The inaugural Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC) offering from the company’s new Bedford, Texas, location brought a staggering $26.7 million recently. A Winchester Model 1873 One of One Thousand of Thomas Stuart launched the remarkable sale.
Rock Island Texas Premier Auction Tops $26.7 Million
The new RIAC facility located in the Dallas area hosted 2,252 lots in its maiden auction. The guns ranged across collections from flintlocks to modern machine guns. The $26.7 million weekend pushed RIAC’s yearly sales to $102 million, the third consecutive year to top the $100 million mark.
The Thomas Stuart One of One Thousand Winchester Model 1873 brought $528,750. The second headliner, a highly desirable C Company No. 12 Colt Model 1847 Walker percussion revolver sold for $470,000.
“We are thrilled with the results of our inaugural Texas Premier Auction. This three-day event was the culmination of a 10-year dream come true. We continue to be humbled by the support and loyalty of our clients,” said Kevin Hogan, President of Rock Island Auction Company. “It was the perfect way to celebrate our 30th year in business, our expansion to the Lone Star State and was the exclamation point on a very successful 2023. The market for antique and historical firearms is experiencing fantastic growth, and we can’t wait to bring more exciting collections and experiences to buyers and collectors in 2024.”
Notable Sales
- Cased 1855 Dated Gastinne-Renette Percussion Dueling Pistols: $411,250
- Cased 1902 “GL” Luger Presentation DWM Carbine for Borchardt: ($411,250
- FN U.S. M240B Class III/NFA Fully Transferable Machine Gun: $381,875
- Colt Model 1883 Gatling Gun with Pedestal: $352,500
- Cased Colt No. 5 Holster Model “Texas Paterson” Revolver: $325,000
Class III Milestones
A host of Class III firearms made headlines as well. An FN U.S. M240B sold for $381,875, topping all other Class III offerings. A KAC Stoner 63 brought $141,000. A U.S. Johnson M1941 light machine gun matched the Stoner. A Colt Thompson 1921 submachine gun attributed to Folsom State Prison collected another $88,125. Two more iconic offerings brought big money. A pre-World War 2 Japanese Pedersen experimental rifle pulled in $94,000. Finally, a World War 2 trophy presentation cased Walther PPK pistol soared to $141,000, nearly tripling its original estimate.
For a full rundown of Rock Island Auction’s latest event, visit rockislandauction.com.
