James D Julia's Antique Firearms Auction goes off with a bang in Maine

The sale, which featured Ernest Hemingway's rifle, achieved an excellent $10m total

The results have come through for James D Julia's March 14th & 15th, 2011 firearms auction and they indicate that the market is stronger than ever.

Some extraordinary record prices scattered across a vast array of firearms niches, together with an ever-increasing number of bidders returning to the chase with a renewed enthusiasm and excitement, all bode well for the firearms collecting world.

The low estimate of everything sold was a tad over $7m and the total realized was just under $10m. But despite record prices and a number of strong very healthy prices and lots of enthusiasm, there were still plenty of bargains and for serious collectors this is an excellent time to be expanding on their collection(s).

Some highlights of the sale were lot 2034, the engraved and gold inlaid 73 deluxe Winchester, estimated at $50,000-$100,000 which, after a furious bidding battle, ended up at $391,000.

The Immortal Ernest Hemingway's Westley Richards

A set of three, gold-inlaid Kornbrath engraved Colt single actions, estimated at $300,000-$450,000 realised $345,000.

As we've mentioned, the much touted Westley Richards .577NE which had belonged to renowned author Ernest Hemingway, carried a presale estimate of $150,000-$200,000 and went out at just under $340,000.

Watch this space for more results from this exciting sale.