Historic significance and celebrity appeal are far from the only factors driving growth in the upper echelon of arms collecting . Condition , rarity , and exceptional artistry helped four of Rock Island Auction Company ’ s top performers attain seven-figure status . All three traits are evident in the previously mentioned Millikin Dragoon as well as a Winchester Model 1886 Express rifle engraved by master John Ulrich which earned $ 1.18 million at Rock Island Auction Company in 2018 . One of the company ’ s seven-figure runner-ups , a solid silver Winchester Model 1866 , exceeded its estimate by more than 50 percent as it gaveled for $ 977,500 in December of 2021 , a result achieved in large part due to the firearm ’ s spectacular engraving from master artisan Louis D . Nimschke .
Left : The Millikin Dragoon Above : Han Solo Blaster
Persistent high risers can be found within numerous segments of the fine arms field . Antique Colts and Winchesters , two 19th-century collecting cornerstones , jointly account for 39 of Rock Island Auction ’ s 50 most expensive firearms . Exhibition-grade flintlocks and wheellocks are another genre with no lack of demand . While items tied to influential leaders achieve the highest results , recently exampled by a garniture of arms presented to Napoleon Bonaparte that gaveled for $ 2.88 million at Rock Island Auction Company , many other instances of the genre have earned impressive prices solely due to their exceptional artistic merit .
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 49