RIAC Blog

What is a Percussion Firearm?

A percussion firearm is a firearm that is fired via the striking (or percussing) of an external primer which sends a flash into the breech that ignit

The MP40 Submachine Gun

The MP40 submachine gun, or the 'Maschinenpistole 40 ', was the signature SMG of the German Wehrmacht during WW 2. The groundbreaking weapon was desig

RIAC's October S&C Firearms Auction realizes over $8 Million!

Rock Island Auction Company’s October Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction realized over $8 million in total, a phenomenal sum achieved by an event t

Defining Antique Military Arms

Throughout the centuries, military firearms technology and terminology have been constantly evolving. Given this, there are many terms used to identif

Classic Shotguns for Fall Hunting

To some, autumn is a time for football and apple orchards and an avalanche of pumpkin spice. For others, the season also evokes images of tall grass a

Announcing Custom Catalogs

Rock Island Auction Company is proud to announce that we’re replacing the old, black & white catalogs printed for our Sporting & Collector Auction wit

John Wayne's True Grit Revolver

John Wayne was the quintessential American cowboy. With his distinct voice, imposing stature, and natural charisma, he was the perfect embodiment of t

Second Largest Firearms Auction EVER draws over $24 MILLION

Rock Island Auction Company’s September Premier 10-12 Firearms Auction soared into the history books with an astronomical $24 million in realized sale

L.A. Huffman: Window to the West

Laton Alton Huffman’s photography captured the spirit of the Old West and a changing way of life during the last two decades of the American frontier.

Selections from the Hank Williams Jr. Gun Collection

Any fan of country music, Monday Night Football, and American entertainment will instantly recognize the legendary Hank Williams Jr. From his signatur

Muzzleloader Collector's Jackpot

Rock Island Auction Company’s September 10-12 Premier Firearms Auction is absolutely packed with hundreds of muzzleloaders from several collections i

Road to the 1911 Pistol

The famous 1911 pistol is one of the most popular handguns of all time. When it comes to factors like balance, comfort, and reliability, John Browning

The FG42 Paratrooper Rifle

Developed in 1941, the FG42 paratrooper rifle stands as one of the most distinctive firearms of World War 2. Manufactured by the Heinrich Krieghoff

Guns of The Walking Dead: A Retrospective

After a decade of post-apocalyptic zombie action, the eleventh and final season of The Walking Dead is set to premiere on AMC . Like any long-running

Attending the NMLRA's 1st Annual American Longrifle Show

For those who love muzzle loaders, it doesn’t get any better than a trip to Friendship, Indiana to visit the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association

What is a Wheellock?

A wheellock is a gunlock that uses a metal wheel under spring tension to generate sparks that ignite gunpowder. How does a Wheellock Work? Most wheel

ATF vs The Pistol Brace: Point System

The ATF has invited comments on their newly proposed guidelines after an avalanche of comments that the ATF’s last set of “objective guidelines” was

Garand Model 1924: Before the M1 Garand

General Patton famously hailed the M1 Garand rifle as "the greatest battle implement ever devised." Fielded by millions of American GIs during WWII, i

Historic Powder Horns

If you watch a frontier or military movie set in the mid-19th century or earlier, look at historical paintings, visit a fur trade rendezvous or reenac

Assault Weapons Before The Second Amendment

One common gun control argument is that America's Founding Fathers could not have imagined the repeating “assault weapons” of today. But when the Seco

The 7 Most American Guns

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and M16s. Firearms are an undeniable part of the American identity thanks to the Second Amendment and the nation’s spir

Camouflage 101: Woodland Camo

Alexander Hamilton, the 4th of July, and the free practice of one’s Second Amendment rights are all things that are about as American as the topic of

What is a Matchlock?

In the simplest terms, a matchlock is a firearm that uses a piece of lit slow match (also known as match cord) to ignite gunpowder and thus fire a fir

Hottest Summer Handguns!

Over 5,500 guns are up for bid during Rock Island Auction Company’s June 10th – 12th Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction, including a surplus of uni