Whether you’re buying your first gun or deciding which pieces to add to your collection, there’s always more to learn in the world of arms collecting. From matchlocks to military pistols and everything in between, we’ll take a look at some of the absolute gun collection must haves that every determined firearms fan should own.
Featuring a host of examples from some of the most storied gun collections in the world, Rock Island Auction Company offers arms that cater to every level of the collecting pursuit. The pieces below are just a snapshot of what the company’s May 17-19 Premier Firearms Auction in Bedford, Texas has to offer.
The M1911 Pistol
When you think of the most American guns, the M1911 probably ranks high on the list. And why shouldn’t it? “Old Slabside” is the longest-serving sidearm in U.S. military history and the pistol that helped the United States become back to back World War champs. The 1911 genre is wildly popular, and every great gun collection should contain at least one original 1911.
After serving with distinction in WW1, the M1911 design pioneered by John Moses Browning underwent a series of small refinements intended to make the .45 ACP handgun even easier to shoot. These included a shortened trigger, extended hammer spurs, simplified checkered grips, an arched mainspring housing, a thicker front sight, and angled clearance cutouts.
Designated the M1911A1, no major changes were made to the 1911’s internals, testifying to the pistol’s exemplary performance record. As the most widely carried American pistol of WW2, the M1911A1 is a gun collection must have for any US military aficionado. The Singer 1911 pistol below represents one of the rarest and most desirable pieces in the gun collecting pursuit.
The continued popularity of the 1911 pistol and its variants is reflected in the genre’s impressive price growth in recent years. When it comes to design, reliability, customization, historic pedigree, and iconic silhouette, the 1911 pistol design has few rivals, and modern examples like the Kimber DET-1 1911 demonstrate the timeless quality if this tried-and-true platform.
Manufactured in the early 2000s, the Kimber DET-1 example below was one of a small number manufactured by Kimber on contract for the U.S. government which were intended to be issued to the newly formed Marine Corps special operations unit called Detachment One. Only 150 of 350 examples survive today, making them one of the rarest of the rare in the world of 1911 collecting.
Old West Revolvers
Everyone loves Old West guns, and RIAC’s bounty of gun collection must haves includes a wide assortment of authentic Wild West sixshooters. Leading the lineup is the Colt Single Action Army revolver, a wheelgun on everyone’s wishlist. Hollywood’s favorite Western handgun served as the choice sidearm for countless lawmen, desperados, homesteaders, and cowboys who braved the frontier, and May’s selection carries numerous examples of the storied revolver offered at attainable price points.
Early percussion Colts like the Colt Dragoon are another gun collection cornerstone. Known by Sam Colt as the “Old Model Holster Pistol,” the Colt Dragoon is a familiar sight to fans of Westerns like ‘True Grit‘ and ‘The Cowboys’. The Dragoon was an improvement on the Colt Paterson and the Walker in several respects, with the Third Model being the final and most prevalent iteration of the American Dragoon revolver.
Another prevalent big iron revolver from the Old West, the Smith & Wesson First Model Schofield single action revolver was designed by Col. George Schofield to improve the S&W No. 3 American for military use, offering greater ease of reloading compared to the Colt SAA. 3,000 S&W Schofields were ordered in 1875 with 5,000 more produced two years later in the Second Model.
Many Schofield revolvers were issued to the 4th, 9th, and 10th Cavalry during the Indian Wars in the American Southwest. Others were delivered to state militias across the country. The Schofield’s quick reloading capability and hefty .45 caliber cartridge made them a favorite to outlaws like the James Gang and law enforcement agencies like the San Francisco Police Department during the time of the Sandlot Riots.
Winchester Lever Actions
Another genre of gun collection must haves would undoubtedly be Old West Winchester rifles. Vintage Winchester lever actions remain as popular as ever today with arms collectors, cowboy shooters, and fans of frontier history. The “Improved Henry,” or what would become known as the Winchester Model 1866, is often hailed as “the first cowboy rifle” and is also the first rifle to bear the fabled Winchester name.
As one of the archetypical Wild West guns, the Winchester 1873’s tough frame, stronger chambering, and wide-scale availability helped this legendary Winchester become the rifle that won the West. Ned Crossman, a prolific firearms writer in the early 20th century, wrote that the sturdy Model 1873 “put the name Winchester on the map of the West, trotting along with the equally formidable Colt gun at the belt of the frontiersman.”
From James Stewart’s Winchester ’73 movie to Paramount’s recent 1883 series, the rugged rifle remains one of the most well-known guns of Hollywood, and its real-life history is even more enduring. Needless to say, no frontier gun collection is complete without an antique Winchester Model 1873.
The Winchester Model 1894 emerged too late to claim the title “Gun That Won the West,” but it certainly kept Winchester’s frontier legacy alive. The Winchester 94’s balance and slim profile made it a favorite walking gun for hunters, ranchers, and law enforcement who appreciated the power and reliability of Winchester’s .30-30 WCF smokeless cartridge. The classic lever gun’s accuracy, simplicity, and rugged resilience added up to an ideal big-woods whitetail gun, and more than a century later the venerable rifle has become one of the most memorable pieces of Americana.
WW2 Guns
General George Patton once hailed the M1 Garand as, “the greatest battle implement ever devised.” Fielded by millions of American GIs from 1936 to 1959, the M1 Garand served as the standard United States infantry rifle, and it continued to see use as late as the Vietnam War. Nearly a century after gun inventor John Garand first started developing the storied rifle, the M1 Garand is more popular than ever with shooters, collectors, and WW2 arms enthusiasts, and the rifle is an absolute must have gun in any U.S. military collection.
The WW2 Model 1941 Johnson semi-automatic rifle was seriously considered by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps as an alternative to the M1 Garand in 1941. Although the Army never officially adopted the Johnson rifle, after the fall of the Dutch East Indies to Japan in 1942 some of the Dutch contract Johnson rifles were obtained by the Marine Corps and issued to the Marine Parachute and Raider Battalions for use in the early island hopping campaign in the South Pacific in 1943. With fewer than 21,500 manufactured, these scarce and intriguing rifles represent rare opportunities for WW2 gun collectors.
79 years on, and the legacy of WW2 looms larger than ever in the public consciousness. Adding arms and militaria from the Second World War to a gun collection is a way to honor the exceptional men who carried, wore, and won these items in their fight to defeat the Axis powers. Captured German and Japanese arms were viewed as valuable war trophies for the Allies, and these “bring back guns” are considered some of the most desirable pieces in the gun collecting community today.
Rock Island Auction offers no shortage of options for gun collection builders looking to add some sniper rifles to the mix. From the Mosin Nagant, the Walther G41, the Kar98k, the Mauser 98, the British Lee-Enfield, and more. Sharpshooting rifles evolved in the late 19th century and WW1, with improvements to telescopic sights making their WW2 counterparts even deadlier.
The Walther PPK, or “Polizeipistole Kriminalmodel,” is a scaled-down variant of the Walther PP that has become an absolute gun collection must have. The PPK became the more popular model before, during, and in the years following WW2. The PPK below is a fine example of WW2 production that features high quality leafy scroll engraving, extensive gold finish, and “Eagle/N” proofs on the slide and muzzle.
The Nambu line of Japanese semi-automatic pistols was created by their namesake Kijirō Nambu, a legendary gun inventor. Trying to compete with smaller, more compact pistols from Europe and America, the “Baby Nambu” was a scaled-down version of its two predecessors, the Grandpa and Papa Nambu pistols. Only 6,500 Baby Nambu were made, almost all of which were privately purchased by senior Japanese officers, making these rare sidearms a tempting item to add to any 20th century gun collection.
WW1 Guns
The distinctive Luger is often called the most famous pistol in modern warfare. Manufactured in numerous variants, George Luger’s creation was one of the most widely carried sidearms of WW1 and beyond. Captured Luger pistols were considered valuable war trophies for the Allies, and it’s no surprise the desire to own one of history’s iconic pistols continues today in the gun collecting community.
Trench guns have a larger-than-life reputation for their slam fire heroics in WW1, with the Winchester Model 1897 shotgun leading the charge for the United States. As America prepared to enter the Great War, General John Pershing recalled the effectiveness of the Winchester shotgun in the Philippines and envisioned how they could be wielded in the trenches of Western Europe. These incredible military shotguns lived up to their reputation on the battlefield and have become one of the gun collecting world’s rising stars today.
The Springfield 1903 is another absolute gun collection must have for every military collector. Based on the German Mauser bolt action, the 1903 rifle became a cornerstone of accuracy and rugged resilience. Many early 20th-century rifles like the Springfield 1903 are still carried by hunters and shooters today, including thousands of sporterized examples, a testament to the character and craftsmanship of these timeless designs.
The Mauser C96 self-loading pistol is another unquestionable gun collection must have. Known as the Broomhandle, the Pistole 7.63, and many other slangs and designations, the C96’s unique silhouette makes it a standout sidearm with collectors and a favorite in Hollywood, featured onscreen in period dramas like Peaky Blinders and serving as the basis for Han Solo’s DL-44 Heavy Blaster, perhaps the most eminent of all Star Wars guns. Though a highly sought-after collectible, quality examples of the Mauser C96 can still be found at attainable prices.
Civil War Guns
Perhaps the most famous Civil War repeating rifle, the New Haven Arms Co. Henry rifle is a must have genre for Winchester fans, history lovers, and gun collection completionists. These trailblazing lever actions were chambered for the .44 Henry rimfire cartridge, 15 of which were kept within a tube magazine located under the barrel, offering an unprecedented rate of fire for the era.
Many other Henry rifles were acquired by individual soldiers during the Civil War, often veterans using a portion of their re-enlistment bonus to obtain the expensive firearm. With only roughly 13,000 Henry rifles manufactured, these historic guns are a hot commodity in the collecting world.
The Colt Model 1851 Navy was one of the most prevalent sidearms of the Civil War and the most common revolver carried by the Confederate forces. Indeed, the 1851 Navy became the basis for numerous Confederate produced brass-frame revolver styles like the Griswold & Gunnison Revolver and the Leech & Rigdon revolvers.
Building off of the successful Colt 1849 Pocket percussion, the Colt 1851 Navy was a personal favorite of Samuel Colt and a preferred sidearm for Western legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody, and the sturdy sixgun continued to see widespread use long after the Civil War. Today, the Colt Model 1851 Navy is one of the most desirable gun collection must haves from the antique revolver genre.
Popularized recently by Quigley Down Under, the various Sharps rifle and carbine models manufactured from the Antebellum Era through the late-19th century were some of the most renowned firearms of the American frontier. Sharps were well-trusted for their accuracy and reliability during the Civil War, and the Union purchased approximately 80,000 Sharps carbines and almost 10,000 rifles.
Specially ordered Sharps rifles were fielded by the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter Regiments (the Berdan’s Sharpshooters) to great effect. They were later produced for centerfire metallic cartridges and were manufactured in a dizzying array of configurations through the decades.
Revolver? Shotgun? Why not two-in-one? Some of the coolest guns came out of the Civil War era, and this unique Confederate revolver was no exception. The LeMat revolver stored nine black powder pistol rounds with an additional smoothbore “grapeshot” barrel below.
This unconventional design offered the LeMat two distinct firing modes that could be alternated by toggling a movable firing pin on the hammer. Surviving LeMats are comparatively scarce due to their limited production run and heavy use during combat, making examples like the revolver below absolute gun collection must haves.
Combining a rolling breechblock with a seven-shot tubular magazine in the buttstock that was cycled with a lever action, the Spencer rifle and carbine offered an unprecedented level of firepower during the Civil War. Millions of Spencers went West following the war, becoming one of the favored longarms of frontier scouts, Indian fighters, and some of the Native American warriors they faced. The Spencer’s rich history and innovation makes surviving examples of these fantastic weapons all the more desirable today and a must have gun for military collections.
Classic Revolvers
The vaunted Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum was the first production gun to fire the .357 Magnum cartridge and was offered as a high-end, customizable revolver with a focus on quality. Each Registered Magnum came with a registration card that the buyer could mail back to Smith & Wesson to obtain a registration certificate, a guarantee of quality from S&W. Only 5,224 of these premium revolvers were offered. The model’s rarity combined with its remarkable quality marks the Registered Magnum as a must have gun for every revolver collector.
As the “Rolls-Royce of Colt revolvers,” the Colt Python platform is a true gun collection must have that can still be acquired at attainable price points. From the 1970s ‘Starsky & Hutch’ to ‘The Walking Dead‘, the Python’s Hollywood appeal is stronger than ever, and values for vintage examples of this classic handmade Colt revolver have been on an impressive rise in recent years.
The original S&W .44 Magnum, the Model 29 was a popular gun collection staple upon its release in 1955, but its depiction in 1971’s ‘Dirty Harry’ propelled the revolver to superstardom. Described by Eastwood as “the most powerful handgun in the world,” the Model 29-2 saw its values soar. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 set off an arms race that continues today with revolvers chambered in titans like the .454 Casull, .460 S&W, .480 Ruger, .500 JRH, and .500 Linebaugh, but the original S&W Model 29 has been elevated to a must have gun for any revolver collector.
The Colt Detective Special is one of the most famous early modern factory production snub nose revolvers. The wheelgun was made as a double action with the ability to function as single, used a swing-out frame for faster loading, and was specifically designed for the .38 Special. The classic snubbie is a must have gun for any collection thanks to its history with undercover cops and detectives, as well as Taxi drivers, store owners, and mobsters.
Antique Muzzleloaders
When it comes to gun collection must haves, antique pistols make for some of the most impressive display pieces. Flintlock officer’s pistols were often crafted as matching pairs that carried a higher level of prestige and embellishment compared to the more standard pistols of the lower ranks.
These pistols typically exhibit quality engraving and ornamentation, and surviving examples tend to be well preserved. Antique pistols that include their original box and accessories are particularly valued in the collecting community, and a number of intriguing examples can be found amid RIAC’s extraordinary selection.
Carried both on land and sea, the unique-looking blunderbuss belongs in any antique arms collection. Drawing its name from the Dutch word ‘donderbus’, or thunder pipe, the blunderbuss is a smoothbore short-barreled long gun with a flared muzzle that was especially useful for defending ships from boarders and carriages from highwaymen.
Much like a modern shotgun, the blunderbuss was designed to deliver a devastating blast of shot or buck and ball at close range. George Washington equipped them to his dragoons late in the Revolutionary War, and other militaries around the world issued the blunderbuss as cavalry weapons through the early 18th century.
Want to get away from flint and steel ignition? Wheellocks are always unusual and attractive. There is a reason these high art examples are staples of fine arms and art collections in both Europe and the U.S.
How about we go back to the earliest form of gunlocks with a beautiful matchlock pistol from Japan? To build a truly ‘complete’ antique military arms collection, the matchlock is an absolute essential.
Gun Collection Must Haves at Rock Island Auction Company
Aside from the joy of building a fantastic gun collection, firearms can be a rewarding investment, with gun prices seeing an impressive upswing across many genres as the hobby swells in popularity around the globe. From vintage to modern, from new-in-box pieces to guns marked with honest wear, Rock Island Auction Company’s offers a vast selection of gun collection must haves that truly span the centuries.
The essential genres featured here just scratch the surface of what the gun collection field has to offer, and we cover every model and genre in depth with gun blogs and gun videos in the Rock Island Auction newsletter. From engineering marvels like the J. & J. Miller pill lock revolving rifle, the Collier revolver, and the Nock volley gun, antique icons like the Colt 1855, the Colt Lightning, and the C93, 20th century firepower like the SKS, M1 Carbine, MP40, and Thompson machine gun, to modern classics like the SIG Sauer Model P226, H&K P30L, M17, and Beretta 92F, Rock Island Auction Company features history’s most collectible guns.
