasm.
Several class III machine guns listed as "unserviceable" outperformed their estimates in dramatic fashion. Lot 547 housed a Steyr Schwartzlose Model 07/12 mounted on its tripod, with a $5,000 estimate sold for $14,950. Likewise, lot 546 was a DEWAT German MP3008 submachine gun, one of the "last ditch" weapons of the Third Reich, that retreated from its $4,000 estimate before achieving $12,650.
Civil War items were hotly contested on day two. Guns embellished in every way imaginable brought premium prices. Rare Henry and Winchester rifles were offered frequently in this sale. President Kevin Hogan began reminding those in attendance, "Don't be fooled by the availability of these guns at this auction. We might get one or two of these a year, and right now we're making something rare appear very available," said Hogan. Colt revolvers were strong contenders on the day with Lot 2,290s Model 1871-1872 Open Top with an eagle carved grip that made quick work of its $1,500 estimate by bringing $5,750, while the tried and true, antique Single Action Army revolver in Lot 2,607 teamed up with a stunning tooled holster rig to best its $1,800 estimate to sell for $4,025. European military arms sold well. Sniper rifles and standard long arms from numerous nations drew dozens of bids, never more clearly than in Lot 2,640, which contained SVT-38 and SVT-40 semi-automatic Soviet rifles. This remarkable pair drew 70 bids before the auction even started. They brought $4,600.
A high number of Winchesters and pre-Winchesters performed well on the third day, but there were plenty of other surprises to keep bidders guessing. One surprise was a framed UMC "bullet board" in Lot 4,007 that surpassed its $2,500 estimate en route to its $6,900 payday. Lot 4,117s Sharps Model 1869 sporting rifle knocked down its $1,800 estimate, and was brought to a new home for $6,900, while an attractive engraved and gold inlaid Smith & Wesson Russian Model in Lot 4,595 outshone its $1,700 estimate to sell for $5,750.
Day four was a day for the diehards. It had been a long weekend already, but dedicated collectors had stuck around for a chance at the variety available on the final day. Their perseverance was well-rewarded several times, as seen in Lot 6,134 with its two Civil war revolvers that whooped a $1,000 estimate to realize $5,750. Lot 6,822 was arguably the smallest of all lots with its scarce miniature flintlock pistol made by miniature master Stanley Blashak. Estimated at $850, its winning price was far from diminutive at $5,175. German handguns also got in on the act. Lot 6,287 were two scarce semi-autos estimated at $1,200 and realized $4,025.
Rock Island Auction Company is based in Rock Island, Ill.
To learn more, call 1-800-238-8022 or visit www.rockislandauction.com.