Arms auctions are often the best source for hard-to-find firearms, and can be a lot of fun. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when attending one.
In Virginia, as long as you are over 18, don’t have a criminal record and can pass a background check, you can purchase a gun. But at some auctions, background checks aren’t even performed – a practice that a new study has revealed may be potentially deadly.
Unlike most gun shows, arms auctions usually have a much broader and more diverse group of buyers than those at the local gun club. This means there is more demand for pieces, so it’s important to know your limits and bid cautiously.
Most importantly, be sure to look at the class (antique/curio & relic, modern or NFA Class III) of each piece before bidding. It is also a good idea to use a price guide before the auction, to see what items are selling for at the moment and set a limit for yourself.
A few other helpful tips: Make eye contact with the ringman or auctioneer before bidding and raise your hand so there is no doubt that you are submitting a bid. This way the auctioneer will have a visual cue that you are bidding and can relay that to other participants. Keep in mind that there is generally no reserve in place at an auction, so the price of a piece will rise until someone decides they don’t want it anymore.
Centurion’s 2-day sale on July 28th and 30th includes an interesting group of antique arms including the German WWI 4 CHRF barrel flare pistol pictured ($7500-9000). Other lots in this group include naval line throwing guns used to fire cannons, set light signals or repel boarders. The sale also offers a fine selection of edged weapons and militaria from the bronze age through the medieval, renaissance and early modern periods as well as African, Australasian, Chinese and Japanese weaponry.
Cowan’s | Freeman’s is a world-renowned dealer in historic firearms, early military, ethnographic and ethnographic weapons, and related accoutrements. The firm has sold hundreds of thousands of lots, representing all major historical and cultural regions of the world.
The company has a strong international presence and regularly exhibits at major arms shows around the world. Its catalogues are published in several languages and the website features a number of video interviews with leading historians and collectors. It has an excellent reputation for quality, reliability and value. The firm also offers a full range of valuation and appraisal services for clients looking to sell or trade items. It is also a major supplier of firearms to museums and collectors’ societies. Its customers include many of the world’s finest collections and institutions. The firm has offices in Richmond, VA and Denver, CO. The firm was founded in 1926 by Henry H. Freeman and is currently owned by the Freeman family. It is a member of the National Auctioneers Association and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.