Rock Island Auction Company’s February Sporting & Collector Auction was a big bore bonanza with the massive “Fat Mac” .950 JDJ soaring to $99,875 on the auction’s first day, as the three-day event realized $7.7 million.

The bounty of big bores didn’t end with the .950 JDJ. “Fat Mac’s” slightly smaller sibling, the 14.5 JDJ shot past its high estimate on the first day of the auction as well, returning $21,150 and a U.S. Firestone M2 60mm mortar blasted through its high estimate for $38,188. On the whole, with a strong offering of many fine firearms, from revolvers and pistols to long guns to Class III items, Rock Island Auction’s second auction at its newly opened Bedford, Texas venue was a great success thanks to its many clients and bidders.

Preview Day

Preview Day might be one of the best days of the auction where collectors can gather and talk about gun genres as well as admire and examine the nearly 5,000 guns that were available in the auction. RIAC’s new auction venue in Texas is a great meeting place for enthusiasts of all levels to come together, harkening back to the gun shows of yesteryear. Texas has proved to be a good fit for Rock Island Auction Company, receiving numerous visitors to preview day.

Day One

Long guns had a quite a day before the bolt-action JDJ even crossed the podium late in the afternoon. A Berdan Sharpshooter Sharps Model 1859 looked like it might take the day’s top honors, hammering for $38,188, more than double its high estimate, while an engraved New Haven Arms Company Henry Rifle eased past its high estimate within the auction’s first 10 lots, achieving $32,313, A short time later, an engraved Winchester Model 1866 carbine collected $11,750, followed by a Sharps Model 1877 long range rifle that returned $11,163, both going well past their high estimate. A Colt-Burgess saddle ring carbine landed at $7,638, powering past its high estimate.

This engraved New Haven Arms Company Henry Rifle crossed the podium for $38,187.50 on Day One of the February Sporting & Collector Auction.

Colt revolvers enjoyed strong prices on the auction’s first day, with an engraved and silver plated Colt Single Action Army chambered for .22 rimfire collected $5,581, surpassing its high estimate, while an engraved Colt Model 1861 Navy Richards-Mason conversion revolver landed at $5,288. Among non-Colt revolvers, an engraved Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum Pre-Model 27 shot past its high estimate to $8,225.

Military weapons received a nice reception as a BSA No. 4 Mk.I (T) Enfield sniper rifle with its case and scope gaveled for $4,994, while a World War 2 era U.S. marked Winchester Model 1897 trench shotgun returned $7,638. A U.S. General Motors Guide Lamp Liberator pistol with its box pulled in $7,050.

Class III items are now being offered in the Sporting & Collector auctions and they did well in their first outing of the three-day sale, as a U.S. Guide Lamp M3 with a silencer brought $29,375, and an Uzi with a silencer rolled to $22,325, while a Wilson Arms “Swedish K” powered to $17,625.

This U.S. Guide Lamp M3 with a silencer earned $29,375 on Day One.

Among sporting arms, a Belgian engraved gold-plated double barrel shotgun/rifle set landed at $7,638, while a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 featherweight super grade rifle hit for $5,581, both going over their high estimates.

Among the items that defied categorization that did well included a pair of Luftwaffe paratrooper pattern trousers with camouflage suspenders that rocketed past its high estimate to $10,575, a shipping crate with 20 Mosin-Nagant rifles earned $9,400, while a Tiffany & Company marked hardwood case for a Colt Police 1862 more than doubled its high estimate, collecting $3,819.  A Remington cane gun ambled well past its high estimate for $5,875.

Day Two

Class III firearms led the day. Behind the Firestone M2, an Auto-Ordnance 1928 A Range Thompson submachine gun pulled in $32,313. A LaFrance/IMI Uzi with silencer was also among the top machine gun offerings, drawing $23,500, while a Wilson Arms Mark II STEN hit for $9,988, going over its high estimate.

This LaFrance/IMI Uzi with a silencer was among the top items on Day Two of the Sporting & Collector Auction, nabbing $23,500.

Classic lever guns still performed well on Day Two as a Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 extra lightweight short rifle fetched $19,975 to double its high estimate. For the second straight day, a Henry Rifle went for more than $20,000 as an inscribed Civil War era Henry returned $22,325.

Among wheelguns, a U.S. Colt Second Model Dragoon and a First Model LeMat “Grape Shot” revolver powered past their high estimates to $8,813 each. You can’t keep a Colt Single Action Army out of the auction highlights, as a second generation SAA chambered in .44 Special drew $7,050. Not a revolver, but definitely a classic, a New Haven Arms Volcanic No. 1 lever action pistol erupted for $7,638 after one went on opening day for $12,925. Smith & Wessons reached nice prices on Day Two as a Model 3 Russian Third Model rolled to $4,994 and a Chief’s Special Pre-Model 36 hit for $5288.

This First Model LeMat "Grape Shot" revolver achieved $8,812.50 on Day Two of the February Sporting & Collector Auction.

A U.S. M63 anti-aircraft mount with case realized $7,638 among military offerings that weren’t Class III lots, and a U.S. Winchester Model 97 trench shotgun landed at $5,875, doubling its high estimate.

Sporting arms were on the hunt for good prices on Saturday as a Gebruder Merkel 28 Gauge sidelock over/under shotgun got $7,050 on the wing, while a John Wilkes, London .410 double barrel toplever hammer shotgun doubled its high estimate with $5,875. Not to be outdone, a Winchester Model 52-B bolt action rifle brought down $5,288.

Day Three

The auction’s final day started with a Henry rifle going over $20,000 for the third straight day, collecting $23,500 and going over its high estimate. Classic rifles performed well on the day as a Winchester Model 1866 crossed the podium for $5,875, a special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 pulled in $5,288, and an E. Remington & Sons New Model revolving rifle collected $4,700.

LeMat “Grapeshot” revolvers are finding an audience in Bedford, as one offered on Sunday achieved $7,638, while an early Ainsworth-inspected U.S. Colt Single Action army gleaned $9,400. It was a first-year production serial number 322 Ace pistol that topped all Colts, gaveling for $9,988. A factory engraved Model 1860 Army collected $9,400, while an engraved Model 1903 earned honorable mention for its $4,113.

The U.S. Johnson Model 1941 did well on the weekend with two each selling for $8,225.

Military firearms continued to perform well through the weekend as a World War 1 era U.S. Winchester 1897 trench shotgun with a bayonet took $9,400, while a Johnson Model 1941’s reached $8,225 the same price as a Day One Johnson M1941, and a Russian contract Winchester Model 1895 lever action musket reached $7,638.

Hunters faced competition on the auction’s last day as they went after sporting arms. A Parker Brothers GHE grade double barrel shotgun with a case pulled $8,813, a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 super grade rifle chambered in .264 Win. Magnum realized $7,050 and a Remington Model 700 bolt action rifle with a USMC sniper scope hammered for $5,875.

This first year production, serial number 322 Colt Ace crossed the podium for $9,988 in the February Sporting & Collector Auction.

Thank You!

The first auction of the year in Bedford, and our second-ever in the new Texas venue was a terrific event and we thank all of our consignors who put their trust in us and all the bidders that made the auction a great weekend, realizing $7.7 million over the three days. We look forward to hosting our first Premier Auction of 2024 May 17-19 in Bedford.