SOLD
13,000.00USD+ (2,535.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2010 May 01 @ 12:17UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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This is an extremely rare example of an Elgin Cutlass Pistol made by Henry Morrill, Silas Mosman and Charles Blair in 1837-38. The Elgin Cutlass Pistol was patented by George Elgin of Macon, Georgia, in 1837. The unique design combined a box-lock percussion pistol with a Bowie type knife. The Elgin Cutlass Pistols were equipped with a distinctive form-fitted black leather scabbard with a metal throat. The U.S. Navy contracted for 150 Elgin Cutlass Pistols to arm the Wilkes South Seas Exploring Expedition in 1837. The Wilkes Expedition pistols were made by Cyrus B. Allen and N.P. Ames manufactured the blades. Apparently spurred by the Navy order, the firm of Morrill, Mossman and Blair was established to manufacture Elgin Cutlass Pistols in August 1837. Silas Mosman previously worked as an engraver for N.P. Ames and subsequently returned to work for that firm in July, 1838. In contrast to the Navy Cutlass pistols manufactured by N.P. Ames and Cyrus Allen; Morrill, Mosman and Blair manufactured both the pistol and the Bowie blade. This pistol has a round four inch .34 caliber rifled barrel with brass front sight blade. The top of the barrel is stamped "CAST STEEL". The box-lock action has a rudimentary rear sight and is fitted with a walnut bag-shaped grip. The hammer, sides of the lock and the receiver tang are decorated with floral engraving. The Bowie type blade has an integral spur trigger guard and is approximately 10 5/8 inches long. The blade has acid etched panels with dry needle engraving. The obverse features a vase with flowers, the legend "Elgin's Patent" and an eagle clutching three arrows with a ribbon engraved "Freedom" in its beak. The eagle is surrounded by seventeen five-pointed stars and a dry etched floral border. The reverse side of the blade is etched with a vase and flowers and the legend "Morrell Mosman/ & Blai r/ Amherst Mass" below an eagle with a ribbon engraved "Liberty" in its beak surmounted by seventeen stars and a dry-etched floral border. The eagle motif is very similar to the eagle engraved by Silas Mosman on the Ames pattern 1833 Dragoon Officer's Saber. The pistol is complete with the very rarely encountered black leather scabbard. The scabbard has a German silver throat with a frog stud on the right side. The left side of the scabbard is inscribed "Dr. J. Mauran/to/Geo. W. Steinhauer/June 14th, 1848". Dr. Joseph Mauran was a Providence, Rhode Island, physician who was twice elected president of the Rhode Island Medical Society. George Steinhauer was a prominent Providence businessman. This may be the only inscribed presentation Elgin Cutlass Pistol in existence.
BBL: 4 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 34
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: NSN
Fine. The pistol and the upper one-third of the blade have an even medium brown patina. There is some minor flash pitting on the percussion nipple, bolster and adjacent portions of the lock and the remainder of the metal surfaces are smooth. The engraving on the lock, hammer and backstrap is crisp. The walnut grip retains about 60% of the original varnish. The tip of the blade is broken but the blade remains in very good condition. The delicate acid etched panels and dry needle engraving are quite clear with excellent detail. The forward six inches of the blade have a darker patina then the pistol and the rear of the blade. The forward portion of the blade has a mottled finish with some very minor pitting on the back edge. The lighter patina on the pistol and upper blade is apparently the result of the pistol being stored with the blade and barrel partially out of the scabbard. The delicate black leather scabbard remains in outstanding condition. The scabbard has scattered age cracks with some minor flaking; the most noticeable wear is a small split in the bottom seam near the throat. The scabbard is solid; the few remaining 170 year-old Elgin Pistol scabbards are usually in relic condition. The scabbard throat is in excellent condition with an attractive un-polished, patina and crisp engraving. This is an outstanding example of a rare Elgin Cutlass Pistol with inscribed scabbard.
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.
3. Auction sales are strictly for cash, cashier’s check or checks (with prior approval of the management), MasterCard, Visa or Discover. NOTE TO FOREIGN BUYERS: Method of payment will be U.S. currency or certified check drawn on an American bank.
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.
5. We reserve the right to withdraw any property prior to sale.
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8. All property offered for sale is as is, where is. Rock Island Auction does not guarantee or make warranties on any lot sold. The bold headline description is the only written statement Rock Island Auction Company will guarantee as correct. Descriptions in the catalog are opinion. They are written as an aid to potential bidders. We acknowledge that there may be errors in what is written beyond the bold headline description. We strongly recommend you personally view any item you bid on or have an acknowledged expert view the item. Statements starting with the word condition are opinions, not statement of fact or guarantees. If a dispute about a lot arises it is the buyers responsibility to provide a written statement by an acknowledged qualified expert within 30 days of the auction that the bold headline is in fact incorrect. If the experts statement is indeed correct Rock Island Auction Company will make a full refund upon return of merchandise. Providing the merchandise is returned in the same condition it was received. We must again reiterate the guaranteed statement is only on the bold headline description. Rock Island Auction Company will only honor this guarantee within 30 days of an Auction. Rock Island Auction Company will have no further obligation including no refunds or returns will be accepted if the above conditions are not met. Items offered for sale as described in the catalog or any bill of sale, advertisement, addendum sheet, or elsewhere as to authorship, period, culture, source, origin, measurement, quality, rarity, provenance, importance, exhibition, physical condition are qualified statements of opinion and not representations or warranties. No employee of Rock Island Auction Company is authorized to make on our behalf or that of the consignor, any representation or warranty, oral or written, with respect to any property.
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10. Some items in this auction may be subject to reserve (the confidential minimum price below which the lot will not be sold). If a lot is offered with a reserve, we may implement that reserve by bidding on behalf of the consignor. This bidding will not constitute opening bidding. If no opening bid is received we will pass the item. However once bidding is opened we will bid on behalf of the consignor to reach the reserve price. Nominal bids – the auctioneer may reject nominal bids, small opening bids or very nominal advances made with the purpose of disparaging an item. If a lot fails to achieve a bid equal to or exceeding 25 - 30% of the low estimate, the item may be passed and not sold and may not be re-offered until a later sale. If we have an interest in an offered lot and the proceeds there from other than our commission, we may bid therefore to protect such interest. Items which are not reserved are sold at the auctioneer’s discretion.
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12. As a service to anyone wishing to place bids in advance of the sale we may accept bids at our own discretion by telephone or sealed bid using the forms we provide. A Sealed Bid must be received and credit approved in advance of sale date. It is the Bidders responsibility to establish credit before bidding, or we will accept a 15% deposit in the amount of the total bids. (Deposits will be returned within ten (10) days after sale, if not successful). A Sealed Bid form is enclosed in the back of the catalog. Bids may also be faxed to (309)797-1655. Additionally on-line bidding is available on our website. We assume no responsibility for failure to execute telephone or sealed bids for any reason whatsoever.
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14. All post - 1898 firearms must be registered in compliance with Federal and Illinois State Law. Buyers of post - 1898 firearms must complete state and federal registrations forms at Rock Island Auction Company, 4507 49th Avenue, Moline, Illinois 61265, unless otherwise specified. A 3-day waiting period is mandatory for modern handguns, a 24-hour waiting period on modern longarms. Dealers and out-of-state buyers must have in their possession on the day of sale, signed copies of their Federal Firearms License in order to accept same-day delivery of modern weapons. Buyers who act as agents for FFL dealers must have a letter of agency as well as an original signed copy of the dealers Federal Firearms License (FFL).
15. All firearms designated as Class 3 must be registered in compliance with the NFA registry. A $200 federal tax payment is required each time a functional NFA firearm is transferred to or from a private owner. This fee as well as full purchase payment is due at time of purchase in order to process the paperwork. The new owner of the Class 3 firearm will be required to complete 3 forms - 1) ATF Form 4, 2) fingerprint card, 3) ATF form 5330.20 Certificate of Compliance. These forms will be provided to you by Rock Island Auction Company. Note: if state of local law requires a permit or license to purchase, possess, or receive NFA firearms, a copy of the transferee's (buyer) permit or license must accompany the application. Rock Island Auction Company then mails the paperwork for the Federal Transfer Tax to BATFE. The BATFE says that it can take up to 90 days for approval. We will receive back one of the Form 4's (they are sent in duplicate) with a Federal Tax Stamp attached to it. This is given to the new owner when he/she picks up the NFA firearm. No further tax is due. The following states do not allow individuals to own machine guns: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island. SPECIAL NOTE: If you are an SOT (Special Occupation Tax) payer (Class 3 dealer) you are able to transfer functional NFA firearms to or from other SOT payers and government agencies with BATFE approval, but without having to pay a transfer tax.
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19. Limitation of Liability. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED ABOVE, ALL PROPERTY IS SOLD “AS IS”. ROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANY NOR THE CONSIGNOR MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS OR CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY OR AS TO THE CORRECTNESS OF DESCRIPTION, GENUINENESS, ATTRIBUTION, PROVENANCE OR PERIOD OF THE PROPERTY OR AS TO WHETHER THE PURCHASER ACQUIRES ANY COPYRIGHTS OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN LOTS SOLD OR AS TO WHETHER A WORK OF ART IS SUBJECT TO THE ARTIST’S MORAL RIGHTS OR OTHER RESIDUAL RIGHTS OF THE ARTIST. ALL FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ARE SOLD AS COLLECTOR LOTS ONLY. FITNESS TO FIRE OR OTHERWISE DISCHARGE THE ARM OR AMMUNITION IS EXPRESSLY DENIED BY ROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANY. A COMPETENT GUNSMITH SHOULD BE CONSULTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO USE OR FIRE ANY FIREARM OR AMMUNITION. THE PURCHASER EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IN NO EVENT SHALL ROCK ISLAND AUCTION COMPANY BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY COMPENSATORY, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.