1280
Extraordinary Marston, Superposed Three Barrel, Retractable Knife Blade Deringer Exhibition Quality
Currency:USD
Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory
Start Price:15,000.00 USD
Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
SOLD
20,000.00USD+ (3,900.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2010 May 01 @ 12:29UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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A full invoice should be emailed to the winner by the auctioneer within a day or two.
Rare and unique exhibition quality engraved, Marston superposed three-barrel deringer with retractable knife blade. This pistol was engraved and signed by Master Engraver Louis Daniel Nimschke. (The consignor states that this pistol was originally in Nimschke's personal possessions), and was recently sold at public auction by his present day heirs. William Marston of New York City manufactured an estimated 400 three barrel deringer pistols with retractable knife blades between 1858 and 1864. The pistols had a silver-plated brass frame, blued superposed barrels and two-piece walnut grips. Some of the deringers, such as this example, were elaborately engraved. The pistol has a three-inch, spear-point blade on the left side of the barrel that locks in place with a spring clip. A round firing indicator is located on the right side of the frame. The pistol has a casehardened hammer with knurled spur. The left side of the frame is engraved: "Wm W. MARSTON/PATENTED/MAY 20. 1857/NEW YORK CITY" in three lines. The serial number, "1063" is stamped on the left side of the butt underneath the grip and on the left side of the barrel beneath the knife blade. The diminutive pistol is elaborately engraved and signed "N" by Louis Nimschke on the inside of the grip strap. The pistol has Nimschke's American style scroll engraving on the frame, barrel latch, butt, backstrap and grip strap and on the barrel top breech and muzzle. The frame engraving has a stippled background and the barrel and barrel latch engraving has a punch-dot background. The top of the barrel latch is decorated with a United States shield motif. The left side of the frame features a winged, fire breathing dragon and a serpent. The right side of the frame is decorated with a rampant wolf. The barrel muzzles have wavy lined borders. A panel with wavy lines and dots surrounds the brass front sight. Wavy line and dot borders surround the frame engraving. The screw heads are decorated with floral designs. L.D. Nimschke was a prolific engraver who executed custom engraving on over 100 different makes of firearms. However, only about 35% of the arms in Nimschke's record book have some form of his signature: usually "N", "LN" or "LDN". The consignor states that this pistol was not only engraved and signed by Nimschke but was his personal firearm, (this was stated by the family at the time of sale). This deringer is pictured in "The Deringer in America" Volume II, by Wilson & Eberhart on page 107. It is pictured with 2 other guns which were also owned by Nimschke and were sold by the family at the same public auction.
BBL: 3 Inch
Stock:
Gauge: 22 RF
Finish: silverplated
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 1063
Fine. The three shot, superposed, barrel, knife blade and barrel latch have a smooth, silver-gray patina. The barrel and barrel latch engraving is crisp. The brass frame has a mellow, un-polished patina. The engraved surfaces have some handling wear but the engraving is deep and clear. The walnut grips are in very good condition with traces of the original varnish finish. This is a rare example of a Marston, Three-Barrel, Knife-Blade, Deringer engraved and signed by one of the finest 19th Century American firearms engravers.
Auction Location:
4507 49th Avenue, Moline, Illinois, 62165-7578, United States
Previewing Details:
Preview: Open to the public Thursday, April 29th from 10 AM to 6 PM Friday, April 30th from 8 AM to 10 AM Saturday, May 1st from 8 AM to 10 AM Sunday, May 2nd from 8 AM to 10 AM
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
19.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Please contact the auction house for the preferred shipper’s contact information
Payment Details:
Payment Information: Auction sales are strictly for cash, cashier’s check or checks (with prior approval of the management), MasterCard, Visa or Discover. NOTE TO ALL BUYERS: Method of payment will be U.S. currency or certified check drawn on an American bank. All sales are final at the fall of the Auctioneer's hammer. Buyer’s Premium: All bid prices “hammer prices” (means the price at which a lot is knocked down to the purchaser) will be subject to a buyer’s premium payable by the purchaser of 19.5% of the bid price. There is a 2.5% discount for payment with cash, approved check or wire transfer. The premium is added to your successful bid and the two together equal the total purchase price. At the announcement of “SOLD”, the highest bidder will have purchased the offered lot. This purchase is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein. The purchaser assumes full responsibility thereof and if requested will sign a confirmation of the purchase. The purchaser further agrees to pay the purchase price, buyer’s premium and any applicable taxes before any lot may be transferred. All items purchased by successful bidders must be paid for in full the day of sale. All items purchased by absentee bidders must be paid for in full immediately upon notification.
1. The following conditions of sale make up the entire terms and conditions on which items listed in our catalog and addendum sheets will be offered for sale or sold by Rock Island Auction Company (known hereafter as "RIAC") and any client for whom we act as an agent. Any notices, posted or oral during the sale, are also part of our condition of sale agreement. These are the conditions of the sale. Acceptance of a bidder card constitutes acceptance of the following terms and conditions. The purchasers rights and our respective rights and obligations hereunder are governed by Illinois law. By bidding at our auction whether in person or by agent, sealed bid, telephone bid or other means, the buyer or bidder agrees that the contract created by these conditions of sale is made and performed in the County of Rock Island, State of Illinois.
2. All bid prices “hammer prices” (means the price at which a lot is knocked down to the purchaser) will be subject to a buyer’s premium 19.5% payable by the purchaser. The buyer’s premium shall be reduced to 17% provided the payment is paid by cash or the equivalent of cash (cashier’s check, wire transfer, or approved personal check). If the account is settled by credit card, the buyer’s premium then shall be the standard 19.5%. This is not an aggregate percentage on the total items bid rather a per item percentage rate. The premium is added to your successful bid and the two together equal the total purchase price. Some items are exempt from Illinois sales tax and others may be subject to Illinois sales tax or local sales tax. The tax is computed on the total purchase price. To establish a tax free sale, a copy of a valid resellers permit or other instrument of information must be provided to our satisfaction establishing a sales tax exemption. Any purchaser claiming an exemption yet unable to provide proof will be required to pay the tax to us and seek a refund from the State of Illinois. Generally, all items shipped out of state are tax free sales. We have been authorized by the consignor to retain as part of our remuneration, the buyer’s premium payable by the purchaser.
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4. At the announcement of “SOLD”, the highest bidder will have purchased the offered lot. All sales are final at the fall of the Auctioneer’s hammer or at the announcement of "sold". This purchase is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein. The purchaser assumes full responsibility thereof and if requested will sign a confirmation of the purchase. The purchaser further agrees to pay the purchase price, buyer’s premium and any applicable taxes. All items purchased by successful bidders must be paid for in full the day of sale. All property must be removed from our premises at the purchaser’s expense no later than 5:00 p.m. five days following the date of sale unless otherwise agreed. If the property is not removed, it may be transferred to a public warehouse for the purchaser at the purchaser’s risk and expense. Each purchaser at this auction grants us a security in the property purchased. We may retain as collateral security for the purchaser’s obligations to us any of the purchaser’s property and all monies held or received by us. We may apply against such obligations monies held or received by us for the account of, or owing to, the purchaser. We retain all rights of a secured party under the Illinois Commercial Code. Whenever the purchaser pays only a part of the total price for one or more lots purchased, we may apply such payments, at our sole discretion, to the lot or lots we choose. Payment will not be deemed made in full until we have collected all amounts due in cash on good funds (by our definition). If the conditions of sale are not complied with, in addition to remedies available to us and the consignor by law, we hold the purchaser liable for the purchase price, 19.5% buyers premium, and applicable sales tax, we at our option may either (1) cancel the sale, retain as liquidated damages all payments made by the purchaser or (2) resell the property either publicly or privately, and in such an event the purchaser shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency plus all costs and expenses of both sales and our commission at our standard rates. The purchaser is also responsible for all other charges due hereunder attorney’s fees and incidental damages, etc.
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