Preview Day at RIA

This video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Rock Island Auction Company's facility, guided by Ian McCollum. It highlights the extensive storage of diverse firearms, from antique European military rifles like the 1860 Dreyse and various Mausers to American classics such as M1 Carbines and Civil War-era Spencer Carbines. The tour also showcases a significant handgun collection, featuring antique flintlocks, Lugers, and Mauser C96 pistols, providing a glimpse into the scale and variety of items processed by RIA.

This video explores four of the most expensive firearms ever sold at Rock Island Auction Company, highlighting their historical significance and exceptional craftsmanship. The list includes the Millikin Dragoon, the 'Danish Sea Captain' Civilian Colt Walker, Napoleon's Presentation Garniture, and General Ulysses S. Grant's Remington Revolvers, with prices ranging from $1.6 million to over $5.1 million. The auction house is noted for handling historically significant pieces, such as Theodore Roosevelt's Colt and the gun that killed Billy the Kid.

This YouTube video offers a virtual tour of the Holts March 2025 Main Sale, featuring vintage gun enthusiast Simon Reinhold. The content aims to showcase rare finds and hidden gems within the auction, providing viewers with insights and educational information about various firearms. The description encourages audience engagement by asking for their favorite guns from the sale, implying a focus on specific models and the broader world of collectible firearms.

This video presents the final sale prices from the Rock Island Premier auction in September 2016. It's important to note that these prices include a 15% buyer's premium, which is added on top of the auctioneer's hammer price. The video links to the Forgotten Weapons Patreon and merchandise store.

This video from Forgotten Weapons analyzes the final realized prices from the February 2016 Regional auction held at Rock Island Auction Company. It focuses on the sale prices of various firearms that were previously featured in individual videos. The Patreon link provided suggests potential for more in-depth content for supporters. While specific firearms aren't detailed in the description, the title implies a review of auction results for collectible and potentially valuable firearms.

This video showcases a recent delivery from Rock Island Auction, featuring a Ross Rifle Mark III B. The unboxing highlights the auction house's careful packaging, including separate wrapping for the bolt. The rifle is identified as a .303 British chambered model with a straight-pull bolt action, notable for its un-riveted bolt, a detail previously discussed by the host regarding safety concerns.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.