Anyone going to the Rock Island Auction?
 

We are heading up tomorrow to the viewing day for the Rock Island Auction. Anyone else attending any of the days?

I'd have to fly from Boston to Illinois. Sorry, just not in the cards for me.

I am not going. Went to one a while ago and it was information overload. Have fun.... find a good buy and bit wisely. Good luck.

I wish. I love those people. I have bought several times from them and hope to do so many more times

Let me know how that 8 gauge greener looks in person

Will do!

Lots of guns to look at. Just not enough money!:crying:

Garry you can't bird hunt with that one!

I know…the barrels are too short!:whistle:

I placed two low ball bids, but ya can't win if you don't play. Two Parkers that I would like to own but not enough to really roll the dice. Good luck to all bidders.

There were some interesting hammer guns, and a Dickson trigger plate 20 that was like a magic wand. The VH 28 looked very nice. Some monster big bore guns held center stage.

Keith, the Greener 8 hammered for $13,000. I hope that was you that got it. It was a beast.

Anyone hoping for a deal was disappointed. At least that was my takeaway after observing some of the bidding.

Mills, I saw some English guns that looked like good buys to me, but the Parkers that went today seemed on the high to very high side (especially considering the BP). But, like all auctions, there are some deals, and...

Assuming that these data are considered in things like the Blue Book, is the "vig" included?

Does anyone here know how to access the sold prices after the day of the auction?

They generally post them at a later date.

The CE Fox 12ga went for 9K including the vig. It looked like a $3K shotgun to my eye.
The Parkers were estimated high in my opinion but they all sold in or above estimate. If that auction is any indication prices are strong.

Prices achieved at the better auction houses are generally an indication of market values.





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Craig, I looked that CE over, and I couldn’t agree with you more.

We just attended Saturday, but it seems to me English guns — not including big bore and/or double rifles — are some of the better buys.

It’s also telling on the final bid to see how it got there. When you’re there in person, you can see how many bidders are after a particular gun. There’s always the two bidder duel, but when several phone bidders hold up cards andthere are several floor bidders, it’s telling about what’s popular with collectors.

I bet being there in person was fun.

Like others said, I was surprised by some of the prices, but I have never considered myself qualified to give prices.

Mills, I, like you, have little expertise in appraising guns, but I have gotten better at predicting what they’ll go for. I have also learned the guns I bid on always go high…and then realize I am the cause of it. :banghead:

Rock Island puts on a class act — a buffet party-like gathering the night of the viewing day, and good lunches each day of the auction. Their preview hall is wonderfully set up. This time they had built a old west saloon-like structure inside the hall to house part of an old west collection.

When I check in to get a bidder number, I don’t have to give my name anymore — they know me and Elaine (not sure that’s all that good). You pay a lot in fees, but you do get some back in little perks.

Does anybody know the price of the Parker 28 gauge(Lot 1414)? Also Lot 1434-a model 21 Grand American. The Parker was more of a shooter grade gun than a collector piece. I would have bid on the Grand American 21 if it had been a 20 gauge.

John, I watched the Parker sell, but I forgot the price, but I'm pretty sure it went for a price within the estimate, as I recall telling my wife it went for less than I thought it would. I looked at the gun. I was in very good condition and had lots of what appeared to be original finish. I would have bid, but it had lots of drop...too much for me.

Sorry, I don't follow the 21s, but I did look them over and there were some nice ones.

The 28ga Parker VH sold for $13.8K. I kinda liked the Grade 1 hammer gun with Laminate barrels it sold for $2875.

I can appreciate these auctions for bringing together some fine guns but I can not abide with this "buyer premium" stuff. Just me and perhaps I'll get over it but at 75 yo I dont think I have the time. LOL

I picked up a BH project from an obscure auction in Virginia. To be continued . . .

I couldn't agree more. On desirable guns that usually bring a premium anyway the buyers premium of 15% to 20% (charged to buyers and sellers) usually puts the guns value way more than they are worth. With that said-I try to only buy guns at auction that I can't find elsewhere.

There is the buyer's premium and then all the other "stuff" that gets tacked on. I used to read the fine print to figure it out, but now just add 30% to my bid and that generally covers it

RI now charges sales tax based on the ship to, 8% in my case here in NY.

The aquisitional cost of the gun bought at auction becomes the gun’s value no matter how you slice it. If we have to figure in the premiums and other “tack-ons” that we have to pay in order to take possession of the gun, they combine to become, to the buyer and likely to future buyers of the gun, the value if the gun.

It simply can’t be otherwise I don’t believe.





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What did that 16 gauge D grade Lifter go for? I saved the lot, but can't see the finalized price yet? Just curious on that one. It had some issues, but still a 16 gauge lifter...

Close to $10 grand if I remember right.

This one Jay ?

An interesting gun that 16 ga grade 3, I bid on 2 of the Sharps rifles, especially wanted the long range # 3 to go with my mid range #3, but both were almost twicethe high estimate when you figure in all the other cost, also bid on the Pachmyer upgrade to AAHE but again too much, Gary

Yes that's the 16 lifter. That gun had been restocked so the price seems high to me. Still nice though. I got the letter on it, but didn't end up biding...

So $8,500 +, + = ? (IMO it equals the value of the gun, as determined by the buyer {highest bidder}.)





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A good $10K. As I said. Probably a little more

I bid on the lifter, but bowed out when it hit $8K. It just had a few too many issues, but was a beautiful and rare gun.