How many have attended an auction at RIA?

I attend regularly, but I have never seen more beautiful N-frame revolvers at one auction. Eight Registered Magnums and two Non Registered Magnums that sold for an average price of 25,903.70 including buyers fee. Four pre-27's sold for a 4,065.63 average.
Lot 1259 was a beautiful engraved and gold inlaid 357 Magnum with engraved grips. It was serial number S173182. My question since I did not examine it, is it a pre-27 or is it a 27-0? It falls half-way between my last pre-27 and my first 27-0.
Hope some of these went to forum members.

I've been to several but none recently. Their prices have gone up faster than my budget. I watch and bid online. Ten years ago I bought 8-9 items per year, then slowly dropped to 3-4 items, now lucky to make 1 purchase a year.

They are only a few miles from my place. Been there a couple times.

Have sold a couple of my guns in their auctions. They seem to get top dollar for unique guns, but by the time they take their share from the seller and buyer ( about 32.5%) a realized price of say $2500. is about $1600+ in your pocket.

It is easy. Drop the weapon off and they do everything.

Told my wife if I go first and she needs a little spending money for her and her new boyfriend just take a couple guns over to them .

They do have a impressive place, and their auctions advertising is second to none. The one gripe I have is they only show a couple pictures of auction guns on their site, and the descriptions are on the light side. I guess their reputation covers that.

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Vietnam 1969-1971

Took a look. Beautiful guns. Any relation to Terri Mixdorf?

I initially attended many RIAC auctions and bid from the floor. I now bid via internet AFTER I drive over and personally inspect the guns I'm interested in. I learned the hard way that the catalog descriptions are unreliable. I bought a beautiful Smith that had been factory refinished. RIAC took it back.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

I have never been to their auction in person but have been out bid many times, the latest was on a model 52-2 that went way high. They seem to do a good job and if I was hell bent on a high value item it would be worth a trip to see in person what I bid on. I think if you had to dispose of a collection and did not want to try and sell it piece meal to collectors directly you could do a whole lot worse than using them.

I am going to pass on what I heard as a "rumor", but coming from a reliable source. David Carroll has been hired by RIA (recruited), to be in charge of acquisitions. If so, could this mean better pictures and descriptions? Or, quitting the practice of 10-12 guns bundled together to get one large bid. I understand the need to put 2 or 3 together because of the volume they handle, but when you have to buy 10-12 to get 1 or 2 you might want, they you have to worry about re-selling the other 10 or so.

David is a great guy and always stood for quality, lets hope it spreads to RIA.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I am considering selling my pre WW 2 S&W revolvers. I spoke with RIA at Reno show and asked about the bundling of guns. The rep state they evaluate potential price of guns will realize and then bundle several lesser priced guns to move auction along quicker.
I told him that was fine but they will put a C&R with a FFL gun so C&R holders can not bid. He did not have a comment about that.
Thinking about the 17 1/2 % consignment means any gun I consign would have to sell at 17 1/2 % more than I paid to break even.
Auctions prices vary so I am rethinking how to dispose of what I have.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Source - RIA auction photo ( https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...d-grips#detail )

It is a 5-screw and by definition a pre-27...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

How is it that they can sale Ivory grips? I thought the current laws were no interstate sale of Ivory?

I got a set would like to slap on a gun and put on GunBroker but was told I could have somebody knocking on my door.

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Vietnam 1969-1971

That pre-27 is something else. As for Rockisland's 17.5 % premium I think compared to most gun shops selling on consignment that's a pretty good deal and they seem to get top dollar for most items. You might do better selling it yourself but for most people I think they are a pretty good option.