Page 21 - JOA August 2020

Rock Island Auction Company Pop-Up Gun Museum Boasts

Impressive Guest List & Industry Record

ROCK ISLAND, IL – Three • Master Engraved Louis
times a year Rock Island D. Nimschke presented a
Auction Company trans- Well-Documented and Stunning tastefully restrained gallery
forms its Preview Hall into a Herman Leslie Ulrich Signed Factory comprised of six of his
pop-up museum filled with 1876 Centennial Exhibition Relief Panel Scene Engraved, Gold Plated works from a virtual
the history, artistry, and Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle Masterpiece sold for $161,000 “who’s who” of 19th
notable names of the objects century American firearms
they offer to collectors. manufacturers. A sensational Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3,
The recently held June Premier Firearms Auction was no exception, finished in silver and gold, and depicted in his own pull book, far
sparing no expense to make sure guests were both supremely impressed surpassed its $35,000 high estimate and brought $48,875.
and safe. Nationwide visitors enjoyed a new hospitality suite anchored • The entire Ulrich family was in attendance, unable to resist the
by a bar wrapped around an M4 Sherman tank, as well as a pull of an event that featured works by John, George, and Conrad.
complimentary bag complete with mask and sanitizer. The auction Even Herman was there, who seldom makes such appearances, and
was also graced by historic figures throughout the centuries who flocked stole the show with his masterpiece Winchester 1866 from the
to the auction house on the Mississippi to tell their stories through their Centennial Exposition that realized $161,000.
extraordinary collectibles. • Cuno Helfricht, Gustave Young, Howard Dove, Wilbur Glahn,
The Colt pistols of Pretty Boy Floyd and Al Capone. William Gough, and Samuel Hoggson all also had small exhibits
• Notorious bank robber showcasing their giant talents.
Pretty Boy Floyd was in Even the barons of industry
attendance via his Colt couldn’t be kept from this
Government Model, which red-carpet event. Putting away
cracked its $20,000 high their rivalries for the evening, it
estimate to bring $31,625. Historic, Texas "National Treasure": A Company was a display of each man’s best.
• King of Hollywood Clark No. 50 Colt Walker Percussion Revolver with Holster Smith & Wesson repeating
Gable and his wife Carol Documented as Passed Down Through Multiple carbine (top) and the Colt
Lombard were glamorous as Generations of the Darst Family of Texas, a Storied Paterson carbine (bottom)
ever with a golden, bespoke Family with Ties to Mexican American War, Daniel • Samuel Colt, the market-
shotgun – a presentation from Boone, the Alamo, and Terry's Texas Rangers with ing genius and legendary
husband to wife. Affidavit and Herb Glass Letter sold for $431,250 industrialist, showcased his first
• The Man in Black, Johnny steps in the firearms trade with
Cash, came up from Folsom prison to revisit a Spencer repeating car- both a rare, high condition Paterson Model 1839 carbine as well as a
bine once housed in his personal collection. It found a new home for historic and highly sought-after Walker revolver. The Paterson saw
$8,050. $345,000 and the Walker stampeded right over its $250,000 estimate
• Al Capone took a break from running a criminal empire to attend to find $431,250.
by means of a nickel plated Colt Model 1908 pocket pistol. • Horace Smith & Daniel Wesson, responsible for numerous
It’s $55,000 high estimate was shot full of holes on the way to industry developments, touted those contributions by displaying a
achieving $69,000. repeating carbine of their own design, said to be the genesis of all lever
• Several of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders unsaddled long action rifles. Appropriately, it saw a realized price of $488,750.
enough to bend an elbow, represented by a gold inlaid presentation • Even the normally reserved inventor John Moses Browning
revolver, as well an issued Colt Single Action Army. seemed determined to impress with several early designs of
• Former Mexican President his immensely successful 1911
Jose Lopez Portillo was there pistol featured for all to see.
with not only his Colt 1860 The pop-up museum also
Army, but also his engraved saw in attendance Medal of
Bulldog revolver. Honor recipients, dangerous
• Japan’s Emperor Meiji, game hunters, lawmen, cow-
known as Meiji the Great, boys, maharajas, pilots, and
stopped by to view a luxurious exhibition shooters all rubbing
drilling said to have been his elbows in this outstanding and
Majesty’s favorite. short-lived event. With such a
• Baron de l’Empire Cesar- star-studded celebration, it
Joseph Bourayne turned heads, should come as no surprise that
represented by a masterpiece Sublime and Immensely Historic, Fresh it was the highest grossing event
pair of museum-worthy dueling and Well-Documented, Pair of Gold Mounted of its kind, reaching $21.1
pistols from Nicolas-Noël Nicolas-Noel Boutet Masterpiece French Empire million dollars in the 3-day span.
Boutet, each awash in gold and a Officer’s Flintlock Pistols Presented to Contre-Amiral It would seem there are few better
sapphire-blue finish. They Cesar-Joseph Bourayne, Baron de l'Empire times to sell one’s collectible
achieved the highest price in sold for $575,000 firearms than the present.
the sale, commanding $575,000 Tremendous thanks go to all
for the pair. our attendees, bidders, consignors, collectors, and supporters who took
But it wasn’t just the “names” that stepped out to attend RIAC’s this special event and showed it a staggering amount of appreciation.
first Premier Auction of 2020. The artists were there too. Your excitement, loyalty, and love for the hobby shone brightly all
Two of the high art revolvers embellished by Tiffany & Co. weekend long.
• Renowned New York firm Tiffany & Company was there in force One never knows who will show up at these events, but the best way
with an extravagant display of Smith & Wessons, Colts, and even to find out is to attend one yourself. For more information, click here:
military swords of their own design. Rock Island Auction Company.

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