1166
Rare Morrill, Mosman and Blair Elgin's Patent Cutlass Pistol with Sheath
Currency:USD
Category:Firearms & Military
Start Price:4,250.00 USD
Estimated At:8,500.00 - 14,000.00 USD
SOLD
6,500.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2012 Sep 08 @ 10:43UTC-5 : EST/CDT
Did you win this lot?
A full invoice should be emailed to the winner by the auctioneer within a day or two.
Estimate: $8500 - 14000
Rare example of a large size percussion cutlass pistol that was manufactured by Henry Morrill, Silas Mosman and Charles Blair of Amherst, Massachusetts, c. 1837. This unique weapon combines a box-lock percussion pistol with a Bowie type knife blade. The pistol is similar in design but slightly smaller than the U.S. Navy Elgin Cutlass Pistol manufactured by C.B. Allen of Springfield, Massachusetts, for the Wilkes South Sea Exploring Expedition. The 9 inch Bowie type blade is incorporated into the trigger guard. The blade is believed to have been manufactured by the famous cutler N.P. Ames and is decorated with elaborate acid etching and dry needle engraving. The obverse of the blade features an eagle with a ribbon inscribed "LIBERTY" in its beak topped 14 stars and a sunburst. "Elgin's Patent" is etched in a panel below the eagle and a bowl of fruit surrounded by floral sprays is etched at the base of the blade. The reverse of the blade has similar etched decorations with "Morrill, Mosman/& Blair/Amherst Mass." etched in three lines in a central panel surrounded by delicate floral sprays. The etching is high quality and very detailed. The pistol has a round .34 caliber rifled barrel with rudimentary iron front sight blade. The box-lock receiver has a fixed rear sight and extended iron straps with a walnut flat sided one-piece bag-shaped grip. The serial number, "104" is stamped on the underside of the receiver behind the trigger guard. There are no other visible markings on the barrel or receiver. The pistol is complete with the very rarely encountered black leather form-fitted sheath.
BBL: 4 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 36 percussion
Finish: bright
Grips: tiger stripe maple
Serial Number: 104
Condition: Very good plus. The highly decorated fine original blade has scattered patches of age discoloration and pitting. The etching is lightly worn but very clear. The pistol barrel, receiver and hammer have been cleaned and have patches of shallow pitting and age discoloration. The pitting is heaviest on the receiver, hammer and grip straps. The screw heads are battered. The percussion nipple is split in half. The hammer is loose but the action is functional. The nicely figured grip is in very fine overall condition. The sheath is in fair condition. The metal throat and tip are missing with the tip having been replaced by a crude leather tip that was added during the working life of the pistol. Most of the finish is missing from the sheath body. Large Morrill, Mossman & Blair Cutlass Pistols are rare and desirable firearms that are seldom encountered with the original leather sheaths for the Bowie blades. This is a solid example of a very rare pistol that is seldom available to the public.
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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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