A factory engraved Colt Model 1855 Root revolver
“ The Millikin Dragoon ,” a stunning cased percussion Colt , for $ 805,000 . Eight years later , the same revolver realized $ 1.67 million at Rock Island Auction Company . An even shorter holding period between resale was observed in 2017 when another top-ofits-class collectible arm , the finest-known Singer 1911A1 pistol , sold for $ 414,000 and broke its own $ 166,000 record from seven years earlier . While newly revealed treasures and fresh-to-market finds will always grab the most press , the expanding bidder base these high-profile pieces attract contributes to greater visibility and rising demand throughout the arms collecting landscape .
Examining the most expensive items sold at Rock Island Auction Company , the world ’ s number one fine arms auction house , we find that seven of the company ’ s top 20 sales were fresh to the private market . Of the items that had been previously auctioned , most came out of distinguished arms collections , highlighting the importance buyers place on pedigree . A piece that has passed through the hands of a renowned collector like philanthropist Robert M . Lee , magazine magnate Robert E . Petersen , or Hollywood icon Tom Selleck carries an additional prestige that ’ s reflected in its sale price .
Many investment-grade arms have been featured in prominent publications , and items from scholarly collectors like Greg Lampe or noted Western historian John Fox are often accompanied by years of meticulous research , a value-added in an industry built on provenance . Sometimes a collectible has a deeper story that goes untold and additional documentation can elevate the status of an established item . In the digital age , combing through historic archives and connecting with experts around the world makes researching easier than ever , and in many instances the most exciting discoveries aren ’ t found in a forgotten attic or storage container but are hidden in plain sight .
Technology has continually driven growth in every segment of the fine arms domain , including new and rare-to-market pieces . Leading auction houses have set the standard by offering web catalogs with high-resolution photography to facilitate fast and accurate evaluations . Social media drives higher participation rates and broadens global reach . Digital bidding channels have significantly streamlined transactions for
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 45