1139
Unique Experimental Merrill Side-Hammer, Breech Loading Pistol
Currency:USD
Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory
Start Price:4,500.00 USD
Estimated At:9,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
SOLD
8,500.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2010 Dec 04 @ 11:29UTC-6 : CST/MDT
Did you win this lot?
A full invoice should be emailed to the winner by the auctioneer within a day or two.
This U.S. Military Trails percussion pistol has the same general overall configuration as the Springfield Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine. The pistol has a flush-fitting, back lock plate with percussion side hammer as on a Jenks mule ear carbine and the same breech loading mechanism used on Merrill Carbines. The top of the breechblock has an oval sighting notch. A knurled, spring-loaded, release is mounted below the notch. The round, smooth bore, barrel has a dovetail mounted brass front sight blade and block mounted, folding rear sight. The pistol has a screw-fastened brass barrel band and brass trigger guard with iron finial. The iron backstrap is notched to accept a Model 1855 type attachable stock. The brass buttcap has an iron sling ring. The buttcap and sling ring are identical to those on the Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine. The pistol has a walnut ramrod with brass tip. The top of the breechblock is hand engraved: "J.H. MERRILL/PATENTED" in two lines. The markings are faint and barely legible.
BBL: 10 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 54 percussion
Finish: brown
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Good. The barrel has a dark patina with scattered patches of age discoloration and shallow dents and scratches. The back lock and side hammer have a dark patina and with moderate to heavy flash pitting on the hammer. The breechblock, backstrap and iron trigger guard finial have a dark patina. The top of the breechblock has been filed or sanded and the engraved markings have been almost obliterated. The brass barrel band, trigger guard and buttcap have a mellow age patina. The ramrod is a modern replacement. The stock is covered with old varnish and is in fair condition. There are two deep, un-repaired cracks in the grip. The upper crack is on the right side and extends from the lock plate to the backstrap. The lower crack runs completely thru the grip. The back of the grip has indentations that show it was fitted with a Model 1855 Pistol Carbine attachable stock. This is a unique and possibly one-of-a-kind Merrill breechloading, side hammer, Pistol-Carbine. Writer has never seen another example!
Auction Location:
4507 49th Avenue, Moline, Illinois, 62165-7578, United States
Previewing Details:
December 2nd - 10:00 am to 6:00 PM
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.
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2. BUYER'S PREMIUM AND SALES TAX. 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 17.5% payable by the purchaser. The buyer’s premium shall be reduced to 15% 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 17.5%. 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 reseller's 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. TERMS OF PAYMENT. 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, 15% 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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20. DISPUTES UNDER THIS CONTRACT
Buyer and RIAC agree to mediate any dispute or claim arising between them resulting from the buyer participating in the auction or any resulting transaction. Furthermore the buyer and RIAC agree should Mediation be necessary that Mediation fees if any will borne equally by the parties. Buyer and RIAC are required under the terms and condition of sale to enter into Mediation before arbitration or any court action. Should a party commence legal action other than Mediation without giving written notice to the other party that party will not be entitled to recover attorney’s fees even if they would otherwise be allowed to that party in the action. All mediation, arbitration and court proceedings, whether in state or federal court, shall be filed and conducted solely within Rock Island County, State of Illinois, and not in any other jurisdiction.
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21. 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.