Page 6 - 4091-BOOK1

4
LOT 1190
Historic Cased Factory "Vine Scroll" Engraved Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver with Ebony Grip Passed Down through the Family of Second Lieutenant Huntington F. Wolcott of the Second Massachusetts Cavalry
The Castle of Arms Collecting
Last December, Rock Island Auction Company celebrated the grand opening of its new Bedford venue with the largest firearms auction in Texas history. As the world’s leading firearms auction house for 20 years running, the company has been no stranger to expansion, innovation, and risk-taking. While Rock Island Auction Company’s Midwest location has served as a successful hub for the arms collecting community over the last three decades, a truly international venue was needed to elevate the fine arms field to its rightful place on the world stage.
An industry trendsetter, Rock Island Auction Company has presented some of the most prestigious treasures in the fine arms pursuit and set countless records in the process. The arms of presidents, founding fathers, future emperors, and European royalty have crossed the company’s podium in recent years, helping the auction house more than double the annual sales totals of their next six competitors combined. The company’s expansion to Bedford, Texas represents an unparalleled investment in the future of fine arms collecting.
Building a Monument
From a humble startup venture realized by company patriarch Patrick Hogan to a business now approaching 200 employees and surpassing $1 billion in total sales, Rock Island Auction Company has remained steadfast in its mission to serve as a custodian of history and a protector of legacies. Pat Hogan’s son, Kevin, took the foundation his father built and continued to push new boundaries, setting his sights on establishing a new, international selling headquarters for the fine arms community.
Ideally located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the heart of a thriving Texas gun collecting culture, Bedford offered the kings of the fine arms field the perfect bedrock to raise a castle to their craft. Rock Island Auction Company’s new 90,000-square-foot venue, the finest brick-and-mortar auction facility of its kind, delivers a world-class attraction to the Lone Star State. The establishment will host blockbuster auctions, accommodate a wide range of memorable events, and advance the arms collecting discipline to new and exciting heights.
The Hobby of Kings and Collectors
Judging by the company’s groundbreaking $26.7 million inaugural auction event in December of 2023, Rock Island Auction’s investment in the Lone Star State could redefine the arms collecting landscape for years to come, and that’s welcome news for collectors, investors, and arms enthusiasts of every means and background.
Once reserved as a pastime for royalty and the wealthy elite, investment-grade firearms are obtainable today by any determined collector. Compared to other segments of the collectibles market, fine arms are a dramatically undervalued asset class with tremendous growth potential. The genre’s elevated performance in recent years presents a compelling opportunity for those seeking to diversify with a touch of history. With some of the scarcest and sought-after pieces finally hitting the auction block and a constant stream of eager new collectors entering the marketplace, the investment potential has never been higher.