Top Guns: 2015 December Premiere

Time to review the top guns of our 2015 December Premiere Firearms Auction, and the event was HUGE. In case you hadn't heard, the event resulted in nearly $15 million in sales and pushed our annual total to $51 MILLION! That is another record in the firearms industry set by Rock Island Auction Company and we couldn't be more proud. Since no one else has breached even $40 million, these phenomenal numbers cement our place as the world's #1 firearms auction house for a twelfth consecutive year. Of course, we couldn't have done it without the trust of our consignors, the loyalty of our buyers, and a super active internet community like you that likes our posts, shares our photos, watches our videos, and reads our blogs.

Click here to read the full write-up of the 

2015 December Premiere Firearms Auction

Numbers like this should be extremely encouraging for the entire firearms community! It's no secret that the number of new guns being sold seems to reach a new high every other month and by our own numbers the overall market for collectible firearms is also at new and exciting heights. We had bidders from 21 countries bidding via the RIAC website alone! Let's take a look at some of the high dollar, popular, and over-achieving guns in this sale.

Most Popular

Lot 3665: U.S. Winchester Arms M1 Garand Semi-Automatic Rifle with Case

Estimate: $700 - $1,000
Realized Price: $1,725
Number of Sealed Bidders: >30

The popularity of M1 Garands does not appear to be waning anytime soon, especially high condition examples.  This has been especially apparent in 2015 when we sold M1 serial number 7, prototype models from the SALVO project, and more famously a National Match refinished by the CPRPFS (now the CMP) that belonged to President John F. Kennedy. The Winchester M1 shown above was manufactured in 1944 and wonderfully restored by Miltech of California.  Original or restored, people want a good looking Garand; this rifle simply allowed them to do it with a significant reduction in price but still with high attention to detail and authenticity.

Top Dollar

Lot 1262: Important, Fresh and Extremely Significant Middle Eastern Treasure: 15th Century Shirt of Mail and Plate with Elaborate Gold Koftgari Decorated Plate Reinforcement with the Property Stamp from the Janissary Arsenal at the Hagia Irene Church in Istanbul with Inscription that Appears to Bear the name of the Recipient: Qaytbay Mamluk Sultan of Egypt 1468-1496

Estimate: $200,000 - $500,000

Realized Price: $2.3 Million

If you receive our emails or look at our social media pages, then you already knew about this one. A 15th century shirt of armor belonging to an Egyptian sultan sold for $2.3 million dollars! This is far and away the highest amount achieved by any item at Rock Island Auction Company, and what an exciting moment it was to watch it sell. It is simply an incredible piece that was covered in more depth by our "More Museum Worthy Pieces" article last month. For a blow-by-blow account of the sale of the shirt, read our full auction write-up.

Highest Performing Item Overall

Lot 1132: Finely Carved Powder Horn with French-Indian War Themed Decoration

Estimate: $1,800 - $2,750
Realized Price: $25,875

With the wonderfully high sale price of the armor, you'd think it would be a no-brainer for the highest performing item in the auction. However, this unassuming powder horn takes that prize by hammering for 1,150% over its low estimate, while the armor hammered over its mark by 900%. The engraving on the horn is sharp and, at its base, depicts armed Native Americans bearing a flag of Great Britain.  The rest shows an unnamed river with tributaries that wraps around the horn almost two complete times. The horn may have doubled as a map for someone who frequently traveled that waterway.

Highest Performing Genre: The Royal Hunt Collection

Lot 1329: Massive and Magnificent European Red Stag Wall Mount From King Frederick William III Accompanied by Mid-19th Century Military Themed Items

Average Percentage Above Low Estimate: 260%

OK, so the true top performing genre was the "Antique European Military Item," but that stat is definitely going to be skewed by the sale of the armor. The next genre in the list is the items from the Royal Hunt Collection.  An incredible collection of hunting trophies taken by top men in the Imperial German military and assembled over 40 years through the support of Kaiser Wilhelm II's descendants. The moment these began to be offered, you could hear the buzz in the room and it was reflected in the bids. It was nearly dumbfounding to see mount after mount pass their estimates by thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. Selling a mere 60 lots after the Egyptian armor, it was a very exciting afternoon at Rock Island Auction Co.



Obviously, the non-firearm items in this auction had a spectacular day, but let's look at some of the top sellers in some of the most popular areas of collecting.

Highest Selling Colt

Lot 1687: Super Ultra-Rare Early Production Colt Model 1909 Serial Number "22" 45 ACP Semi-Automatic Test Trial Pistol with Factory Letter

Realized Price: $161,000

The headline for this weapon says it all.  It's a ridiculously high condition example of an important developmental stage of an iconic weapon.  There were 23 ever made, serialed 0-22 making this the final one ever produced! It was easily the top dollar Colt in the auction with its $161,000 realized price.  In second was a San Francisco shipped, Glahn engraved Single Action Army in .44 S&W with an R.L. Wilson letter in lot 1220 that realized $103,500. Each one a beauty!

Highest Selling Winchester

Lot 1014: Magnificent John Ulrich Masterpiece Factory Engraved, Signed, Gold Inlaid, and Elaborately Ornamented Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle From the Legendary Mac McCroskie Collection

Realized Price: $207,000

This was the highest estimated Winchester in the auction, so there's no big surprise here.  Though guns that were not the highest estimate have come through before! It's another outstanding piece from the Mac McCroskie Collection, so you know it is of the highest quality and condition. As Director of Auction Services Kevin Hogan says, "If there was a Mount Rushmore of gun collecting, he'd be on it." This gun is a fine representation of the caliber of guns in his collection (no pun intended).  Expertly master engraved, gorgeous wood, gold inlaid, high condition, and featured in several books, it is everything a collector could want from a top of the line Winchester.

Highest Selling Civil War Arm

Lot 3174: Rare U.S. Civil War Era Ames Foundry Model 1841 6 Pounder Cannon Dated 1855 with Provenance

Realized Price: $109,250

It's true, this isn't a small arm, but it is definitely the highest selling Civil War Era item in the sale. Many cannons come through our doors, but few are original models like this one. This cannon is one of very few 6-pounders in private hands, especially when accompanied by its large quantities of documentation. The highest selling small arm of the sale was sold only two lots earlier and was the Sharps Model 1853 in lot 3172 that was captured during John Brown's raid on the Arsenal at Harpers Ferry. That historical carbine sold for $28,750.

Highest Selling Non-Firearm

This was easily the Egyptian armor.  Since we've covered it already, we'll be moving right along.

Highest Selling German Arm

Lot 1584: Rare Historic Factory Engraved Walther PP Gold Plated Nazi Presentation Semi Automatic Pistol with Leather Holster and Spare Magazine

Realized Price: $37,375

We have seen some absolutely incredible European arms collections come through our doors this year. This was especially apparent in The Iconic Ralph Shattuck Collection filled with amazing Lugers and German military pieces. Pistols like this gold plated, presentation Walther PP show that the collections are still rolling in and going strong. It's beautiful, pre-WWII, fresh to the market, and according to the inscription, was a Christmas present in 1934. The collector that secured this fine firearm has some fascinating research ahead of them. Following the Royal Hunt Collection, German Military Lugers were the 2nd highest performing genre in the entire auction - a good sign of a continuing solid market for those collectors.

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What a sale and what a year! It was an exciting weekend that put an exclamation point on an already successful season. Newcomer collections were top performers and led the way via the Legendary Mac McCroskie Collection and the Royal Hunt Collection, but traditional genres such as the German Military pieces were not far behind.  Again, a hearty and sincere thank you to everyone who helped make this year, and the previous 11 a reality. We'll continue to work as hard as we can to keep your interest, your trust, and your loyalty.

Our next auction will be an Online Only Auction held on Friday, January 29, 2016 beginning at 9:00 a.m. CT. The first batch of lots in that auction has posted today!  Head on over to gunauctiononline.com search today to browse and bid on these items. It'll be a great way to start the new year.


-Written by Joel R. Kolander

Top Guns: 2015 September Premiere Auction

Here we go again, fellow firearms collectors!  Another successful auction and another recap that shows you the highlights, over achievers and most popular items from that weekend.  If you haven't seen this type of article, we have been writing them after the last several auctions, and like to emphasize that these results are in no way "cherry picked."  The guns, knives, and results shown here are listed solely by virtue of their data regardless of condition, history, embellishment, provenance, or other factors.

Click here to read the full write-up of the 

2015 September Premiere Firearms Auction

Most Popular

Lot 990: Two Cased Smith & Wesson Double Action Revolvers

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,600
Realized Price: $2,587.50
Number of Sealed Bids: 34

With Rock Island Auction's recently developed outbid notifications, the amount of bids on particularly desirable items can escalate quickly.  One might also think it helps eliminate tie bids, but hundreds of items had bids still locked in a dead heat, some as many as a five-way tie!  Those who use these notifications have a huge advantage  to win the lots they want.

That said, the lot that received the most sealed bids (bids placed before the auction took place) is this lot of two cased Smith & Wesson revolvers - one a 29-2 and the other a 27-2.  Looks like Colt Pythons aren't the only wheelguns that collectors want in their safes.

Top Dollar

Lot 1621: Rare and Impressive Krieghoff Second Model FG-42 Fallschirmjaegergewehr Paratrooper Rifle, BATFE Registered Fully Transferrable Machine Gun with Boxed Ammunition

Estimate: $160,000 - $220,000

Realized Price: $322,000

With an FG-42 selling at RIAC in last year's September Premiere Auction for $299,000 perhaps it should come as no surprise that a Krieghoff manufactured version would fetch a higher price.  However, it should signal to the collecting community that last year's price was no fluke or random spike, as these fearsome German machine guns continue to command high prices from some of the world's top collectors.

Even at this high price it was still a close race at the top.  Lot 1657 held an engraved and gold washed Walther PP presentation pistol with an "H. Himmler" signature on its grips, that sold for $287,500.  It also provided the most excitement of the auction as jump bids were being placed in $50,000 increments!  Both of these should also indicate that the German military collectors market is still as strong as ever.

Highest Performing Item Overall

Lot 3114: Two Confederate Style Leather Belts One Dagger and One Holster

Estimate: $1,400 - $2,250
Realized Price: $12,650 

It might not be as pretty as some of the other "top guns" shown in this article, but the historical significance of these Confederate pieces made them more than attractive to more than one collector.  Confederate items remain remarkably desirable even in the wake of popular opinion regarding the Confederacy and the American Civil War.

Highest Performing Genre: German Military - Walther PP/PPK

Lot 3501: Excellent Nazi Party Leader Walther PPK Semi-Automatic Pistol Rig with Party Leader Leather Holster, NSDAP Manual and Post-War Walther Case

Average Percentage Above Low Estimate: 109%

Undoubtedly led by the aforementioned golden "H. Himmler" PP, this dauntless little pistol continues to cement itself as a classic firearm.  Often dwarfed, literally and figuratively, by other beloved military pistols such as the M1911, the C96 Broomhandle, the P08, and the P38, these little pistols still have a hot spot in the collector market and its overachieving performance goes to show exactly that.

Highest Selling Colt

Lot 1232:Phenomenal Deluxe Gustave Young Factory Engraved Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer "Root" Revolver with Incredibly Rare Buhl Presentation Case

Estimate: $85,000 - $130,000
Realized Price: $109,250

The top selling Colt in this action may be up for some discussion as to which one technically takes the crown.  Shown above is the gun I feel should win the award.  It's a Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer "Root" revolver that has been elaborately engraved by Gustave Young and comes in the supremely rare Buhl case.  First off, the pistol features eight punch dots on its hammer, which with Gustave Young engravings indicates the number of days taken to complete the work.  Eight is a large number, especially when the work was done on such a small revolver, and Colt aficionados know this.  The revolver is stunning in and of itself, but the debate arises because arguably the larger portion of the lot's sale price is tied to the case and not the revolver.  Buhl cases  were used by Colt for only the most prestigious of presentations, with examples being presented to Edward Prince of Wales, his father Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, and his ever-important patent attorney, Edward Dickerson.  This particular example is brass bound rosewood and inlaid with antique ivory, silver, brass, and pearl.  The lot was estimated at $85,000 - $130,000.

Challenging this sidehammer's crown is Lot 1329, which holds an amazing pair of Colt Single Action Army revolvers that bear superb factory engraving and opposite, relief carved, steer head grips.  It is "Grade B" engraving performed by Master Engraver Wilbur A Glahn, and the guns themselves remain in excellent condition.  Their estimate was $110,000 - $160,000.

I'm awarding "Highest Selling Colt" to the 1855 Sidehammer based on several factors:

1. It outperformed its estimate
2. The price is based on only one gun and a case, not two guns.

One could argue that the Root isn't in as high of a condition as the SAA revolvers, or that each lot had two valuable items so the number of guns shouldn't enter into it.  When it comes right down to it, the lot with the Root has the benefit of being a rarer lot thanks to the Buhl case, and the immeasurable benefit of being something Samuel Colt would've almost certainly had his hands on at some time in his life.  The rarity of the cases and the importance of their individual presentations almost ensures it.

Highest Selling Winchester

Lot 1021: Magnificent John Ulrich Signed Factory Engraved and Big Game Gold Inlaid
Winchester Model 1910 Self-Loading Rifle

Estimate: $100,000 - $180,000
Realized Price: $138,000

Three words to describe this rifle: gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.  It rightly earns its place as the top Winchester in this auction.  It is magnificently master engraved and gold inlaid by John Ulrich, who also signed his work.  I try to keep these sections brief because there is so much good information to cover, so I'll just let the following picture do the talking.  Take a look at the expertly carved stock, the tightly scrollwork on the receiver, and the shading work on the gold inlays.  You can even click on it for a larger view.  It truly is an amazing rifle.

Highest Selling German Arm

Since the top two selling items of the entire auction were German arms and have already been covered, I'll not rehash it here.

Highest Selling Civil War Arm

Lot 3016: Historic Illinois Civil War New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle
with Cavalry Saber and Documented History

Estimate: $37,500 - $65,000
Realized Price: $57,500

This is one of a select few Henry rifles that come through our doors with a documented history.  It is even accompanied by a British pattern 1821 saber.  Both weapons can be traced to Samuel H. Light (1834 – 1914), a man who can be found on the Illinois Civil War Muster Roll, joined the 7th Illinois Cavalry on September 15, 1861, and re-enlisted on November 4, 1865 as a sergeant.  The family home was located in Edgar County, Illinois, an area known to have raised men for a number of Illinois regiments.  Both items have been passed down through the family for generations before finally ending up at Rock Island Auction Company.  Not only is it the centerpiece of a rich history, but it is absolutely “fresh” to the collector market.  This Henry has resided in an Illinois farmhouse for the last 150 years!  It can’t get much fresher than that.  Both the provenance and the "freshness" of the rifle trumped its "attic" condition to bring a welcome sale price.

Highest Selling Non-Firearm

Lot 3154: Reproduction Confederate Tredegar Iron Works Style Twelve Pound Napoleon Field Gun
with Carriage, Limber and Accoutrements

Estimate: $14,000 - $22,500
Realized Price: $17,250

Our newest auctioneer, Alex, is standing next to this positively massive field gun to give a perspective of its true size.  Our official description lists it as "The massive cannon is just over 11 foot long from the muzzle to the end of the carriage tail and is 5 1/2 feet wide from the outside edges of the wheels which stand 4 feet and 10 inches tall. The bore is 4 1/2 inches at the muzzle..."  These twelve pound "Napoleon" cannons were first used in the U.S. in 1857 and were the most used smoothbore cannon during the Civil War.

Most "light 12-pounders" were made of bronze, but when the Union Army took the Ducktown copper mines near Chattanooga, Tennessee in November 1863, the Confederacy no longer had access to the 1,000 pounds of copper required to make each gun.  They began to make the critically important weapons from cast iron with iron reinforcing bands, but only around 120 could be produced by the South before the end of the war.  Given that this 12-pounder is made from iron and the bore lacks the Union signature swell at the muzzle, it can be safely said that it is a reproduction of a Confederate light 12-pounder as made by the renowned Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia.  It would be quite the eye-catching piece in any Civil War or Confederate weapons collection.  The light 12-pounder was likely used to greater effect on Civil War battlefields (in terms of casualties and fatalities) than any other piece of artillery, so it should come as no surprise that some astute collector made it the top selling non-firearm in this auction.

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There you have it, collector friends.  By the numbers, those are the top items from our 2015 September Premiere Firearms Auction. Seeing big revolvers as the most popular was no surprise, but to not see a lever gun in the top Winchester spot certainly was!  Also, two German WWII guns and two Confederate pieces each found their way into top spots.  Even though the users of each took arms against the United States, collectors admirably overlook that in search of the aesthetic, well-engineered, or tangible pieces of history.  It may seem silly to say, but there are many that cannot or choose not to do so.

From an 11-foot long item to one barely the size of a man's hand, these top items truly run the gamut:  military and civilian, royalty and infantrymen, leaping out of planes and riding on horses, and that's just in the top several items!  We hope that you'll come to an auction sometime to see our "rotating museum" of fascinating, historic, and stunning collector firearms.  We promise it's worth the trip!



-Written  by Joel R. Kolander

Top Guns: 2015 April Premiere Auction

In case you missed our post-auction write-up, our April Premiere Firearms Auction was a weekend filled with bidder battles that made for an exciting and fun event.  The sale as a whole garnered over $11.6 million and enjoyed great participation, with many lots receiving dozens of sealed bids before the auction even started.  Per positive response, here again are the top items in a whole bunch of categories we hope you find useful or interesting.  Again, these aren't some cherry-picked stats from the auction that we use to hype our results.  This is straight from the data to you.  Enjoy!

Most Popular Item

Lot 3871: : Cased Colt Python Double Action Revolver

Number of Sealed Bidders: 36

To clarify, this revolver had 36 bidders competing for it before the auction began.  This isn't really surprising since Colt snake guns, especially the Python, are currently enjoying a celebrity-like level of attention.  It's also not surprising that this particular revolver broke its low estimate of $1,300 and sold for $3,162.  What is surprising is that this example has the second lowest estimate out of all Pythons in the entire auction.  What does that tell us?  That people are still trying to get in on these tough looking beauties on the ground floor.

Something that WAS surprising for Colt Pythons was the new record price reached for one during this auction.  Lot 1934 was a first year production with the low serial number of 170 and it easily caused the most excitement of the weekend as bids just kept climbing and climbing.  It would eventually sell for $17,250.

Top Dollar

Lot 1093: Highly Documented, Cased, and Earliest Known Factory Engraved Colt Pocket Model Paterson Revolver No. 1 (Baby Paterson) with Accessories

Realized Price: $414,000

Drawing top dollar in this auction was this diminutive Colt Paterson.  These pocket pistols are the earliest offering from the legendary manufacturer and this example is particularly early with its serial number of 98.  Therefore not only is it one of the first one hundred Colts ever made (in quantity), it is also the earliest known factory engraved Colt and the earliest known to be fitted with pearl grips.  Only 500 No. 1 Model revolvers were ever made.  Its mother-of-pearl grips, special 1 3/4 inch barrel, hand-engraved frame, backstrap, & barrel, six German silver band inlays, backstrap inlaid with a German silver escutcheon, case-hardened frame & hammer, and six German silver stud inlays to secure the grips are, in the opinion of Colt expert R.L. Wilson, evident that this was used as a sample piece by Samuel Colt himself.  This revolver has been in numerous prominent collections and documented in several books.

Highest Performing Item Overall

Lot 3772: Cased Colt Rattlesnake Legacy Edition Commemorative Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol

Low Estimate: $900
Realized Price: $4,887

The coolest features about this gun are easily the grips bound in the skin of an American Diamondback rattlesnake.  What's unusual is that commemorative guns typically don't draw huge prices.  Yes, Colts have often been the top performers at our auctions, but usually they're classic models that have stood the test of time, and while a 1911A1 certainly fits that bill, a modern commemorative one doesn't.

This Colt just barely edged out lot 3492 as the top performing item overall; it contained the rare Springfield Armory experimental M1 Garand chambered for the 22-06 cartridges.  Generating much interest and many bids, the iconic weapon far surpassed its $6,500 low estimate on its way to sell for $31,625.

Highest Performing Genre: Shotguns

Lot 1746: Extremely Scarce, Desirable, and Documented Parker Bros. AHE Double Barrel Shotgun with Vent Rib in 20 Gauge with Additional Barrel Set

When we say that Rock Island Auction Company is becoming the place to go for high end hunting pieces, both rifles and shotguns, we're not kidding.  It's always nice to see the numbers verify the trends one notices in person.  Shown above is the double barrel Parker Brothers shotgun that found the highest sale amount of the genre at an impressive $48,875.  The top performing shotgun though was a bit more, shall we say, popular, in nature.  Lot 3746 contained the Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun: banned from import in both 1989 and 1994, and featured in movies such as Jurassic Park, Terminator, The Matrix, & Snatch, was (pun intended) snatched up by a collector who disregarded the $1,000 low estimate to add the celebrity shotgun to their collection for $3,737.  That's 225% OVER its anticipated figure.

Lot 3746: Franchi SPAS-12 Semi-Automatic/Slide Action Shotgun with Box

Highest Selling Colt

Since the top dollar of the entire auction and the top performer of the auction were Colts that we've already covered, we'll just move right along.

Highest Selling Winchester

Lot 1017: Rare Deluxe Factory Engraved Gold-Plated Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle

This deluxe Winchester 1866 lever action, manufactured circa 1869, drew $69,000 at auction.  This third model has a gold finish that was period replated, a highly figured fancy walnut stock with the high polish piano finish, over 70% of the original blue finish, a nitre blue loading gate with barely a mark upon it, factory engraving on the receiver, fore end cap, & buttplate, special sights, and several casehardened small parts.  It would be easier to list the special order features this rifle didn't have!

Highest Selling German Arm

Lot 1451: Extraordinary Historic Pre-World War II Walther Factory Engraved Gold Plated Model PP Presentation Pistol For King Carol II of Romania

With three world class selections in this auction all with an emphasis on German and European arms, it was anybody's guess which collector firearm would claim the top spot in this genre.  When the auction was all said and done, the gilded Walther PP you see above reigned supreme as the top grossing German arm with a realized price of $92,000.  Hot on its heels in second place was the DWM Model 1902 "Cartridge Counter" Test Luger in lot 3345 that earned $74,750.

Highest Selling Civil War Item

Lot 265: Rare Cased Pinfire LeMat Grapeshot Revolver

This cased Belgian pinfire version of the Civil War hand cannon earned this honor with a sale price of $31,625.  Some lucky collector also received the added bonus of some nasty looking fragmented "slugs" for use in its 20 gauge smoothbore barrel.  In no small coincidence, the third best selling Civil War arm was also a LeMat in lot 1085, though it was a Paris addressed Second Model that used the percussion firing system.  Both are a tribute to the popularity of what is easily the most recognizable Confederate revolver.

Highest Selling Non-Firearm

Lot 1295: Historic Theodore Roosevelt Presentation Inscribed Western Saddle with Research

This  category was also wide open with the amount of historic and often highly adorned Nazi items appearing in this auction.  It's hard to hide my satisfaction that this item, with its neat presidential and wild west history, edged out the Nazi gifts.  I believe Teddy would say, "BULLY!"  This was a gift to President Roosevelt from the historic Rough Riders, which he in turn presented to Lucille Mulhall, known then as "The First Cowgirl" and "Queen of the Range."  That's a lot of history between two stirrups.

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Well how about that?  This was a very well-rounded sale with three phenomenal collections focusing on German and European arms, but the Colts still took the cake.  Not only did a Colt see the highest price of the auction, and the best performance, but also the auction's most popular item!  This doesn't even mention the large number of other Colts that received a high number of bids before the auction even began.  They were also aided by the William Baird Collection - a lifelong study on Colt Model 1877/78 Lightnings and Thunderers.  We don't call Colts "blue chip" guns without good reason.

Now that you've read about the past auction, be sure to check out the upcoming auction!  That's right! The catalog for our June Regional Firearms Auction is already online as of today.  Head on over today to search for all your favorites and to place those bids as early as possible.


-Written by Joel Kolander

Click here to search our June Regional Catalog!

A Lifetime of Lugers

This article, appropriately enough, is being distributed on Georg Luger's birthday, March 6.  It is the 166th anniversary of the occasion.  Happy birthday, Georg!


Rock Island Auction Company has been extremely privileged during our last few Premiere auctions to host the Gene Smith Military Collection.  Mr. Smith's massive, encyclopedic grouping of German military arms has been featured in our sales since mid-2014, bringing high condition, rare, historic, and significant German firearms to the collecting community who can't snatch them up quickly enough.

Regarding this astounding collection, we bring good news and bad news.  The bad news is that our 2015 April Premiere Firearms Auction will mark the final installment of this landmark collection.  It has truly been our pleasure to see, handle, and experience such an array of amazing guns, and with one final opportunity, that pleasure can be yours as well.  The good news is that besides having one final opportunity to own an item from this outstanding collection, another convergence of extraordinary arms waits in the wings, waiting to be unleashed.  We are referring to The Lifelong Collection of Icon Ralph Shattuck.

Viewing Mr. Shattuck's passion for firearms has resulted in a "dream collection" that many aspire to match and very few ever do.  His assemblage of Lugers, Mausers, and Borchardts is unparalleled, and a multitude of other nations are represented as well.  Here, for the first time, is a glimpse at the host of rare and attractive firearms that comprise this lifetime of dedication.  Before we begin, many of the firearms pictured here by Rock Island Auction Company can already be found with descriptions in the book Lugers at Random by Charles Kenyon, Jr.  Long considered to be an important reference since its release in 1969, the book contains numerous photos and descriptions of important Lugers from Mr. Shattuck's collection.  Also, Mr. Shattuck, acknowledged as the "Dean of Lugers," has a book published on his collection aptly titled "Lugers of Ralph Shattuck," which can be easily found on Amazon for those who would like a more in-depth view of his collection.  There was even an a CD made of high-resolution photos of the guns in his collection.  People just couldn't get enough of these rare, unusual, beautiful, and high condition Lugers.

Ralph Shattuck and his wife Nancy.

Ralph Shattuck was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 28, 1929 mere months preceding the Great Depression, but would go on to become one of the pioneers and giants of the Luger collecting community.  Even as a child Shattuck would ride around on his bicycle and purchase whatever pistols he could with the intention of selling them to make some money.  His home, both his first residence in Michigan and his later one in Arizona, was open to many collectors throughout the years and was nearly considered a pilgrimage site for Luger enthusiasts - containing hundreds of Lugers in his personal collection and even more in "inventory."  Ralph and his bright red suit jacket were a staple of many gun shows for decades, resulting in endless stories of his generosity, character, and genuine love of the hobby.  Ralph passed away on his birthday at the age of 81, but not before helping build one of the most zealous and educated genres in gun collecting.  Rock Island Auction Company is honored to offer such a prestigious collection from such a collecting icon and trailblazer.

Outstanding Ultra Rare DWM Model 1902 U.S. Army "Cartridge Counter" American Eagle Test Luger

This completely original and totally unaltered version of the "Cartridge Counter" Luger is one of the most desirable Lugers for both German and military collectors.  Made at the behest of the U.S. Ordnance Board in 1902, exactly 50 of these pistols with the "Powell Indicating Device" (and grip safety) were manufactured for testing the following year.  The device was simple and accurate, but ultimately deemed to fragile by the Ordnance Board, and rightly so.  The left grip would first have a slot cut into it, and then have a delicate metal strip and feeble 3 1/4" celluloid strip covering the newly created slot.  The concept itself was quite simple.  To work, the gun required a special magazine, which involved a pin poking out the left side of the magazine.  This pin was attached to the magazine follower, so that every time a cartridge was fired and the follower rose, the pin would also.  That pin also moved an indicator corresponding to the numerals visible to the user.  In a bit of a perhaps unintended redundancy, when loaded, the bullets of the cartridges were also visible through the celluloid window.

Estimate: $45,000 - $65,000

Extremely Rare Original DWM Model 1900 "GL" Marked Prototype Luger Pistol with Unique Reversed Toggle Mechanism

The photos are worth a million words in the case of this gun.  With its numerous unique and potentially one-of-a-kind design variations, not only is the gun a bit difficult to describe through text alone, but the purpose of the prototype changes is not fully known.

Note the reversed toggle "hinge" on this pistol as compared to the photo of the top of the previous Luger.  The rear portion extends into the front, instead of the other way around.

There's also this unusual undercut front sight and muzzle
with dimples on each side.  Were they for an attached
suppressor or muzzle break?  Do these tie in with the reversed toggle?

"GL" Georg Luger marked prototype.

Finest Known Exceptionally Rare Documented DWM Model 1900 Bulgarian Contract Luger Pistol

Authentic Cyrililic text appearing in place of the "GESICHERT" ("secured") marking, is always a good sign for a Luger collector. The total production of these pistols is estimated at approximately 1,000 pistols and this example is in the appropriate serial range.  While seven rebarreled Model 1900 pistols are known, it is reported that no more than 3-4 original 1900 Bulgarian contract Lugers are known as many were converted to 9mm before and after the Great War.  Most saw heavy use through WWII, with many samples being captured by Russians.  Another unusual feature of this Luger might not appear unusual at first glance.  Note the placement of the "DWM" monogram and the Bulgarian crest.  On many Lugers, this placement is standard, but on these guns one would much more commonly find the markings reversed, making this "normal" looking Luger even more rare and desirable.

























So by now, you know our April Premiere Auction will have two colossal German collections contained within in it.  Did you also know that amazing single pieces have come in as well, creating a perfect storm for German and foreign military collectors?  Here are additional highlights for collectors sure to be wringing their hands with anticipation.

Rare, Documented DWM Prototype 1900 Luger Carbine, Serial Number 58

OK, we fibbed.  One more from the Shattuck Collection, and this one presents a mystery to collectors.  This gun was featured in the aforementioned book Lugers At Random and since 1969 it has stymied Luger collectors.  The source of conflict comes primarily in determining whether this 1900 Carbine  was manufactured for commercial sales or as a prototype.  Lugers At Random is quoted in describing the gun by stating,

"The uniqueness of this variation makes it difficult to determine the proper designation for this weapon and there is support for both theories (commercial or prototype) among collectors.  The unique five position rear sight lends support to the Prototype theory, but the serial number range is of the 1900 era.  VERY VERY RARE.  Only one example is known to collectors." (Emphasis theirs)

Extraordinary, Historic Pre-World War II Walther Factory Engraved Gold Plated Model PP Presentation Pistol For King Carol II of Romania

Obviously this gun has some extensive ornamentation going for it, making it a prize for any collector who appreciates such craftsmanship, but this gun also bears some special provenance.  Just looking at it, one might be able to guess that it is a presentation gun, however, a presentation for whom is not as evident.  This spectacular Walther PP was commissioned by the Nazis for King Carol II of Romania during his second reign.  It was around 1937-38 when Nazi Germany was pulling out all the stops so that Romania and its "the playboy king" would ally itself with the Third Reich.  The fact that the Romanians were sitting on the oil fields at Ploiesit didn't hurt either.  This pistol was part of the efforts to woo the King.

As if one could look past the impressive provenance, the gun alone is capable of generating high interest among collectors.  First off, this is the earliest known factory engraved Walther Mod. PP pistol.  With a serial number of 751249, that makes this the 1,249th Walther PP!  The engraving itself is also masterfully done by the Zella-Mehlis Guild/Walther engravers and features a dense, floral scroll work mixed with an abundance of edelweiss blossoms. The gold plating speaks for itself and the grips have an inset on the left side that shows the Romanian crown over the initials "CC" (standing for Carol Caraiman, the full name of King Carol II).

Exceptionally Rare, Early Production Mauser Model 1896 20 Shot Flatside Cone Hammer Broomhandle Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 91 with Matching Shoulder Stock

Everybody can recognize a "broomhandle" pistol.  The C96 has a look that people still find attractive today and a quite a following among military enthusiasts.  This particular Mauser Model 1896 is one that should be paid special attention for a number of reasons.  What is immediately most noticeable is that it is a desirable 20-shot version.  Soldiers may have griped about the difficulty in reloading the gun with two 10-round clips, but today they stand out from a gun that was produced for over 60 years and imitated by many.  Looking closely, one will also notice that the pistol is without its standard milled frame panels.  This is known as a "flat side" Broomhandle and is indicative of an early production, before the milled panels began to appear to reduce weight and save on materials.  Being an early model, it also has many of the other features found on those guns such as a cone hammer, the long extractor on the breech bolt, and many others.

Perhaps most impressive about this gun, which cannot be easily observed, is that it still has all its original parts.  Even the grips and the rare wooden holster bear the "91" that ties this wonderful firearm together.  The wooden shoulder stock/holster is an anomaly in itself.  Their large size made them prone to breakage, leaving few surviving models.  Even the stock shows "91" on its lid, attaching iron, and on the flat edge of the stock itself.  Why the number "91"?  it is yet another interesting fact about the pistol that cannot be gathered solely by its appearance.  As if all the other features mentioned here did not make this iconic little pistol rare enough, only an estimated 90-100 of this variant were ever produced with most of them being shipped to South America.  Since few things that are shipped out ever seem to find their way back home, that makes this pistol a rare bird, and its late number of "91" means it was one of the very last Broomhandles produced for those South American shipments.

Exceptional Rare Original Early Gabbet Fairfax MARS Semi-Automatic Pistol

This rare and monstrous handgun once had bragging rights as "the most powerful handgun in the world."  Considering it was only produced from 1898-1907 and would not lose that title until the 1970s, that's quite an accomplishment.  That small production time, of course, resulted in a very limited run of these guns.  Approximately 80 were ever produced in all their proprietary configurations (8.5mm, .36 (9mm), .45 Long, and .45 Short).  The example shown above is an extremely early version (c. 1898-1900) and stamped with the serial number 4.  It also has the fine blued finish and wonderful checkered walnut grips.  It remains in its all-original and unaltered condition.



The pistols were very well-made with all hand-fitted parts, and extremely powerful, but ultimately they were not to be.  Why?  A few reasons existed and they all had to deal with the gun's rather complex design.  First of all, complex designs historically tend to not render themselves well to life in military service.  Complex devices have more parts to foul and are difficult to repair/clean in the field.  Second, this complex device, utilizing a long-action recoil, had such horrendous recoil that it was prone to feeding problems.  The recoil was partially due to the powerful cartridges, but also because of the long travel of the moving parts.  It also suffered from a heavy trigger pull.  All these gripes led to the MARS being passed over for military contracts, the sole hope of its designer, Hugh Gabbert-Fairfax.  There were never any issues with its "man-stopping" ability, but its recoil was its ultimate undoing.  Fortunately, it left us with some rather entertaining quotes such as, "No one who fired once with the pistol wished to shoot it again," and "singularly unpleasant and alarming."

Even without military contracts or commercial sales, this rare curio remains a supremely desirable collectible.

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German collectors, do we have your attention yet?  These two collections combine to form a spectacular selection, the contents of which have the potential to turn good collections into great ones, and great collections legendary.  The guns mentioned here are a fine, yet small, sampling of a cornucopia of European arms.  Not only are there German arms, but the Shattuck Collection also contains such gems as an uncommon Japanese Pedersen, a rare Czech ZH29, a Heinrich Himmler inscribed Jacquemart double barrel shotgun, a 1908 Mondragon semi-automatic rifle, and many more.

Not to mention the Dr. Joel Glovsky Collection, which holds the most complete and advanced array of 7.65mm pistols ever made available - the fruits of 60 years of dedicated labor.  This collection includes most of the 7.65mm pistols from the estate of the late Sid Aberman.  It is a smorgasbord of rarity, prototypes, experimental variations, and high condition, which will be covered in a blog of its own before our 2015 April Premiere Firearms Auction.

Who will be the lucky, dedicated collectors that will not rest until these firearms reside safely in their gun rooms?  If that collector is reading this, we wish you best of luck on your bids for these incredible firearms.


-Written by Joel Kolander






SOURCES:


http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=RALPH-SHATTUCK&lc=4279&pid=144356636&mid=4331737

Kenyon, Charles. Lugers at Random. Chicago: Handgun, 1969. Print.

Who Made It Better - PP vs 1911

As gun collectors we love to debate.  AK or AR?  9mm or .40?  Remington 870 or Mossberg 500?  '73 Colt or '73 Winchester?  In that spirit of strong opinions and lively conversations, we wish to bring the following question to the table, regarding the two presentation pistols in this week's article:  who made it better?  You may use any criteria you like, though some suggested ones are: aesthetics, condition with consideration given to age, provenance, historical value, usefulness of the firearm, desirability of model, and of course, your own personal preference.  Without further ado, here are today's contenders.

Exquisite Presentation Grade Factory Engraved Nazi Walther Model PP Pistol with "KB" Initials on the Backstrap In Postwar Walther Factory Presentation Case

Our first contender certainly starts things off on a strong note.  This is an excellent condition, all original, Presentation Grade, factory engraved Walther PP pistol.  It's a worthy opponent in today's competition!  Since its inception, Walther has been universally recognized as having some of the finest European engravers and this gun shows why in classic Germanic style.  The sheer amount of engraving is impressive in itself, but the precision and the depth in the relief sets it apart.  It bears a very traditional oak leaf and acorn pattern on nearly every metal surface and even those that don't are still decorated with fine checkering, punch dots, or small geometric designs.

The backstrap deserves special attention.  While having been also treated to the same phenomenal engraving as the rest of the pistol, it also features a large, framed "KB" monogram.  Those initials are believed (though not proven) to belong to Kurt Buhligen, a top Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II credited with 112 kills and who eventually commanded Jagdgeschwader Nr 2, the "Freiherr von Richthofen" squadron.  Our official description succinctly describes the pilot.









"Major Buhligen joined the Luftwaffe upon its initial conception in the early 1930s, attended flight and fighter school from 1938-1939 and made his first kill in Sept 1940 during the Battle of Britain. He served on all fronts and flew over 700 missions. In 1944 while on a flying mission in Russia he developed engine trouble and was forced to land and was captured by the Russians. He was interned until 1950 when he was repatriated. During the war for his numerous air victories he was awarded the "Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords" the second highest medal that could be awarded to any German serviceman."



A fun history fact is that Buhligen joined the Luftwaffe as a mechanic!  A collector fascinated with this history of the era, would do well to dig up some concrete documentation on this pistol, as it could increase the value nicely.  Also increasing the desirability of this already attractive firearms is its case and accessories.  The case is a postwar Walther presentation version with a blue leather exterior, fiery red velvet and satin interior, and a spare Walther marked magazine with the finger extension base.

Rare Documented Factory Engraved, Gold Inlaid Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter

Thankfully, we also know some history on the next gun in our contest.  As the title indicates, it's a Colt Government Model pistol with factory engraving and gold inlay, but there is more to this pistol than its simple description.  It's not just any engraving on this Colt, but "Grade C" engraving.  For those unfamiliar, Colt "A" grade or coverage would cover 1/4 of the gun's surface, "B" would cover half, "C" 3/4, and "D" being full coverage of the firearm, including front, sides, screws, hammer, hammer, etc.  Also, the amount of coverage is made even more impressive because it was performed by Master Engraver William H. Gough.  Featuring his personal style of vines, flowers, and lined backgrounds, the firearm is smothered in his elaborate artwork down to the deluxe checkered grips.

Not only is the gun engraved, but it also has a large gold monogram on the top of the slide.  This exceptional combination of fine engraving and gold mongrams on this particular model make it an extremely rare collector or investment piece.  Noted Colt author R. L. Wilson states in "The Book of Colt Firearms," that around 140 Colt Government Models were factory engraved prior to World War II and that only 160 were inscribed or monogrammed.  However, of those already low numbers only a mere four were monogrammed with gold inlays.

Unfortunately, while collectors have access to some of the Colt's records to determine its origins, the monogram on the slide provides a bit of a mystery.  If only four were produced, who could it have belonged to?  A heroic serviceman?  A dedicated officer?  A Colt employee?  A diplomat or politician?  Maybe even just one of Colts elaborate marketing giveaways?  Research may tell, but for now the initials and their owner remain a puzzle yet to be solved.

Each gun certainly has their advantages.  Both are iconic pistols that have stood the test of time.  Both are finely monogrammed and engraved to deserving individuals. Even if the identity of those individuals is still not 100% certain, such pistols were not just handed out willy-nilly.  The Walther is in better condition (though it is several decades younger) and comes with its presentation case and accessories.  The Colt, however, enjoys gold inlays, comes chambered in the more stout .45 caliber, and has the prestige of being a standard issue service weapon.  The Walther PP, while issued to officers and the Luftwaffe, was not the standard issue of the Wehrmacht, an honor that belongs to the P.38.  Each one was also innovative: the PP was the first truly successful semi-automatic pistol to utilize double action with an external hammer, while the M1911/Government Model employed several of Browning's newly patented inventions such as the slide lock, grip safety, thumb safety, and others (6 in total).

To be sure, it's not an easy call, but one must be named.  Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below and we'll see who comes out the winner.


-Written by Joel Kolander