1180
Exceptional, As Issued, U.S. Model 1841 "Mississippi" Percussion Rifle with Buff Sling
Currency:USD
Category:Firearms & Military
Start Price:9,000.00 USD
Estimated At:22,500.00 - 35,000.00 USD
SOLD
22,500.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2012 Sep 08 @ 10:49UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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A full invoice should be emailed to the winner by the auctioneer within a day or two.
Estimate: $22500 - 35000
This is an extraordinary example of a U.S. contract Model 1841 rifle that was manufactured by Eli Whitney at the Whitneyville Armory in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1850. The rifle is in the original .54 caliber round ball configuration and has none of the alterations performed on most Model 1841 rifles prior to or during the Civil War. The rifle has a color casehardened lock plate and hammer with browned barrel. The trigger, screw heads, and band springs have a fiery niter blue finish. The buttplate, patch box, trigger guard, side plate and barrel bands are brass. The rifle has the distinctive over-sized brass patch box. The barrel has a half-moon shaped brass blade and a fixed rear sight. The steel ramrod has a flared brass tip. The rifle is complete with a rare white buff sling. The patch box contains a spare percussion nipple. The lock plate is roll-stamped "N.HAVEN/1850" in two vertical lines behind the hammer and "E. WHITNEY/US" in two lines ahead of the hammer. "US" is stamped on the heel of the buttplate. The barrel tang is dated "1850". The top of the barrel is stamped with the proof and inspection marks "US/GW/V P" perpendicular to the axis of the bore. "STEEL" and the small Ordnance sub-inspection mark "JH" are stamped on the left barrel flat. The left stock flat is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "WAT" within an oval border and the Ordnance Sub-Inspector's script initials "GW" in an oval border. A small "W" Ordnance sub-inspection mark is stamped on the ramrod tip, upper barrel band, side plate, trigger guard, patch box and buttplate. The Model 1841 rifle was considered to be the best designed and most handsome of all U.S. percussion longarms. It gained fame during the Mexican War when the 1st Mississippi Rifles commanded by Colonel Jefferson Davis and armed with Model 1841 Rifles played a key role in the U.S. victory at Buena Vista. Initially issued to light infantry and the U.S. Mounted Rifle Regiment, Model 1841 Rifles saw wide use with both the Federal and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Most Model 1841 Rifles were altered to .58 caliber, to accept bayonets or fitted with long range sights prior to and during the Civil War. Unaltered Model 1841 Rifles in the original Mexican War configuration are scarce.
BBL: 33 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 54 percussion
Finish: brown/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: nsn
Condition: Excellent plus. The rifle is as issued and un-fired and shows only storage wear. The barrel retains 98% plus of the deep brown finish and has crisp markings and bright bore. There is no wear on the percussion nipple, bolster or adjacent areas of the lock and barrel. The lock plate and hammer retain more than 98% of the color casehardened finish with vivid case colors. The brass patch box and furniture have a deep, un-touched patina and appear to have never been polished. The barrel and lock markings and single letter Ordnance inspection marks are crisp. The stock is in excellent condition with un-handled, raised, 'feathered' grain. The "WAT" final inspection mark on the left flat is extremely crisp and "GW" sub-inspection mark is sharp. The scarce white buff sling is in near new condition with legible makers and Ordnance inspection marks. This is an exceptional example of a Mexican War configuration Model 1841 "Mississippi". Because of the wide usage these rifle received before and during the Civil War, new condition rifles like this example are very rare. This is the best example of a Model 1841 "Mississippi" Rifle ever offered for sale by the Rock Island Auction Company and is one of the very best examples of its type extant. This museum quality Model 1841 Rifle would be the center-piece of any U.S. martial arms collection.
More Information
Auction Location:
7819 42nd St West, Rock Island, Illinois, 61201, United States
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20.5% |
Additional Fees:
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1. TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE. The following conditions of sale make up the entire terms and conditions on which items listed in our catalog, on the internet web site and addendum sheets will be offered for sale or sold by Rock Island Auction Company (known hereafter as “RIAC”). All bidders who participate by bidding in this auction agree to the terms and condition of sale and agree to be bound by same. Any notices, posted or oral during the sale, are also part of our condition of sale agreement. Acceptance of a bidder card or a bidder number constitutes acceptance of the following terms and conditions of sale. The purchaser’s 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, via the internet or other means, the buyer or bidder agree that the contract created by these conditions of sale is made and performed in the County of Rock Island, State of Illinois and further agrees that should any dispute arise from this contract the sole and exclusive jurisdiction for contractual disputes is Rock Island County. Auctioneer is not responsible for any errors of the buyer including but not limited to the buyer bidding on the wrong lot.
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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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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.
3/14/2012 8:56:55 AM