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May 14, 2025
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Hi Guys,
Here is a list of Auction Houses I’m aware of and would appreciate you guys adding to it. I think it would be a nice resource to have on the site.
Major Auction Houses (Typically has the rarest of rare)
1. Rock Island
2. Poulin
3. Morphy
4. Richmond
Minor Auction Houses (Offers great items and occasionally you can find a gem)
1. Amoskeag
2. Krammer
3. LSB
4. Gunrunner
5. Gun auction USA
6. Gun Slinger – just sold the Marissa Wayne collection! Marissa Wayne is John Wayne’s youngest daughter and she auctioned off Colts and Winchesters that were 1 of 7’s made exclusively for John Wayne’s children after his passing. Not Rock Island big money but one of the Colts went for 30k I think.
Auction Aggregators ( There are 100’s of small Auction Houses in the U.S. and Canada who don’t have their own platforms but use an Aggregators software and platform to sell online. The upside is each of these sites allows you to search and bid on 100’s of auctions. The downside is they typically add 3% to the purchase price for that convenience) it is important to note on these platforms to never use the max bid feature. The aggregators share your bid with these small houses and in my experience many have phantom bidders who swoop in and will bid you up to your max every time. You can watch that same screen name bid on multiple unrelated items and never win anything. This is possible to see on some platforms like Hibid that show bidder names but not others like Proxibid that just show the # of bids.
1. Proxibid
2. HiBid
3. icollector
4. Live Auctioneers
5. Auction Zip
6. Invaluable Auctions
Guys, help me fill in the blanks of what I’m missing. Thanks, Buck
November 5, 2014
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Hi Buck-
One I would add (to your “minor” list) is Redding’s Auction in Gettysburg PA.
They have gun auctions a couple times a month and sometimes great stuff turns up. Plus they have a “zero” buyer’s premium if you bid in person, via phone or absentee. Not all their auctions run live on Proxybid, etc. so it can pay to check them out once a month or so. Here’s a gun I got (phone bidding) from Redding’s last Spring. A Model 70 1st variation Target rifle (quite rare), nice condition, original and intact.
Also remember that Ward’s auction sells old Winchesters.
https://www.wardscollectibles.com/auctions/
Good Luck,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
June 4, 2017
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Reata Pass Auctions, Prescott, AZ./ “Little John”
Heritage Auctions
T/R
November 19, 2006
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Carol Watson’s Orange Coast Auctions
February 17, 2022
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I would add this. After the last ward’s auction debacle I will be very, very hesitant to bid there again. I was less than impressed. Sorry if any one is offended by my remarks.
December 9, 2002
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You’re not offending me, as I think you’re spot on, and when you try to call and tell them about it, they don’t listen and, interrupt you’re conversation, as the younger generation, has taken over this auction house, and they only care about the $$$$$$$! IMHO!
You can plainly see that the site has changed and not for the better! IMO! I know that we have to adapt and change with the times, but a lot of people weren’t happy, and very frustrated with the last auction! 
Tony
September 19, 2014
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Tony and others, I don’t think the emphasis changed in regards to dollars. I do think the young may have “pride of authorship” getting in the way. Years ago the program for NRA Instructors was put in place and was not working for us instructors. Got a young man whose response to criticism of the program was “any idiot can work through this program!” My only hope is he was soon shown the outside of the door! Pride of authorship on full display. Obvious to the author, not the intended user. Wards was totally not user friendly and in time it will show up in reduced sales prices. My opinion only. Tim
September 22, 2011
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oldcrankyyankee said
I would add this. After the last ward’s auction debacle I will be very, very hesitant to bid there again. I was less than impressed. Sorry if any one is offended by my remarks.
Hint: If you are a seller, best not to consign with Ward’s.
If you are a buyer, you very well might find a bargain in the next auction.
December 9, 2002
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Anthony said
You’re not offending me, as I think you’re spot on, and when you try to call and tell them about it, they don’t listen and, interrupt you’re conversation, as the younger generation, has taken over this auction house, and they only care about the $$$$$$$! IMHO!
You can plainly see that the site has changed and not for the better! IMO! I know that we have to adapt and change with the times, but a lot of people weren’t happy, and very frustrated with the last auction!
Tony
tim tomlinson said
Tony and others, I don’t think the emphasis changed in regards to dollars. I do think the young may have “pride of authorship” getting in the way. Years ago the program for NRA Instructors was put in place and was not working for us instructors. Got a young man whose response to criticism of the program was “any idiot can work through this program!” My only hope is he was soon shown the outside of the door! Pride of authorship on full display. Obvious to the author, not the intended user. Wards was totally not user friendly and in time it will show up in reduced sales prices. My opinion only. Tim
Tim,
I understand you’re point, and was thinking about what I posted, later when company came in. I didn’t make it back to better clarify, my point. In regards to the money signs that I posted, and my reference to the newer regime at Ward’s not caring, I really feel like many other Auction houses and other places we deal with today, we become a number, as in, NEXT!!!
On another note, my friend, capitalized on the last Auction snafu, and called and got logged in and grabbed a bunch of stuff, a little cheaper than he had anticipated, as he does his research ahead of time, and makes notes on his capped bid price he wants to place, and he said he spent several thousand dollars this last Auction, and over looked the issues, that many of us have found to be uncomfortable.
Certainly, “Different Strokes”!
Tony
April 30, 2023
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mrcvs said
If you are a buyer, you very well might find a bargain in the next auction.
What’s that you say? I’ll be hiding over here in the bushes with my paddle…I think you may be right! 
November 7, 2015
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Sounds to me like a good situation for someone who will take the time to learn how to game the system. Good luck, game on!
Mike
May 14, 2025
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speaking of gaming the system. I pulled this right off Proxibids and Hibid websites. I’m no lawyer so Zeb please chime in but I read this as confirmation the auction house and or the seller are free to place fake bids to run the auction price up?
March 31, 2009
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Buck1967 said
speaking of gaming the system. I pulled this right off Proxibids and Hibid websites. I’m no lawyer so Zeb please chime in but I read this as confirmation the auction house and or the seller are free to place fake bids to run the auction price up?ProxiBid
PLEASE READ: At the request of the auction company, this auction permits bids to be placed by the auctioneer, an employee of the auctioneer, or the seller or an agent on the seller’s behalf. While Proxibid’s Unified User Agreement prohibits this behavior, in accordance with UCC 2-328, this auction is permitted to engage in this activity by providing this clear disclosure to you, the bidder.
Hibid
19.Auctioneer and Auction Staff may bid and purchase items. Sellers have the right to bid on and protect their items.
That kind of verbiage is in many auction house’s Agreements. Helps them make more money. Especially if the house owns the gun.
November 24, 2024
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Wards has been going downhill in the last three years or so for sure when it comes to listing shot shell boxes. Their website is requesting folks send them shot shell boxes. I’ve heard enough bad stories from others I won’t be consigning to them. They have some very high fees for consigners and that hasn’t gone down well at all. Not enough pictures, descriptions far too often are wrong or very thin, return policy is bad. The time to return something doesn’t start when you receive the item but at the close of the auction. Right now Richmond Auctions, Greenville, SC is setting records for collectible ammunition, really good folks to work with.
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