This will be the final auction held at Julia’s fabled Fairfield, Maine auction barn before all future auctions move to Morphy Auctions Locations in Denver, Pennsylvania, and Las Vegas. Here is the entire release, for those who are serious investors and the rest of of us who will simply drool and dream…

Today I am taking a break from the 30 days of preparing series to pay homage to Ireland’s most famous gun maker, John Rigby.

Rock Island Auction Company’s next Regional Firearms Auction will be Feb. 21-23, 2014. That means a lot of new hardware is going to find its way into new hands and homes.

The history of men and women and machines is fascinating. The revolver may not be the most in demand at Cheaper than Dirt! but there are none more interesting. The first cartridge revolver in the United States was the little Smith and Wesson Number 1 in .22 Short. Colt was making thousands of cap-and-ball revolvers for the Union Army and Smith and Wesson sold its revolvers through private sale. Soldiers could tuck the little .22 into their shirts or jackets. Colts were the horse pistols, and the revolvers used by fast moving cavalry units.

Rock Island Auction Company’s December 2013 Premiere Firearms Auction is showing some pretty impressive wares for all types of collectors. The first day of the auction has over 770 lots where the low estimate is $2,000 or less. This of course is in addition to its regular selection of amazing, one-of-a-kind collector and investment grade firearms. Below are a few highlights of both the phenomenal and the affordable.

Over the years we have seen a steady progression in rifle performance, and the modernization of rifle powder. Black powder rusted the metal almost as soon as it was fired. Modern rifle powder, such as Varget, is very clean. Corrosive primed ammunition isn’t something to be avoided, and the powder burn is often clean. You simply have to follow a few steps to fire and use this affordable ammunition.

My first center fire rifle was a Mosin Nagant. I think quite a few of you may be able to say the same. The rifle cost $65, and it was a poor example of the type having suffered the indignity of having the original military stock cut short and an odd-looking pistol grip nailed to the stock. However, in 1970 money, the Nagant cost more than a nice example costs today.

In terms of American military long arms, very little attention is given to a predecessor of the much-heralded M1903 and M1 Garand, the Springfield Trapdoor. Produced for over 20 years, the Springfield Trapdoor experienced many changes throughout its life. The rifle would take its place in history just after the Civil War—despite the justifiable hesitation of many military personnel who were all too aware of the superiority of repeaters and magazine fed rifles.

President Obama has once again targeted legal gun owners with his latest Executive Action by targeting the importation of what he referred to as “military grade” weapons. The Executive Action bars the importation of military-grade weapons sold or donated to allies by private entities.

“Fresh, Historic, and Rare” is the potent combination of words Rock Island Auction Company owner and president Patrick Hogan has used to describe the RIAC upcoming September Premiere Firearms Auction.

You know that rifle that’s been sitting in the corner of your closet for decades? Every wonder exactly how much that thing is worth? With the gun market being what it is right now, it may be time to dust off some of those old firearms and see how they perform with a sale tag tied on. The Blue Book of Gun Values is a tool virtually everyone in the industry uses for pricing just about every type of firearm. If you are buying or selling even one gun—you absolutely need this reference.

I understand that most of the people reading this (like me) do not have the buying power to own a firearm featured in a premier auction such as James Julia’s Outstanding March Firearms Auction, but that does not mean you cannot have fun fantasizing, window shopping or just looking at a piece of history.

In 1526, gunsmith Maestro Batolomeo Beretta received 296 ducats for 185 arquebus barrels—in bulk—and the Beretta company was born.

Founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson the original Smith & Wesson Company, then based in Norwich, Connecticut, has few rivals as an American company not just a firearms manufacturer. It would take complete failure and the help of two unlikely sources – neither being the U.S. government – before it would become the company that is a household name around the world.

You all know the big man on campus the M1 Garand, well this week we are going to play with the little kid on the block. The younger brother who gets left out of all the fun. However, be careful little brother can fight too. As we know, looks can be deceiving-as is the case of this little giant. Easy to shoot, carry and reload our next rifle is a bulldog, not a lot of bark, but a lot of bite.

Your position is under attack. You need to fire copious amounts of bullets. You need to overwhelm the opposing force. Firepower is the essence and it must come from a small group of soldiers. At the very least, you need to double your enemy’s rate of fire. You need a short fast rifle that is quick into action. You need a carbine platform that is easy to carry. You need an assault rifle.

We are going old school this week—really old school. This was the Colt that made all men equal in the final days of black powder percussion firearms. One of the most produced and popular pistols of any era, the gun was the Colt Model of 1851 .36 caliber Navy. If you have not wrapped your hand around one of these smoke wagons and made big medicine then you should make an addition to your bucket list.

In March 2012, James D. Julia Auctioneers conducted what is reportedly the largest grossing firearms auction in history. It was hard to imagine ever putting together another sale of such monumental proportions, but the recent October sale, which grossed almost $16 million certainly approached it.