$ 411,250 last December with Rock Island Auction Company , with the four other antique pistol pairs from Mr . Blank ’ s collection featured during the sale also exceeding their high estimates by impressive margins .
Where 19th century pieces from Colt , Marlin , and Smith & Wesson can attract both Western art and firearms collectors , embellished antique pistols have a crossover appeal with the fine art collecting market . Exhibition-grade examples from European masters like Nicolas-Noël Boutet , Gastinne Renette , Jean Le Page , Henry Nock , Durs Egg , and Joseph and John Manton represent the upper echelon of the genre , yet can still often be attained for less than pinnacle Colts and Winchesters . There are also a bounty of museum-worthy examples of dueling pistols , embellished officer ’ s pistols , and presentation-quality guns in the genre produced between the Baroque and Neoclassic eras attached to less heralded craftsmen that can be found for surprising prices , a tremendous opportunity to invest in a diverse field that is just beginning to garner the attention it deserves . History in Your Hand Vintage arms are like land ; they ’ re not making any more . Compared to other segments within the rapidly growing world of art , collectibles , and memorabilia , investment-grade firearms appear significantly undervalued and can be attained at a wide range of price points , and the four categories highlighted here represent just a few of the unsung stars and likely high risers .
As thousands of new collectors enter the fine arms field and the genre experiences unprecedented growth , opportunities abound for the judicious investor hoping to add this unique alternative asset class to their portfolio . The recent success of auction houses like Rock Island Auction Company , which continues to see record prices across multiple firearms genres , speaks well to the future of the fine arms collecting pursuit . In uncertain times , collectible arms offer a hard asset with a consistent track record of retaining their value and then some , and there ’ s nothing better than owning a piece of history you can hold in your hand .
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 59