NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2013 Nov 17 @ 18:00UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
All items are as is, no warranty or claims and All SALES ARE FINAL. Please examine prior to bidding as it is the bidder's responsibilty to establish condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factors.
Historically important Russian 1804-dated bronze violentos three pounder or “Unicorn Cannon” integrally associated with the early settlement of California. The barrel itself is approx. 40” overall in length with a 6-1/4” diameter at the muzzle and a bore diameter of slightly over 3”; the date “1804” is cast into the barrel as is the Cyrillic lettering “CAHKIZIIETEPHYPIZ” below the date; on the end of the barrel’s right swivel arm is the marking “No. 7”, and on the end of the left swivel arm is “6 25”; the bronze has developed a dark patina from years of fortunately not being cleaned or polished. The wooden carriage upon which the barrel rests appears to be constructed of oak and is approx. 29” long, 11-1/2” wide and 17” in height at its front “stepped” shoulder; the wheels are also made of wood, there are two large iron rings at the rear of the carriage and a smaller iron ring on each side of the carriage; the barrel’s swivel “arms” are secured to the carriage by iron yolks bolted to the carriage. To appreciate the history of this cannon, a larger perspective needs to be briefly related. Although the Spanish had long laid claim to upper (Alta) California, in 1812 hundreds of Russians arrived at Bodega Bay from their port in Sitka, Alaska (then part of Russia) north of the San Francisco Presidio to establish a harbor for commerce. There they built Fort Ross and an uneasy truce existed between the two entities (with the Americans in the middle) for the next 30 years. Fort Ross was equipped with a variety of ordinance including several “Unicorn Cannons”. In 1839, the Russians decided to vacate the Fort and sold it to John Sutter who along with the Fort and the land, obtained lots of equipment including two bronze violentos three pounders that had been housed at Ross at the entrance to the administration building; the types of which were cast in St. Petersburg in 1804, had been distributed throughout the Russian Empire and became known as the “Unicorn gun” due to the spike shape of the cascabel knob. Sutter left one gun at Fort Ross and moved the other to his Fort near Sacramento. The original Ross gun’s location has been lost to time; Sutter’s gun eventually made it to San Francisco where it was displayed by The California Society of Pioneers until it was lost in the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. Now enters the story of “No. 7”. In 1869, Captain Gustave Neibaum was a sea captain who sailed the west coast to Sitka. On one of his trips he acquired two of the Russian 1804 Unicorn Guns; upon retirement, he bought the famous Inglenook Winery in Napa Valley, Calif. and kept the cannons there until his death. Later when his estate decided to sell the cannons, they went to the Alameda Gun Room where there was talk that they might be returned to Russian, then under the Soviet Union’s control. Our late friend, whose trust has consigned his collection to auction at his direction, would have none of that and promptly bought both cannons (No.’s 7 & 13) to keep them in the U.S. In case you’re wondering, as was the wish of our late friend, Unicorn gun No. 13 is currently on loan to Fort Ross, making full circle the presence of a Unicorn gun standing guard at the old Fort 200 years after the first guns arrived to support the original founders of the settlement. An artifact of significant Western American history suitable for any major museum or private collection. Est.: $50,000-$100,000.
Auction Location:
1201 W Katella Ave, Orange, California, 92867, United States
Previewing Details:
Preview at Little John's Auction Service 1201 W Katella Ave? Orange, CA 92867 Tuesday thru Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
California residents must pay 8% sales tax.
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| Tax |
8% |
California Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
19% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Buyer pays all packing, handling, shipping costs.International buyers pay all fees including exporter, duty and custom fees. We ship Federal Express, we can not ship to PO Boxes. Post 1898 firearms must be shipped to a Federal Firearms Licensee in your place of residence. All Federal, State and Local Regulations apply and MUST be strictly followed.
Payment Details:
We accept American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Discover. If prior arrangements made with Little John's Auction Service we may accept cashier's check, wire transfer, money order. California residents must pay 8% sales tax.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- AMEX
- Discover
- Money Order/Bank Draft
All payments are due at the fall of the hammer unless otherwise specified. Please be aware of this, most likely the credit card used during the registration process will be charged for the purchases, buyer premium and any other applicable fees. Late payments are subject to fees and penalties at the discretion of the Auction House. Be aware that invoice delinquency WILL lead to disabling of a bidder account and making all bidding unavailable on icollector. Payments unpaid or late will result in the account being sent to a collections agency. This can affect your overall credit scores up to 7 years. your bidder registration has been researched before approval for bidding at auction. The card provided on file was verified for identity purposes prior to approval. lastly, chargeback's will not be accepted for any reason or on any purchase thru icollector. no exceptions. All property is sold "AS IS" and ALL SALES ARE FINAL. It is the Bidder's responsibility to determine condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factor. Little John's Auction Service may attempt to describe the merchandise in advertising, on the internet adn at the auction but makes no representations. In no event shall Little John's Auction Service be held responsible for having made or implied any warranty of merchandise or fitness for a particular purpose. Bidder shall be the sole judge of value. Bidders who bid fro off site and are not present at the live auction or preview understand and acknowledge that they may not be able to inspect an item as well as if they examined it in person. It is the Bidder's responsibility to determine condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factor. Little John's Auction Service shall endeavor to describe in detail each item and any pertinent information about it. Little John's Auction Service will not be responsible for any error or omissions in the description of the merchandise unless it is a material and intentional misrepresentation of the item itself. Bidder agrees that everything is sold as is and that they may not return any item they purchase. Little John's Auction Service is providing internet bidding as a service to Bidder. Bidder acknowledges and understands that this service may or may not function correctly. Under no circumstances shall Bidders have any claim against Little John's Auction Service or anyone else if the internet service fails to work correctly before or during the auction. Little John's Auction Service will not be responsible for any missed bids from any source. Internet bidders who desire to make certain their bids are acknowledged should use the proxy-bidder feature and leave their maximum bids before the auction begins. Little John's Auction Service reserves the right to withdraw or re-catalog items in this auction. Bidder agrees to be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Sale as listed. Biddger agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Little Johns' Auction Service from any loss, damage, error and/or omission that occurs during the auction as it pertains to the internet bidding process. If successful the final purchase price will be the sum of the final bid and the internet Buyer's premium plus any and all taxes due on the purchase. Payment must be made within 24 hours of the auction date. If any payment other than credit card is used, prior arrangements must be made before the auction date. Unpaid balances will be subject ot late fees and interest. Bidder & Little John's Auction Service agree to mediate any dispute or claim arising between them out of this auction and any resulting transaction before reporting to arbitration or other action. Mediation fees if any shall be divided between the parties. Any fees or charges from attorney will be paid by the initiating party.