Tanks and Blank.

Rock Island Auction Company’s May Premier Auction features a second round of offerings from the Norman R. Blank Collection and a small curated grouping of military vehicles from the Allan Cors Collection. The auction, May 17-19, also features a fantastic lineup of historic firearms, exceptional sporting guns and an eye-popping array of Class III firearms.

Whether you are looking for something from the Wild West, the lawlessness of the early 20th century, a highly embellished percussion piece or a World War 2 gun, new and veteran collectors can visit our Bedford, Texas venue and examine the guns at our May 16 preview day ahead of the three-day auction.

Cool Tanks

A lifelong hunter and competitive shooter, he has a passion for military vehicles. The first military vehicle he purchased was a World War 2 Jeep in 1982, followed by his first tank in 1985, a Stuart M5A1. His collection has been housed at Aden Field about 50 miles from Washington, D.C., where it is referred to as the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles, and later as the Tank Farm. A grouping from Cors’ collection will be available in May, led by a rare M41 Walker Bulldog and a highly desirable World War 2 U.S. M3A1 Stuart light tank.

The iconic U.S. M3A1 Stuart light tank available in the May Auction is one of just 4,621 produced by American Car & Foundry and one of 22,750 total of M3 and M5 variants. The Stuart, the Bulldog, and a massive Swiss Centurion battle tank top the sampling of military vehicles available in the May Premier Auction. The offerings includes tanks, armored cars, an ambulance truck and military trucks from the United States, the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Stuart, of which a small fraction remain with most in museum collections, were first deployed to the Philippines in 1941 and fought valiantly against the Japanese light tanks. They saw their first major campaign in North Africa with Operation Torch in 1942. The Stuart was also used by the British, and Commonwealth forces as well as Soviets through the Lend-Lease program. The Stuart’s held their own against other light tanks but were vulnerable to the more heavily armed Panzers of the Germans. Still, they performed reasonably well thanks to their speed and reliability.

Great Guns of the Blank Collection

Norman R. Blank was a legendary collector of European fine arms and his collection contains numerous museum worthy pieces including some made for royalty. Many of the pieces from Blank’s collection haven’t been seen publicly in years. An exquisite pair of dueling pistols by Gastinne-Renette graced RIAC’s December, 2023 Premier Auction, realizing $411,250.

More than 30 offerings from the Blank Collection’s beautiful sporting arms and pistols are available including a gold inlaid double barrel rifle of the prime minister of Hyderabad in India and guns from Spain, France, England and Italy with some featuring spectacular gold inlays and silver mounts. These pieces are from legendary gunmakers like Alexander Henry, John Manton, Durs Egg and Holland & Holland and have amazing lineage, conditioning and provenance.

Great Guns: Winning Winchesters

A newly discovered factory exhibition relief game scene engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 with gold plate and inlays is among the top pieces in the May auction. A stunning testament to Winchester craftsmanship in the decorative arts in the late 19th century, this example bears factory floral scrollwork and game scenes including a buffalo, moose and elk.

The marvelous Model 1873 doesn’t stand alone. Fabulous Winchesters abound with a terrific example of a Model 1873 One of One Thousand and an extremely rare factory engraved nickel and gold plated exhibition quality Model 1890, a rare Model 1892 engraved by John Ulrich featuring game panel scenes, and an exceptional Model 1876 in .50 Express.

A factory letter for the fantastic and fresh Winchester 1873 shows that it has an octagon barrel, set trigger, factory engraving and gold plating.

Great Guns: President Gerald Ford’s Long Guns

When we think of presidential vim and vigor, the first name that pops up is Theodore Roosevelt, a long-time outdoorsman and big game hunter, but President Gerald Ford brought manny similar traits to the White House. Ford ascended to office on the resignation of Richard Nixon, was MVP of his University of Michigan football team and once worked a summer as a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He was a Boy Scout and achieved his Eagle Scout badge.

As an outdoorsman and president during the U.S. Bicentennial, Ford was presented with highly embellished sporting guns from classic American firearms companies. He received a factory engraved and gold inlaid Winchester Model 21 double barrel shotgun, a factory game scene engraved pair of Browning Model 1885 single shot rifles, and a game scene engraved pair of Ruger No. 1 single shot rifles as the nation celebrated in 1976. President Ford’s Winchester, Browning 1885s and Ruger No. 1s will be on offer in the May Premier Auction.

President Gerald Ford was presented nicely embellished sporting arms during the U.S. Bicentennial. This pictured cased pair of Browning Model 1885 Bicentennial single shot rifles as well as a cased pair of Ruger No. 1 Bicentennial single shot rifles and a Winchester Model 21 Bicentennial double barrel shotgun of President Ford will be available in the May Premier Auction.

Great Guns: Henry and Marlin Rifles

Spectacular Henry Rifles have found their way into the May Premier Auction, including two martially inspected Civil War Henrys, a presentation Henry Rifle and a martial Henry with tack decoration.

The auction also has magnificent Marlins, led by a special order game scene engraved Marlin Model 1881 presented by Buffalo Bill Cody to rancher and guide Jim McLaughlin, and an engraved Deluxe Model 1895 with gold and platinum inlays by Conrad Ulrich chambered in .45-90 with gold and platinum inlays.

This U.S. martially inspected inspected with tack decoration will be available in Rock Island Auction's May Premier Auction.

Great Guns: Stellar Sporting Arms

A phenomenal trio of game scene engraved Purdey & Sons 28 gauge over/under shotguns and a historic presentation cased exhibition quality Le Page/Moutier double barrel percussion shotgun lead an outstanding lineup of sporting firearms in May Premier.

The Le Page/Moutier, with its relief chiseled embellishment and elaborately carved ebony stock is more museum than grouse hunt. Masterly crafted in 1860 by the legendary gunmaking firm, French president Jules Grevy presented it to Mexican President Manuel Gonzales Flores in 1879.

The Purdey & Sons shotguns are more likely to be the focal point of a gun room than carried into the field, too. The coin-finished action features extensive broad leafy scrollwork and a beautiful game bird scene on the underside of the action that is different to each of the guns numbered 1, 2 and 3. Executed by master engraver Simon Coggins, gun 1 has a pair of pigeons in flight over a field, gun 2 shows a pair of grouse flying through desert scenery that includes cacti and a windmill, while gun 3 has a pair of snipe taking flight from a tree.

More outstanding sporting guns will be available, like a Peter Spode signed and game scene engraved Westley Richards droplock double rifle in .470 Nitro Express, a cased pair of Ivo Fabbri sidelock double barrel shotguns factory engraved by Master Engraver Claudio Tomasoni with the goddess Diana theme, and a game scene engraved and gold inlaid Karl Hauptmann African big five themed sidelock double rifle in .470 Nitro Express.

These fine James Purdey & Sons shotguns are available in the May Premier Auction.

Great Guns: Confederate Revolvers

The Colt Model 1860 Fluted Army of William G. Conner leads a fascinating slate of Confederate revolvers. Among the guns with Confederate provenence are the Colt Model 1851 of prominent Episcopal priest Francis L. Hawks and Capt. Francis T. Hawks, both of the Confederate Engineer Corps, a Griswold and Gunnison revolver, Second Model London LeMat “grapeshot” revolver, an antebellum U.S. contract Colt Third Model Dragoon, and a very scarce Civil War Confederate Spiller & Burr revolver.

Conner, of Mississippi, served in the famed Jeff Davis Legion cavalry unit. His Colt 1860 Fluted Army was an early production Colt that was among 2,300 shipped south shortly before the Civil War, in January 1861. The Jeff Davis Legion was attached to the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee and J.E.B. Stuart, and later Wade Hampton.

A plantation owner, Conner was promoted to captain and company commander in October, 1861 and was captured a year later. He was exchanged in a prisoner swap in August 1862 and returned to duty before the Legion fought at Antietam and the Chambersburg Raid. Conner never lost his hatred for the Union after his imprisonment. He was promoted to major in December. At Gettysburg, Conner was the executive officer of the Legion as part of General Wade Hampton's brigade and granted permission to lead the charge for his hatred of the Union. During a charge on the battle’s third and decisive day, Conner was felled.

In J.E.B. Stuart's report of the Battle of Gettysburg he writes, "Among the killed was Major Conner, a gallant and efficient officer of the Jeff. Davis Legion."

This LeMat "grapeshot" revolver and accompanying sword are among the Civil War revolvers available in the May Premier Auction.

Great Guns: Class III Offerings

An extremely rare FN Manufacturing M240 general purpose medium machine gun tops a deep field of Class III firepower, joined by several Thompson submachine guns, a Cadillac-Gage Stoner Model 63, M60 general purpose machine guns, and a rare Armalite AR-18 that are just some of the full-auto action to be found in the May auction. Several World War 2 submachine guns will also be available including a MP44 Sturmgewehr rifle, MG34, MP40s and a U.S. Guide Lamp M3.

A M240 general purpose medium machine gun, a Cadillac-Gage Stoner 63 selective fire rifle and several Thompson submachine guns are available in the May Premier Auction.

Great Guns for Sale

Rock Island Auction Company is excited to host its second Premier Auction at its Bedford, Texas location and present such a catalog of fine arms. No matter what they dabble in, collectors will find classic and high-conditioned Colts and Winchesters alongside luxurious European arms that border on artistry, spectacular sporting guns and the rat-a-tat power of Class III weapons.

An engraved and gold inlaid Remington Rolling Block shotgun with an elaborately relief carved stock. This early production Remington No. 1 rolling block 16 gauge shotgun, bearing serial number 15, was factory made and embellished around the 1875-1880. Available this May.

Visit on preview day, May 16, to get an up-close opportunity to examine all of these amazing offerings and rub shoulders with fellow collectors. All of these fantastic firearms and more will be available in the auction, May 17-19.