Rock Island Auction Company Completes Its Second Best Sale

MOLINE, ILL.

:Rock Island Auction Company completed the second best auction in its history on August 27-29, with the three-day total of more than $5.2 million. The company said the auction showed a continued strong market for antique and collectible fire-arms and related material.

Not only did the firearms sell well, the Wells Fargo-related firearms and ephemera posted exceptional results, according to the company. The antique currency surprised the crowd and the consignor as some pieces went considerably higher than the high estimate. Nearly 25 percent of the entire auction surpassed the presale high estimate. The number one top selling item over the high pre-auction estimate was an unusual Maryland Club bar bottle, which was estimated at $150/200 and sold for $1,725.

A world record was set for a US military standard issue World War II sidearm, a rare Singer M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol, which sold for $43,125. The record tops the previous record set by Rock Island Auction for a US Singer Manufacturing Co. model 1911A1 in April 2004. That pistol sold at $40,250.

Among the remaining lots rounding out the sale's top 10 were: $106,375 for an ultra-rare iron frame Henry lever-action rifle; $63,250 for a fine engraved Henry rifle; $51,750 for an extremely rare factory-engraved antique Colt Sheriffs Model single action revolver; $43,125 for a Henry lever-action rifle; $43,125 for a cased special exhibition grade engraved set of Colt revolvers, "Freedom And Justice"; $37,375 for an exceptionally rare "Dickson Nelson" CSA rifle; $34,500 for an exceptional Colt Model 1873 US Cavalry single action Army revolver; $29,900 for a very rare Confederate "Mendenhall, Jones & Gardner" rifle; and $28,750 for an early en-graved Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle.

A world record was set for this US military standard issue World War II sidearm, a rare Singer M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol, which sold for $43,125.

All prices reported include 15 percent buyer's premium.

For information, 800-238-8022 or www.rockislandauction.com.