During the global Coronavirus pandemic, many of the country’s most popular antique arms and gun shows were canceled or scaled back considerably. As the shows in Las Vegas, Baltimore, Maryland, and New England didn’t go on, collectors of Western and other antique firearms increasingly shopped remotely. Auctions across the country saw a surge in business, yet one firm, in particular, was seeing an increase even before the pandemic began.
Established in 1993 by Pat Hogan in the “Quad Cities” region of western Illinois on the Mississippi River, the Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC) has built up an international reputation. Prior to the pandemic, it was already holding more than 18 auctions each year and has repeatedly led the industry with record sales. The company reached a milestone year in 2021 with…
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Guns of the Old West (Digital) - 1 Issue, Winter 2023