King Louis XIII wheellock earns year’s top price | 4th Consecutive Year Exceeding $100M | Number of 1st Time Bidders up 37% | Number of Active Bidders up 16%

BEDFORD, TX (Jan 03, 2025) -- Rock Island Auction Company’s (RIAC) expansion into Texas celebrated its first anniversary this December, and the massive undertaking is already bearing fruit. 2024 was a banner year for the auction house breaking numerous records and marking its fourth consecutive year of sales over the $100 million mark.

After several years and millions of dollars renovating a building in Bedford, Tex., the marketplace showed its readiness for such a facility. The new world headquarters for fine and historic firearms saw numerous records set in its inaugural year, as well as substantial increases in key performance areas.

Plus many more market defining moments.

“As successful as our Rock Island facility was, we knew that the marketplace needed and deserved more,” said RIAC President Kevin Hogan. “We still believe that fine and historic firearms are underappreciated and undervalued, so the decision to create a venue like this, a true destination for gun collectors, was a large step, but a necessary one. These items deserve it and so do the collectors.”

The sheer number of world records set in 2024 demonstrates the growth being experienced in the marketplace, but other significant metrics show the excitement of collectors, hungry for a destination to call their own.

• Number of 1^st Time Bidders: Up 37.7% from 2023
• Number of Registered Bidders: Up 25.18% from 2023
• Number of Active Bidders: Up 16% from 2023
• Annual Sales: + Up 8.8%  from 2023
• Annual Sales:  Fourth consecutive year exceeding $100M
• Two new auction formats introduced
• Two new events hosted

“The response has been absolutely tremendous,” continued Hogan. “We are extremely grateful to all our clients for their passion, enthusiasm, their study, and just a relentless pursuit of all things involving fine and historic arms. We are honored to be a part of that, and it solidifies our commitment, more than ever, to advance and grow this wonderful pursuit.”

With such strong results, the expansion to Texas has proved prescient for RIAC. The strong showing in 2024 marks the 22^nd consecutive year the company has led their industry.

For more information on Rock Island Auction Company and their 2025 auction schedule, visit www.rockislandauction.com

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About Rock Island Auction Company:

Rock Island Auction Company is the world’s no. 1 auction company for firearms, bladed weapons and militaria. Founded in 1993 by its current CEO Patrick Hogan, RIAC continues to lead the industry with record sales numbers and its extensive and well-crafted marketing efforts. The company’s 150,000 square-foot Illinois campus consists of two buildings and serves as the company’s hub for catalog and content production. The 90,000 square-foot Bedford facility opened in December 2023 and will host six of the company’s 18+ auctions each year. RIAC actively seeks consignments, be it a single weapon or a collection of hundreds, an item valued at $1,000 or $1 million.

Media Contact:|
Joel Kolander
(800) 238-8022
[email protected]