SOLD
11,000.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2012 Sep 08 @ 09:13UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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Estimate: $9500 - 16000
Predecessor to the more frequently encountered brass frame "volcanic", this is a rare example of the 8 inch 38 caliber "lever action magazine pistol" manufactured by Smith & Wesson Repeating Arms Company which began manufacturing in 1854. The company would be reorganized a year later, 1855, as the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company and the rest is history. Smith & Wesson focused their efforts to design and produce a pistol that could fire the self contained metallic cartridge using Rollin Whites bored through cylinder. While the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company would become the subsequent birth of the Winchester Repeating Rifle Company. Relatively little information is known about the total number produced though some estimates suggest as few as 500. The pistol has a half-round/half-octagon barrel with front-loading integral magazine. The pistol has an iron frame and loading lever with round ring hole and attached spur. The two-piece grips are rosewood with flat bottoms and a varnish finish. The barrel has a pinched steel front sight blade. The rear sight is an old replacement. The sides of the receiver are decorated in the typical volcanic pattern with large open scroll engraving and the top of the receiver features an engraved leaf motif. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the legend: "SMITH & WESSON/CAST STEEL NORWICH CT PATENT". The serial number, "51" , is stamped on the lower left side of the frame underneath the grip.
BBL: 8 inch part octagon
Stock:
Gauge: 38
Finish: blue/brown
Grips: rosewood
Serial Number: 51
Condition: Fair. The barrel is mostly a mottled gray patina with patches of scattered pin prick type pitting down the length. The frame is now a gray patina exhibiting some surface wear and overall shallow pin prick pitting. The top of the frame and upper tang particularly around the hammer show evidence of an old but professional repair with some artificial brown applied. The left side plate exhibits a very tiny weld spot. The engraving remains good. The original grips are fair having been cleaned and revarnished some time ago, the left grip has an old repair at the heal. These large frame lever action magazine pistols are extremely scarce and represent an extremely significant period in the manufacture and development of the firearm as well as ammunition during the mid 19th century.
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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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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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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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.
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DISPUTES UNDER THIS CONTRACT
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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