Colt 2nd Model Dragoon Revolver leads RIA’s firearms auction
At its Premiere Collector’s Firearms Auction (May 20-22, 2011), Rock Island Auction Company will offer over 2,700 lots, including antique and collectible firearms manufactured by Colt, Winchester, Holland & Holland and more. It’s the first of the three Premiere auctions the Illinois-based auction house holds every year. Leading the lots is a U.S. marked and inspected Colt 2nd Model Dragoon Revolver manufactured in 1851.
The Colt 2nd Model Dragoon Revolver boasts a military blue finish on the barrel and cylinder, case-hardened loading lever, frame and hammer and brass, square back, trigger guard and brass back strap. Colt manufactured about 2700 "2nd Model" Dragoon Revolvers in 1850-51. The Colt 2nd Model Dragoon Revolver is expected to sell for between $150,000 and $225,000.
Another highlight from the auction is an exceptionally rare gold plated, factory engraved Luger pistol made by Krieghoff Heinrich Gun Co. This exact Luger is photographed on pages 208, 209 and 211 of the "Krieghoff Parabellum" by Randall Gibson. The rare pistol still has more than 90 percent of the original gold-plated finish. It carries a presale estimate of between $50,000 and $100,000.
Also up for grabs is a Winchester Model 1886 50 Express Smoothbore Lever Action Rifle, which comes along a Winchester Arms Museum letter, which describes the piece as “Rifle 50 Express, Octagon barrel, Plain trigger, Smoothbore.” The rare rifle is expected to sell for between $90,000 and $130,000.
