Rock Island Auction Company’s 2015 December Premiere Firearms Auction

Rock Island Auction Company’s 2015 December Premiere Firearms Auction will take place on December 4 – 6 and will host over 2,800 lots containing over 3,000 firearms! Plus edged weapons, armor, military artifacts, and other accessories certain to fill out and finish collections across the country.

Four of the aforementioned collections are continuations we are proud to again host and that collectors will be grateful to have another opportunity to make their own. The Ralph Shattuck Collection of German Military Arms is in its third installment and is a vast enough assemblage to still contain highly desirable items, even in its third appearance. The Walker West Collection of Antique Colts & Winchesters returns for a second showing. Also in its sophomore appearance is the Piedmont Collection of Kentucky Flintlocks and High End European Arms – a collection with appeal on both sides of the Atlantic. The G. S. Cooke Collection offers Winchester Model 1885 rifles.

Three pieces from the Mac McCroskie Collection will be up for auction. The Award Winning Collection of Ralf Eyster is also making a debut in this sale with a number of early Colt semi-automatic pistols. A large number of the Royal Hunt Collection of Imperial German Hunting Trophies will be available. A collection of hunting mounts from Europe and Africa includes trophies from the personal collections of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Emperor Franz Josef, as well as from the Hohenzollern and Hapsburg dynasties, and even the Rothschild and Eulenberg households. It has been assembled over 40 years with the help of the descendants of Kaiser Wilhelm II himself.

Winchesters are featured in three of the seven collections. Up for auction is a Winchester Model 1894 lever action that has been signed, engraved, and gold inlaid by master John Ulrich. There will be almost 400 Winchesters to choose from.

Colts are also well-represented in the sale, with over 700 examples for collectors, investors, and shooters to add to their collections. Available Colts include: a diminutive No. 2 Paterson alongside lengthy sidehammer sporting rifles, a battle-scarred “A Company” Walker next to a cased set of gold and silver inlaid No. 1 derringers, and an assortment of Colt wheelguns.

There will be German military pieces in the auction, and also a fine selection of Class III/ Title II machine guns from both World Wars. Of note are several early serial numbered Lugers, a stocked 1930 Broomhandle, a German M30 Drilling rifle with accessories and original metal case, a Borchardt Model 1893, a prototype of the Walther P-38, two “last ditch” German VG1.5 rifles, and even a water color painting by Adolf Hitler. Led by the Shattuck Collection, this genre benefits from the depth of that collection and the dedication of the collector.

Over 300 U.S. Military arms, spanning two centuries, provide a spread for enthusiasts. Items up for auction include: a Springfield Model 1875 Officers Model Trapdoor rifle, an engraved Massachusetts Arms, Wesson & Leavitt Dragoon revolver, prototypes like the Springfield Morse Centerfire conversion rifle, the breech loading Butterfield patent conversion carbine, and the three different semi-automatic U.S. military rifles designed by J.C White. Additional items include a Colt Model 1909, SN 22, in .45 ACP, the Singer manufactured M1911A1 pistol, and Serial no. 1, Confederate 12-stop revolver from the Augusta Machine Works.

Art pieces form antiquity will be available for auction. The Piedmont Collection will showcase the Golden Age Kentucky flintlocks. Items auctioned will include high art wheel lock pistols, cased pistol sets, and other antiques with museums and world-class collections in their provenance.

Preview Day on Thursday, December 3rd. From 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. the items in the auction will be available for your inspection.