A trio of Purdey 28 gauge shotguns, a classic Winchester Model 1873 One of One Thousand and a museum-worthy Le Page presentation double barrel shotgun were among the top sellers in Rock Island Auction Company’s recently completed May Premier that realized $25.7 million.

The magnificently engraved Purdeys hammered for $528,750 and the Le Page crossed the podium for $440,625 on Day 1 to get the auction off to a great start as collectors took advantage of the magnificent offerings in every genre of fine firearms offered. The Winchester One of One Thousand matched the Purdeys for $528,750 at the start of Day 2 in Bedford, Texas.

Other Day 2 highlights included a large caliber Hawken rifle owned by Theodore Roosevelt earning $235,000 and the sale of armored vehicles from the Allan Cors Collection. What was likely the surprise of the auction was a documented Colt Model 1907 Army trials pistol that soared to $352,500, more than three times its high estimate on Day 2 of the auction.

The May Premier offered a staggering array of collectable fine firearms and military vehicles over nearly 2,100 lots that definitely caught the attention of visitors to Preview Day and bidders in the three-day sale.

Visitors flocked to Preview Day on Thursday. Considered one of the finest Texas gun shows you’ll ever attend, collectors and enthusiasts poured over Colts, Winchesters, field guns and military weapons on display in the shining 19,000 square-foot preview hall a day ahead of the auction. The sale of an Angelo Bee-engraved Krieghoff K-32 opened the auction bringing in $35,250 for the USA Shooting Team in preparation for the Paris Olympics.

Sold to support the USA Shooting Team as it prepares for the Paris Olympic Games this summer, this Krieghoff K-32 opened Rock Island Auction Company's May Premier by selling for $35,250.

Day 1 Auction Results

The Purdey shotguns topped a great opening day to the Premier Auction that saw a French shotgun and a pair of Texas legends cross the podium to nice prices. A Le Page double barrel percussion shotgun presented to the President of Mexico in 1879, more museum piece than field gun, earned $440,625.

Ahead of lunch, a B Company Colt Walker and a Squareback Colt No. 5 Paterson crossed the podium one lot apart for the same amount, collecting $264,375 each, as the Paterson shot more than $100,000 past its high estimate. A Calderwood & Son Pinfire revolver owned by George Armstrong Custer, brought $141,000, nearly doubling its high estimate.

Separated by just one lot, these classic Texas wheelguns, a squareback Colt Texas Holster Model No. 5 Paterson, top, and a B Company No. 102 Colt Walker, each hammered for $264,375.

Among the exemplary Colt Single Action Army offerings, a Lot 6 SAA documented to Capt. Myles Moylan who fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, drew $164,500, galloping past its high estimate, while a beautifully factory-engraved SAA earned $99,875. A Single Action Army shipped to Muscogee Indian Territory returned $12,925, nearly tripling its high estimate.

Lever guns were well represented on the auction’s first day. A Winchester Model 1876  in .50 Express and owned by John Murray, the 7th Duke of Atholl Crest, returned $47,000, besting its high estimate, while a Marlin Deluxe Model 1895 realized $52,875  and another Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 with a factory inscription rolled to $64,625 and surpassing its high estimate.

A closeup of the hammer of the spectacularly embellished Le Page presentation shotgun showing the hammer, a dog that pounces on a fox when the gun fires. The sporting arm, presented to Mexican president Manuel Gonzales Flores by French President Jules Grevy, earned $440,625 to exceed its high estimate.

Military arms were strong performers, Led by a Colt 1921/1928 Navy Thompson submachine gun that drew $105,750, and an Armalite Ar-18 “Shorty/Carbine” found $99,875 to ease past its high estimate. A U.S. Guide Lamp M3 submachine gun easily doubled its high estimate for $49,937.50, while a Korean War era M2A1-2 flamethrower doubled its high estimate for $18,800. An M1C Garand sniper rifle took aim at $32,313, to outdistance its high estimate. A Beretta M9 Air Force Officer Pistol soared to $17,625 and more than doubled its high estimate.  Not a military arm, but a full auto Fleming Firearms MP5 with silencer soared past its high estimate to $82,250.

While the Le Page and trio of Purdey shotguns made waves, there were other sporting arms that performed well, including an Aristide Barre engraved Purdey shotgun earned $70,500 and an engraved and gold inlaid Krieghoff K-20 over/under hunted down $19,975.

Noted among non-firearms items in the auction, a Winchester “Double W” 1897 Pattern Cartridge Board walloped its high estimate for $82,250, and a F.A. Meanea Cheyenne-marked double loop holster and belt drew well above its $13,000 high estimate for $23,500.

Cartridge boards have been growing in interest and this Winchester "Double W" 1897 pattern cartridge board soared past its high estimate to $82,250.

Day 2 Auction Results

Another Roosevelt firearm, Kermit Roosevelt’s Parker Brothers shotgun, likely given to him by Theodore Roosevelt, drew $105,750 passing its high estimate. The auction was a bonanza for lever action rifle collectors. A Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 in .50 Express powered its way to $88,125 and a special order Marlin Deluxe Model 1881 chambered in .45-70 brought $44,062.50. A special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 achieved $38,187.50.

A pre-World War 2 Colt Woodsman with factory engraving got the attention of collectors. Near mint and a display item, the Woodsman brought $70,500 to trounce its high estimate while a factory-engraved Colt Single Action Army documented as cut by Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn and Wolf & Klar-shipped also landed on $70,500.

A surprise in the Premier Auction was the Colt documented Colt Model 1907 U.S. Army trials pistol that far surpassed its high estimate of $90,000, earning $352,500 on the auction's second day.

Among military arms, a Union Switch & Signal Model 1911A1 issued to a co-pilot of the “Bloody 100th” Bombardment Group, the unit featured in Apple TV’s “Masters of the Air,” collected $35,250 and a U.S. Harrington & Richardson M16A1 select fire rifle got $64,625 to nearly double its high estimate. Among the highest-selling items of the weekend was a FN M240 general purpose machine gun that realized $470,000.

From the Allan Cors Collection, a World War 2 M3A1 Stuart light tank drove to $323,125, leading the small curated group of military vehicles.

Flintlocks found an audience on the auction’s second day as a cased Joseph Egg over/under flintlock pistol from the Norman R. Blank Collection gained $64,625 to top its high estimate and a signed, silver inlaid and carved Bedford long rifle doubled its high estimate, securing $11,750. A Winchester store display gun cabinet packed up $26,438, also clearing its high estimate.

Day 3 Auction Results

Sporting arms, military weapons and flintlocks all found enviable prices on the auction’s third day, but were led by lever guns. Panther Bill’s Winchester Model 1866 from Buffalo Bill rounded up $99,875 and  factory engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 with consecutive serial numbers sold in consecutive lots pulled in $76,375 and $88,125 respectively. Also performing well were a special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 in .22 Short that brought in $11,163, doubling its high estimate and a less well known Bullard Repeating Arms large frame lever action rifle also more than doubled its high estimate, attaining $9,400.

From the Norman R. Blank Collection, a flintlock sporting gun by J.J. Behr and a pair of silver mounted Durs Egg double barrel flintlock pistols earned $35,250 and $29,375 respectively. Also, an elaborate Jacob Snider percussion rifle grabbed $38,188.

Military weapons, from the Civil War to the present were well-received on the auction’s final day. From the U.S. Civil War, a U.S. Berdan Sharpshooter Sharps 1859 rifle gathered $32,313 and a Confederate Griswold & Gunnison revolver grabbed $29,375, both going past their high estimates. A U.S. Army World War 1 Winchester 1897 trench shotgun dug in for $21,150.

A U.S. Winchester M14 earned $47,000 among more modern firearms while a pair of Russian weapons, a Degtyaryov DP28 machine gun and a RPG-7D rocket launcher collected $41,125 and $29,375 respectively. A box of three Czech PG-7 training rounds that followed the RPG-7D went for $22,325 more than four times its high estimate.

Sporting arms enjoyed a fine day on auction Sunday. An exhibition quality Alexander Henry .577 BPE Rotary Underlever double barrel rifle owned by Prime Minister Salar Jung of Hyderabad brought $70,500 followed by a Giovanelli and Cortini engraved Perazzi over/under shotgun for $38,188. A succession of six Rigby bolt action rifles in various calibers crossed the podium a short time later, topping their high estimates, led by one chambered in .450 Rigby that bagged $35,250, nearly doubling its high estimate.

Auction Results

From an American classic like the Winchester One of One Thousand to the English embellishment of three Purdey shotguns, the rumble of military vehicles and the history of military arms, Rock Island Auction Company’s Premier was packed with genres and opportunities for every collector. Thank you to consignors and collectors for your support and interest in our May offerings that led to realizing $25.7 million in this three-day sale.