Big gun auctions coming up, lots of good doubles…

The fall gun-auction season is here. It kicks off on Friday with Rock Island Auctions and runs through the weekend with Redding’s Auction Service having a nice sale on Sunday.

16 gauge Holland & Holland Royal @ Rock Island Auctions
16 gauge Holland & Holland Royal @ Rock Island Auctions

-9/9, 9/10 & 9/11 @ Rock Island Auctions, Rock Island, IL

There are lots of good guns here, including almost 50 double barrel shotguns. This very early 16g H&H Royal caught my eye, as did this massive  8 gauge Westley Richards side by side shotgun. There are also other nice guns like Brownings Over & Unders and this A.H. Fox and this Winchester Model 21.

To see all the doubles in this sale, go here and run a search for doubles.

-9/11 Heritage Auctions/Greg Martin Auctions, Dallas, TX

These guys have 162 shotguns, including Parkers and some English stuff like these Purdeys and these doubles by Boss.

-9/11 @ Redding’s Auction Services, Gettysburg, PA

There are lots of nice doubles at this sale, too, including a bunch of L.C. Smiths. You can see the complete listing of guns here.

Here are a few guns in the sale that caught my eye. You’ll have to go to the sight to see pics (I know, PITA).

Lot 14.  Baltimore Arms – – 20ga. Double Barrel Shotgun, w/26” Barrels, Pistol Grip

Lot 15.  L.C. Smith – Model Field Grade – 16ga. Double Barrel Shotgun, 28” Barrels, Pistol Grip

Lot 20. L.C. Smith – Model Ideal Grade – 20ga. Double Barrel Shotgun, 28” Barrels, Pistol Grip

Lot 21.  Husqvarna – Model 350 – 12ga. Double Barrel Hammerless Shotgun, 27 ½” Barrels, Double Triggers, Pistol Grip

Lot 25. Merkel – Model 61E – 28ga. Double Barrel Shotgun, 28” Modified & IC Choked Barrels, Double Triggers, Ejectors, Highly Engraved, English Wood Stock w/Highly Engraved Dog & Duck Scenes, w/Original Box.

Lot 44. Army & Navy – Model CSL D London – 12ga. Double Barrel Shotgun, 30” Barrels, 2 ¾”  Boxlock Ejector, Double Trigger, European Straight Stock, Very Nice Engraved Case Hardened Frame, LOP 14 5/8”, DOC 1 ½”, DOH 2 3/8”.

Lot 45.  Cased Set of Cogswell & Harrison 12ga. Hammerless Boxlock Ejector Double Barrel Shotguns, Models Known As REX, Both Guns Have The Avant Tout (Assisted Self Openers),  30” Barrels, Double Triggers, Both have English Butt Stock Extensions

Never screw a billionaire…

You never know it from their website, but Rock Island Auctions is in a bit of hot water. According to this article, Rock Island may have messed with the wrong guy. It sounds like the gun-auction company screwed with William Koch. Not smart.

Rock Island Auctions is feeling the heat
Rock Island Auctions is feeling the heat.

William Koch does not like to be messed with. According to Forbes, he’s the 316th wealthiest man in the world. And judging by his litigious past, he’s also damn ornery. A few years ago he was involved in a deal for several bottles of wine that were said to have been owned by Thomas Jefferson. They weren’t, and when Koch found out he wasn’t nice about it.

If you have the time, check out this article in the New Yorker. It’s an interesting account of the man and the auction business.