FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    September 10, 2008   For more info or photos contact Letisha Murray or Judy Voss at info@rockislandauction.com or 800-238-8022.

FINEST AUCTION IN HISTORY FOR ROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANY

Moline IL, September 6^th, 7^th and 8^th - Rock Island Auction Company surpassed its previous sales record once again! This premiere sale featured more than 2,700 lots of quality firearms, edged weapons, military artifacts and more.  Total sales reaching $12.4 million once again proved that Rock Island Auction Company is the World Leader for Quality Collectable and Antique Firearms!

RIAC again continued its record selling nearly every item put on the block. Out of 2735 lots only 79 did not sell resulting in a sell through rate of 97.2%. This is an amazing rate of sell through given the prevalence of resources at today’s modern auction. It clearly shows if it is for sale at RIAC it truly is for sale.

The September auction proved strong for all genres of firearms and every level of collector. The top seller setting a world record for an 1876 was a magnificent “1 of 1000” Winchester 1876 Lever Action Rifle, with Deluxe Gold Trim. In excellent condition, it brought a round of applause for the world record price of $494,500 (Lot 3215). Others on the roll of honor at the auction include an exceptionally rare Colt Model 1874 "Camel" Gatling Gun Complete with original Carriage Crate, Cover and Accessories sold at $230,000 (Lot 1314), and an exceptional deluxe factory engraved, Gold-Plated Henry Lever-Action Rifle (one of the finest known examples in existence) brought $241,500 (Lot 3233). This auction featured over 600 Colts including over 60 factory cased Colts starting with a spectacular cased engraved Colt Third Model Dragoon which sold for $253,000 (Lot 3110). Another highlight of the sale was a rare factory cased Colt Texas Paterson Revolver with an extra matching numbered cylinder and accessories which sold within estimate at $172,500 (Lot 3106).

Rock Island Auction Company had numerous bidders through sealed, telephone and live bidding pushing many of the lots at or above the high estimate. Bidding interest was keen in an exceptional pre-war William Gough Engraved Colt SAA with Steer Head Ivory Grips. Estimated at $30,000-45,000, this Colt commanded $63,250 (Lot 3315). Another auction buy was an exceptional Civil War Era Henry Lever-Action Rifle with a low estimate at $75,000 sold for $149,500 (Lot 3007).

Whenever an item with old west history comes to the block the bidders turn out and the historic Engraved Colt Thunderer Model 1877 Double Action Revolver Presented to Lawman Pat Garrett, Killer of "Billy The Kid" by His El Paso friends was no different bringing an impressive $138,000 (Lot 1311).

With the outstanding military collection of Barry Garthofner being offered the military collector had much to bid on - over 75 quality Lugers, over 50 sniper rifles, hundreds of U.S., German and Japanese military long arms and many rare, scarce or high conditioned military pistols. An interest for many was the desirable Model 1902 DWM Luger Carbine with stock, leather case, and extra barrel which also exceeded estimates selling for $37,375 (Lot 1709).

The Spanish American War collection had excellent results. The Captured Spanish Unit Battle Flag’s rarity brought an abundance of interest selling at a high price of $4,312 (Lot 252), over 7 times the low estimated value!

Every gun collector collects more than just firearms so when the exceptional Union Metallic Cartridge Board (Lot 3242) came on the block the bidders knew what they had before them and stepped up closing the sale for the board at $28,750.  However it didn’t stop there other non-gun items of note was the Large Unmarked Strong Signal Cannon with Carriage bringing $6,325 (Lot 326), a rare Case V-42 Stiletto at an impressive $6,325 (Lot 3477) and finally and extremely rare US Springfield Amory Experimental Model 1909 Bolo Bayonet with Sheath almost doubling the low estimate at $9,775 (Lot 3478).

Mr. Patrick Hogan, owner of RIAC, stated “the goal of our company is to service all levels of collecting. We set world records as well as offering firearms for the beginning level collector. This auction achieved this goal. We set a world record for an 1876 at $494,500 yet we sold many $1,000-5,000 firearms as well. With the stock market in turmoil I believe collectors realize the overall strength of collecting and I believe we will continue to be the World Leader in firearms sales at auction.

Rock Island Auction Company is currently seeking consignments for their upcoming 2009 auctions. Consign one piece or an entire collection and know that you are consigning with the best.

For more information please call Letisha Murray or Judy Voss at 800-238-8022, or visit www.rockislandauction.com

The purpose of the two following “top 20” charts are to give a look at auction result, not just for top dollar sale but also to show the strength of the sale as compared to the sale estimates.  The two charts together give a more complete picture.

Rock Island Auction Prices Realized – TOP SELLERS WITHIN GENRES
Lot#	Headline	PriceRealized	LowEst	HighEst
132	Flag of the Spanish Ship Maria Teresa Captured at the Battle of Santiago	$9,775.00	$5,000.00	$7,000.00
414	Exceptional J. Purdey & Sons Ltd., 20 Gauge Cased Side by Side Shotgun Two Barrel Set	$69,000.00	$65,000.00	$95,000.00
1191	Historic and Magnificent Cased and Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolvers Presented to the Commander of the Light Brigade -A) Colt Model 1851 Navy	$195,500.00	$225,000.00	$375,000.00
1243	Extremely Rare Colt 'Pinched Frame' Single Action Army Revolver Serial Number 58 with Factory Letter	$126,500.00	$100,000.00	$200,000.00
1311	Historic Presentation Engraved Colt Thunderer Model 1877 Double Action Revolver with Magnificent Inscribed Gold Washed Solid German Silver Grips Presented to Lawman Pat Garrett, Killer of "Billy The Kid" by His El Paso friends	$138,000.00	$150,000.00	$275,000.00
1314	Exceptionally Rare Colt Model 1874 "Camel" Gatling Gun Complete with Original Carriage Crate Cover and Accessories	$230,000.00	$150,000.00	$275,000.00
1522	Documented Extremely Rare Colt Experimental 1911A1 Prototype Fully Automatic Government Model Pistol with Shoulder Stock from Colt Factory Collection	$57,500.00	$50,000.00	$90,000.00
1709	Desirable Model 1902 DWM Luger Carbine with Stock, Leather Case, and Extra Barrel	$37,375.00	$14,000.00	$22,500.00
1736	Extremely Rare Early SS Honor Dagger with Ernst Roehm Inscription	$17,250.00	$18,000.00	$20,000.00
3014	Second Model Civil War Le Mat and Girard's Patent London Marked Percussion Grape-Shot Revolver	$28,750.00	$16,000.00	$25,000.00
3106	Exceptional and Original Colt Texas Paterson Percussion Revolver	$172,500.00	$175,000.00	$200,000.00
3110	Spectacular Cased Factory Engraved Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver	$253,000.00	$210,000.00	$260,000.00
3212	Outstanding Deluxe Special Order Conrad Ulrich, Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle	$126,500.00	$125,000.00	$175,000.00
3215	Magnificent The Very First "1 of 1000" Winchester 1876 Lever Action Rifle, With Deluxe Gold Trim	$494,500.00	$250,000.00	$375,000.00
3233	Magnificent Deluxe Factory Engraved, Gold-Plated Henry Lever-Action Rifle -- One of the Finest Known Examples in Existence	$241,500.00	$250,000.00	$375,000.00
3237	Extremely Rare Winchester Model 1873 "One of One Hundred" Lever Action Rifle Documented with Factory Letter	$172,500.00	$175,000.00	$250,000.00
3307	Extremely Rare Factory Engraved Colt Sheriff's Model Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter	$126,500.00	$125,000.00	$175,000.00
3450	Extremely Rare U.S. Singer M1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 2 (S800002)	$74,750.00	$37,500.00	$55,000.00
3463	Desirable Springfield Armory M1C Sniper Rifle with M82 Telescopic Sight	$14,950.00	$9,000.00	$13,000.00

Lot#	TOP 20 BY % OVER THE LOW ESTIMATE	% OverLowEstimate
252	Captured Spanish Unit Battle Flag	618.75%
1865	Cased Winchester Model 9422 Boy Scout 75th Annual Commemorative Lever Action Rifle	532.50%
1847	1930 Winchester Advertising Banner	522.92%
421	Custom Engraved Gold Inlaid Winchester Model 97 Slide Action Shotgun	439.06%
284	Six Fencing Bayonets	398.33%
130	Model 1849 Copy of an Ames Rifleman's Knife and Scabbard	388.75%
3567	Scarce Ithaca Model 37 Vietnam War Era Trenchgun with Police Markings and M1917 Bayonet and Scabbard	360.00%
3127	Framed Colt "Law and Order" Advertisement	360.00%
3672	Excellent U.S. Springfield Armory M1922 MI .22 Caliber Bolt Action Sporter Rifle	347.22%
3849	Colt Dragoon Washington Statehood Edition Revolver with Wood Grain Box	331.25%
1171	Rare Smith & Wesson First Model "Model of 1891" Single Shot Pistol	302.50%
144	Spanish-American War Spanish Campaign Hat	283.33%
1861	Reproduction of a Winchester "Double W" Ammunition Display Board in Display Case	273.75%
3479	Excellent US M3 PAL 1943 Fighting Knife with M6 Viner Brothers Sheath	251.39%
3103	Allen & Thurber D. A. Bar Hammer Pepperbox Pistol	245.00%
3438	Colt Model 1902 Sporting Semi-Automatic Pistol	245.00%
170	Grouping of Ladies Patriotic Items from the Spanish-American War	245.00%
423	Engraved Marlin Model 19 Exposed Hammer Slide Action Takedown Shotgun	225.83%
187	Rare Teddy Roosevelt Beer Tray and Clock	219.44%
1877	Winchester Tribute to Chief of the Chiricahua Apaches  Model 94 AE Lever Action Carbine	218.46%