Featured will be a rifle owned by Samuel Colt, a shotgun given between presidents, and a pair of celebrity guns formerly held in some of the world’s most well-known collections.
Rock Island, IL –-(Ammoland.com)- Rock Island Auction Company’s May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction will contain names that many in the gun collecting community consider royalty.
The most renowned provenance of the auction belongs to a Henry rifle formerly in the collection of firearms icon Samuel Colt.
This rifle’s former home, the Colt Patent Firearms Mfg. Co. Museum, was founded by Colt to show the evolution of repeating arms and according to noted firearms historian R. L. Wilson, “there can be no question but that he examined [this gun] personally.”
Another noted source of royal provenance comes from gun maker to the French crown, Le Page. Two of Le Page’s artisan shotguns will appear in the sale, including one particularly ornate model that was once a gift from fourth French President M. Paul Jules Grevy to Don Manuel Gonzalez, former President of Mexico. The elaborate and richly decorated piece blurs the lines between art and gun with its deeply engraved ebony stock and several carved steel components in the shapes of animals.
The last source of firearms royalty in the auction comes from some of the collectors themselves. Two Colt revolvers will highlight the auction and were formerly in the possession of acclaimed gun collectors William M. Locke and Al Cali, names that ring excellence to collectors.
The guns from these collections are celebrities themselves, with a Colt Texas Paterson that previously sold upwards of $900,000 and a rare Colt Walker Civilian Model whose superior condition has earned it the nickname as “The Thumbprint Walker.”
The auction, taking place May 2-4, is a veritable “all-star team” of firearms, with highlights in almost every genre bound to catch the attention of top collectors worldwide.
About Rock Island Auction Company
Rock Island Auction Company is the world’s #1 auction company for firearms, bladed weapons and militaria. Founded in 1993 by its current Owner and President Patrick Hogan, RIAC continues to set records for sales and to lead the industry with its extensive and beautiful marketing efforts. Their 86,000 square foot facility hosts 5 auctions each year. They actively seek consignments, be it a single weapon or a collection of hundreds, a thousand dollar item or one million. For more information, please visit www.rockislandauction.com or call 1-800-238-8022.