RIAC realizes strong sales in April Premiere Auction

Lot 3705: Rare Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Company Henry Rifle.
Price realized: $103,500.00 (Est. $70,000-$100,000).

Moline, Ill. – Peaked interest in the gun market, particularly collectible firearms, drove total sales to over $8.5 million at Rock Island Auction Company's April Premiere Auction in Moline, Ill. April 25-27. Coupled with spectacular results from their Spring regional auction, RIAC reports that they are set to break another industry record for the year. This sale featured over 2,800 lots of quality firearms, edged weapons, military artifacts and more. Sell-through rate was over 97%.

A portion of the proceeds from the Will Hoffeld’s estate benefited the NRA Foundation. The Foundation is the country’s leading charitable organization in support of the shooting sports.

This auction proved strong for all genres of firearms and every level of collecting. The outstanding selection of Winchesters were among the top sellers. A rare factory-engraved New Haven Arms Company Henry rifle commanded a price of $103,500. Lot 3702 an exceptional Winchester panel-engraved model 1866 carbine sold for $63,250 followed by lot 3718, an exceptional Winchester Model 1886 musket with bayonet, which brought a price of $54,625.

At Rock Island Auction Company, Colts repeatedly show their importance as high value collectibles and solid investments. Of the military inspected Colt Cavalry’s offered, an Ainsworth inspected U.S. Colt Model 1873 stood out, bringing it within estimate price of $40,250. A Colt flattop double action model 1878 frontier revolver, serial number 1, sold for $40,250.

The collection of engraved Colts also did well. A documented factory engraved, silver-plated, Colt single action army revolver with carved pearl grips reached $21,850.

The Hoffeld estate brought several rare Colts, including four Patersons with no reserve. A rare Colt pocket model Paterson revolver no. 1 sold above estimate for $20,700. There were nearly 100 Colt Brevetes in the Hoffeld collection. A bid of $5,175 won an engraved Japanese copy of a Colt Model 1851 navy percussion revolver.

Outstanding results were seen in the spectacular selection of shotguns and sporting arms. An abundance of rare calibers and gauges drove bidding interest to achieve a total of over $2.3 million in this genre. Above estimate prices were obtained on an excellent cased, engraved Purdey & Sons two-barrel set double barrel shotgun and rifle with scope ($40,250) and a G. Gournet engraved Parker reproduction A-1 special three-barrel set side-by-side shotgun with original leather takedown case ($28,750).

The sporting rifles were led by the exceptional collection of pre-64 Winchester Model 70’s which were in high demand as collectors sought to own one of these hard-to-find guns in rare calibers. The model 70’s all sold, many above the high estimate, resulting in nearly twice the high estimate for the entire collection.

Scott Meadows led off the military firearms in this auction with dozens of rare, experimental and prototype 1911’s. An exceptional early first-year production, two-digit serial number Colt Model 1900 sight-safety, semi automatic pistol with factory letter brought $21,850.

Ample participation in class III firearms brought $31,625 on a police-marked, Colt model 1921/28 US Navy over-stamp Thompson submachine gun.

An impressive grouping of deringers came to the auction block with over 50 high condition Philadelphia and Henry deringers. A set of cased engraved and gold banded Henry deringer percussion pistols with coin silver furniture brought a within estimate price of $43,125. An above estimate prices were obtained for two San Francisco agent marked Henry deringer percussion pistols, a N. Curry marked, engraved and silver furnished with silver barrel bands and an A.J. Plate marked pocket pistol brought $17,250 and $18,400 respectively.

The Frank and Karen Sellers collection headlined the Sharps of this auction. His patent models and sharps drew bids up to $28,750 for a rare Sharps model 1877 No. 1 long range rifle. His parts also did well. A lot of three Sharps receivers with barrels sold for $6,325.

Edged weapons brought bids from phone, fax, email and the floor. Of the many fine Bowie knives offered, a rare English & Hubers Bowie knife with sheath and an A. Carr spear point Bowie knife with sheath sold for $13,800 and $2,875 respectively. A nice selection of swords included a rare Eagle Pommel U.S. Naval officer's sword which realized an above estimate price of $6,900.

Many fine Indian war items and documented Custer battlefield relics drew interested buyers. A lot of items belonging to a Little Bighorn survivor, 1st Sergeant John M. Ryan sold for $6,900; this lot included rare discharge documents, an Indian War campaign medal and a forage cap. An outstanding U.S. Springfield Model 1873 Carbine in 7th Cavalry serial number range brought $25,875 and a U.S. Springfield model 1870 trapdoor Indian rifle with brass tack decorations sold for $6,325.

RIAC will conduct its next regional auction June 27 & 28 and a Premiere Auction on September 12, 13 & 14. For more information call Letisha Murray or Judy Voss at 800-238-8022 or visit www.rockislandauction.com.

TOP LOTS BY PRICES REALIZED
LotNumber Headline PriceRealized LowEst HighEst
3705 Rare Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Company Henry Rifle $103,500.00 $70,000.00 $100,000.00
3702 Exceptional Winchester Panel-Engraved Model 1866 Carbine $63,250.00 $50,000.00 $75,000.00
3718 Exceptional and Extremely Rare Winchester Model 1886 Musket with Bayonet and Factory Letter $54,625.00 $50,000.00 $80,000.00
1149 Magnificent Silver Mounted / Gold Inlaid Cased Engraved Pair of Exhibition Quality Henry Deringer Percussion Pocket Pistols -A) Engraved Deringer Percussion Pocket Pistol $46,000.00 $45,000.00 $65,000.00
3011 Superb Cased, Engraved and Gold Banded Pair of Henry Deringer Percussion Pistols with Coin Silver Furniture-A) Deringer Percussion Pistol with Gold Bands $43,125.00 $40,000.00 $60,000.00
3664 Colt Flattop Double Action Model 1878 Frontier Revolver Serial Number 1 $40,250.00 $35,000.00 $85,000.00
3646 Outstanding Ainsworth Inspected U.S. Colt Model 1873 Cavalry Revolver with Kopec Letter $40,250.00 $30,000.00 $50,000.00
1449 Excellent Cased Engraved Purdey & Sons Two Barrel Set Double Barrel Shotgun and Rifle with Scope $40,250.00 $20,000.00 $35,000.00
3697  Fine Civil War Henry Lever Action Rifle $37,375.00 $30,000.00 $40,000.00
1566 Cased Engraved Gold Inlaid Winchester Model 21 Grand American Shotgun with Cody Firearms Letter $34,500.00 $35,000.00 $47,500.00
3274 Fine U.S. Martial Serial Number Range Henry Lever-Action Rifle $34,500.00 $35,000.00 $55,000.00
1821 Exceptional, Police-Marked, Colt, Model 1921/28 US Navy Over-Stamp Thompson Submachine Gun $31,625.00 $25,000.00 $37,500.00

TOP LOTS BY PERCENTAGE OVER LOW ESTIMATE
LotNumber Headline PriceRealized HighEst % Over High
814  Falconer Bronze, Signed E. Nahcepe $12,650.00 $1,000.00 1165.00%
817 P.J. Mene Bronze, "The Arab Falconer" $10,350.00 $900.00 1050.00%
206 "Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" and "Uniform of the Army of the United States, 1774 to 1889" $10,925.00 $1,500.00 628.33%
72  Whitworth Military Percussion Rifle $10,350.00 $1,500.00 590.00%
1549 Special Order Winchester Pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight Bolt Action Rifle in Rare 7mm Mauser Chambering $12,650.00 $3,000.00 321.67%
1560 Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Bolt Action Rifle in 220 Swift Caliber $7,475.00 $1,800.00 315.28%
3271 Scarce 1863 Kerr's Patent Small-Bore Percussion Target Rifle $19,550.00 $4,750.00 311.58%
813  P.J. Mene Bronze "Valet le Chasse, Louis XV" $4,887.50 $1,200.00 307.29%
3177 Three Sharps Receivers with Barrels From the Frank Sellers Collection -A) Sharps Barreled Receiver $6,325.00 $1,600.00 295.31%
1655  Pair of Consecutively Serial Numbered Colt Buntline Scout Single Action Revolvers -A) Colt Buntline Scout Single Action Revolver with Box $5,462.50 $1,400.00 290.18%
1542 Extremely Rare Special Order Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Bolt Action Rifle $5,175.00 $1,400.00 269.64%
1562 Rare Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Bolt Action Rifle in .284 Winchester Caliber $10,925.00 $3,000.00 264.17%
1541 Special Order Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .22 Hornet Bolt Action Rifle $8,050.00 $2,250.00 257.78%
1558 Exceptional Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Bolt Action Rifle in Scarce .257 Roberts Caliber with Special Order Stock $9,775.00 $2,750.00 255.45%
3202 Sharps Parts $1,840.00 $550.00 234.55%
1539 Special Order Winchester Pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight Rifle in 257 Roberts $8,625.00 $2,750.00 213.64%
3364 Identified Remington New Model Army Percussion Revolver with Butt Stamping $4,887.50 $1,600.00 205.47%
1387 Cased Three Barrel Set Winchester Engraved Parker Reproduction DHE Double Barrel Shotgun in 28 and 410 Gauge $21,850.00  $8,000.00 173.13%
3195  Important and Valuable Lot of Long Arm Sights $2,875.00 $1,100.00 161.36%