The last Rock Island Premier Auction of the year will take place on December 06, 07 and 08. As in the case of other premier auctions, the online catalog was published about a month before the auction starts.
Being one of the largest firearm auctions in the USA and perhaps in the world, its catalog is full of one of a kind lots including those related to the MENA region which is one of the focus research regions of Silah Report. We browsed the RIAC December 2019 auction catalog and found an interesting selection of Iranian firearms which we’ll take a look at in this article.
Our list below goes in no particular order. It includes the lot names, images and the auction house’s description. The lot names are also linked to the corresponding pages of December 2019 Rock Island Premier Firearm Auction where you can read about the conditions of firearms in case if you want to place a bid.
Brno Arms Iranian Contract Model 98-29 Mauser Bolt Action Rifle
Manufactured in Czechoslovakia under military contract for the military of Iran. Semi-hooded blade front and adjustable tangent rear sights with the rear sight graduations marked in Farsi, small importer mark near the muzzle, Persian/Iranian national crest on the receiver ring, importer serial number on the left of the ring, and all other markings in Farsi. Smooth pistol grip stock with grasping grooves, “H” type bayonet lug, Farsi markings on right side of butt, and flat steel buttplate.
Sold for $1,495
Iranian Model 49 Mauser Bolt Action Carbine
Manufactured in Iran on machinery set up by the Czechoslovakians. Partially hooded blade front and elevation adjustable tangent rear sights graduated from “1” to “20”, stamped front and rear barrel band with fixed sling bar, Iranian national crest on the receiver ring, and all visible receiver markings including the serial number in Farsi. Correct Iranian hardwood pistol grip stock with grasping grooves, sling cut out, and flat blue steel buttplate.
Sold for $1,035
Persian Contract Artillery Luger with Holster and Harness
Manufactured circa 1935-1936 on contract for the government of Persia, only about 1,000 Persian Lugers were outfitted with an Artillery-pattern barrel. Save for the Persian markings and Farsi numbering (transliterated original serial number is “3446”), the pistol follows the late WWI pattern, with fixed blade front and tangent rear sights, the Persian Lion on the chamber, “crown/crown/U” and “crown” proofs, and straw finished small parts. Fitted with a pair of checkered grips and a nickel finished alloy base magazine. The barrel is unnumbered and the magazine mixed, otherwise the external components are matching Farsi numbered. A hardwood shoulder stock with unnumbered mounting iron is included, along with a brown leather holster, harness and magazine pouch, wood handled cleaning rod and takedown tool.
Sold for $7,475
Mauser 1936 Persian Contract Luger Pistol
Manufactured about 1935-1936, Mauser produced a run of specially marked military Luger pistols (both P.08 and Artillery patterns) for the Persian government. Relatively few of these have made it to the American market, as the Persian/Iranian government never released them en mass for sale as surplus unlike a number of other Luger variants. With the exception of the German “crown/crown/U” proof marks, all markings on the pistol are of Persian style including the serial numbers (“1211” and “11”, matching overall and inclusive of the magazine), loaded/safe markings, and the toggle link legend. A “Persian Lion” crest is present on the chamber, and the overall finish and features are consistent with 1930s Luger production.
Sold for $6,900
Persian Contract Walther Model PP 9 × 17 mm Pistol
Manufactured in 1939, this pistol is part of a seldom encountered 200-piece contract run for the government of Persia integrating a number of uncommon features. In addition to the larger caliber, the standard side markings have been moved to the right side, making room for a Persian crest flanked by Farsi markings on the left, with the (transliterated) number “7573” vertically on the left side of the frame opposite the serial number, and a butt-mounted ambidextrous magazine catch, with a Walther 9 × 17 mm magazine properly uncut for a conventional button catch. The “crown/N” and Farsi proofs are concealed by the slide on the left side of the chamber hood and barrel, with the matching partial number hand marked inside the slide. Fitted with a 60 degree safety, ring hammer, and checkered Walther banner grips.
Sold for $3,450
Besides this list, there are also a number of other MENA related firearms in the online catalog of December 2019 Rock Island Premier Firearms Auction catalog. You can browse the catalog by clicking HERE. Once the auction ends, we’ll update this article with the prices that each of the lots was sold at.
Images courtesy of Rock Island Auction Company, www.rockislandauction.com