A sure sign of springtime in America — other than migrating birds, yellow daffodils, fresh plowed fields, floods, tornadoes and snowstorms — is the arrival of exceptional gun auctions.

Poulin Auction in Fairfield, Maine, just ended its three-day 2,000-gun sale. Bidders who still had money could walk next door to preview Jim Julia’s annual rite of spring and feast on an extraordinary selection of high-grade guns offered March 14-15. Noteworthy is Ernest Hemingway’s Westley Richards double rifle .577 Nitro Express. It’s a powerful big beast gun that accompanied him on African safaris.

Other attractions include Dr. Edmund Lewis’ collection of Winchester rifles and Volcanic pistols, the Pete Peters Marlin collection, Fred McDonald’s Civil War and Texas gun collection, sections from the Robert Petersen collection, a rare Singer-made Model 1911A1 and machine guns, Kentucky rifles, military gun, 50 rare Belgian Browning shotguns and more. Online bidding was available for those concerned a tankful of gas would cost more than a Winchester.

Also in New England on March 26 will be Amoskeag’s spring gun sale. Located in Manchester, N.H., it will offer a good selection of Winchesters, single-shot rifles, Smith & Wessons, hunting rifles, shotguns and big bore single shots.
In Maryland March 19-20 is the 56th annual Baltimore Antique Arms Show. An impressive gathering of dealers and collectors from all over the world, it presents an excellent opportunity to see and handle guns you usually only find in catalogs or in museums.

Visitors may bring in guns to sell or trade, providing they are World War II vintage and older. No modern handguns are allowed. It’s located at the state fairgrounds in Timonium; see www.baltimoreshow.com for more info.
Out in Moline, Ill., the Rock Island Auction Co. will conduct its first auction in its brand new 85,000 square-foot facility May 20-22. The more than 2,700 lots will include a Sharps collection, U.S. and German military arms, Winchesters, Smith & Wessons, full-auto guns, Confederate and other Civil War guns and much more. Online bidding is available.

A word about online bidding: With gas prices as they are, the option of bidding from home and having items mailed to you or your FFL dealer is becoming all the more attractive and money-saving. Often, the extra fees outweigh the cost to attend a distant auction. Companies generally tack on an extra 3 percent to the buyer’s premium and charge for packing, shipping and insurance.
Online bidding can have a reverse affect. Because you can see bids already made days before the auction begins, the amounts shown can be a deterrent to attending in person. Viewing guns that already have bids that match or exceed your top bid can result in a “Why bother to go?” response. This eliminates another bidder from attending, a person who may buy other items while there.

There are many guns now coming on the market at auctions large and small all over the country.

I don’t live in Pennsylvania, but I sure like its gun auctions. The state has a long tradition of gun-making and hunting. Some of its gun auctions are no-buyers-premium events. Redding Auctions near Gettysburg is one. The laid-back, friendly family-owned business has been inundated with gun consignments in recent months, resulting in an increased schedule of gun auctions.

The owner’s son, Patrick Redding, told me that in the first two months of this year they have sold 1,000 guns at auction. It’s a pace that equates to 6,000 guns this year. That’s an impressive figure for a modest auction business out in the country.

Speaking of impressive, I was awed by the Redding firm last November. Before the auction began, owner David Redding announced that week held a special day; I drew a blank until he said Veteran’s Day. He then spoke of the importance of honoring our veterans and acknowledging the sacrifices they made. He asked all veterans to stand.

About 30 of us, out of nearly 200, rose on our feet to the extended applause all around us. It was quite a moment. The auctioneer then asked everyone to stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. That was quite a moment, too. I tip my helmet to Redding Auctions.