Auction Report

This fantastic sale of firearms, arms and armour realized an amazing 12.5 Million US Dollars. This auction contained a large number of named collections, which included, The Charles Lindley Collection of German Military Arms, Gary Cote Collection of Winchester 1894’s, The Anthony Urbanowski Collection of Smith & Wesson’s and the auctions most daunting yet most anticipated collection, The William Ashby Collection of Arms and Armor which included nearly 30 full suits of composite and Victorian armor.

Hundreds of Bidders

Over the course of the three day auction hundreds of bidders from nearly every corner of the globe converged on to Rock Island Auctions. In addition nearly 15,000 sealed, telephone and internet bids were placed with RIAC over the course of the three days. Patrick Hogan President and CEO of Rock Island Auction Company said, “The response from the collecting community and those savvy investment buyers was spectacular. This auction set a record for us, not only as the most absentee bids placed in a Premiere auction but we had 930 successful bidders”.

Colts Bring Great Prices

The highest grossing item of the week was Lot number 3069, which was the scarce and desirable documented U.S. Colt Walker Model 1847 revolver. This lot commanded not only the highest price of the weekend, at $138,000, but also one of the most intense bidding wars as bidder cards seemed to shoot up almost simultaneously around the room. “It was a classic war of attrition as bidders bowed out at $100,000, and it was between two determined phone bidders” said Kevin Hogan, Patrick’s son and fellow auctioneer. Other Colt firearms also commanded large sums; Lot 1091, the finest pair of U.S. Martially Inspected Colt 2nd Model Dragoon Revolvers brought $115,000; Lot 1412, the rare Bertrand Couch factory engraved and gold inlaid Colt revolver brought $109,250; while a Patterson No. 3 Belt Model Pistol, which was estimated from $30,000-40,000 realized $54,000.

Winchesters

Colt firearms were just the beginning, as Winchester firearms were also in high demand. A beautiful collection of Winchester Model 1887 Shotguns experienced quite a bit of interest as Lot 1025, a Special Order 20 inch Winchester Model 1887 shotgun in phenomenal condition estimated $25,000-$37,500 brought $54,625, while Lot 1026, one of only five factory engraved Winchester Model 1887 shotguns, rang the bell at $97,750.

Shotguns were only the beginning, as the world famous Winchester Model 70 experienced a banner weekend. In total 12 different Model 70 rifle and carbine variations all brought over $15,000 apiece. Most notably were Lot 1739, the only known Pre-64 carbine in 7.92 mm caliber, which brought $31,626 while a factory engraved and gold inlaid Model 70 Super Grade commanded $28,750. Other notable sales in the Winchester collecting genre include two different Henry Rifle variations - Lot 3017, an exceptionally rare, iron frame Henry, which brought $109,250, while an equally rare documented Civil War engraved Henry achieved $74,750.

The William Ashby Collection of Arms and Armour
As for the Ashby Collection, interest poured in from around the globe as RIAC staff worked tirelessly over the last several weeks leading up to the sale answering questions and taking additional photos. In the end all the hard work paid off, as the Ashby collection far exceeded expectations, grossing just under $1,033,000 in sales on its own.

The two top selling suits of armor were Lot 1244, which commanded $34,500 while Lot 1235 reached $28,750. However, it wasn’t just the armor that brought in the attention, an elaborately inlaid and engraved wheel-lock Tschinke rifle, Lot 1227 brought $21,850, while Lot 1245 an impressive European wheel-lock sporting gun with extensive bone inlays estimated at $6500-$8500 far commanded a staggering $34,500. 

1227 brought $21,850, while Lot 1245 an impressive European wheel-lock sporting gun with extensive bone inlays estimated at $6500-$8500 far commanded a staggering $34,500. 

Military Arms

Last, but certainly not least, were the military arms from around the world which continue to draw record breaking interest and likewise tremendous results. Starting with U.S. arms from as early as the Civil War, Lot 1098, which was the finest Civil War Spencer Rifle RIAC has ever cataloged, was estimated $20,000-$30,000 and achieved an impressive $48,875. Lot number 1848, which was a magnificent and early U.S. Navy Marked Colt Model 1911 estimated $18,000-$27,500 brought $51,750, while an equally rare 1903 Mark I Rifle with original Pederson device brought $69,000. Likewise other military arms from abroad saw good results.

Lot 1463, a historically significant Swiss Model 1894 Mondragon reached $37,375, while a pair of experimental Japanese Pedersen rifle and carbine both serial number 5 each realized $31,625.  German military arms also had a strong showing, as Lot 3576, a beautiful American eagle Artillery Luger brought $51,750.  A unique full crate of thirty P38 pistols brought $25,875, and a rare pair of consecutively property marked Kreigsmarine Mauser Lugers realized $37,375.