Rock Island Auction Premiere Firearms Sale of the Decade
by Rock Island Auction Company
904 lots with images
2012
Viewing NotesPreview will be held 4/19/12, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm central.
Lot 1: Magnificent Exhibition Quality Gold Finished Russian Tula Arsenal Attributed Flintlock Pistol
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Description: According to information provided by the consignor, this arm was the product of Russia's Tula Arsenal. Established by order of Tsar Peter the First in 1712, Tula was Imperial Russia's first state armory, established to take advantage of the pre-existing private gunsmithing industry and readily available raw materials in the city of Tula. In addition to supplying martial arms, Tula was deeply connected to the Russian nobility, and no doubt would have been the prime source of high end custom weaponry, such as this example. Equipped with a blade front sight and notch rear sight, the former an integral part of the 3/4 inch wide gold barrel band, the latter part of the floral scroll engraved tang. The barrel itself shows a strong deep Damascus twist pattern with alternating bands of differing twist density, creating a spiral stripe pattern which emphasizes and draws out the twist designs, as well as a gold touchhole plug. Additional floral scroll engraving is present on the body of the hammer and the rear section of the lock plate, showing an array of flags and drums on the lock ahead of the hammer, finely sculpted and engraved flash pan fence and hinge, and a roller frizzen spring finished in a fiery niter blue. The stock is a finely checkered full length walnut, with raised teardrop flats on each side, scroll borders above and below the checkering, and extensive gold furnishing; the aforementioned barrel band bears a light border engraving on the topside, with a raised scale design leading to floral sections on the underside. The ramrod pipe is scroll engraved, a floral bouquet pattern is present on the trigger guard and finial, with the front section of the guard sculpted into a serpent clutching a feathered fan in its mouth, the reverse plate takes the form of a conjoined pair of bird's heads, and an array of feathers on an oval plate atop the wrist. The buttcap demands special attention, being a two piece assembly with a 3/20 inch ribbed iron panel serving as a base, upon which is mounted a 13/20 inch gold panel, which is decorated around the sides with a dot backed scroll pattern, and the bottom is nearly covered with a raised sculpted flower design. BBL: 6 3/4 inch round Stock: Gauge: 60 Finish: bright/gold Grips: walnut Serial Number: NSN Condition: Excellent plus. The bright components show a small amount of spotting, and the screws retain 60% of a fiery niter blue finish. A deep well aged patina is present on the silver butt component, and a few minimal handling marks are present on the gold. The ramrod is absent, otherwise the stock is excellent, with some pressure dents. Engraving quality of all components is superb with attractive line work and detail and the Damascus pattern is sharply defined. A superb demonstration of the Russian gunsmithing arts, as well as an artifact from one of the key arsenals of Imperial Russia.
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Lot 2: Cased Engraved Pair of Goddard & Co Vest Pocket Percussion Pistols with Accessories
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Description: This matching pair of percussion pistols feature a scroll engraved frame and fish head motif hammer. The left side is marked "Goddard & Co" and the right side is marked "London". The muzzle of the barrel has an engraved feather design. The bottom of the barrel and frame are marked with British proofs. Niter blue screw on barrel, folding trigger and hammer, and silver frame. The pistols are fitted with a one-piece finely checkered walnut grip with an engraved silver butt cap and initial/thumb oval. The pair are complete in a wooden case with decorative brass plaque on the lid and brown velvet lining. In the case is a flask, oiler, conical bullet mold and combination nipple/barrel wrench. BBL: 1 inch round Stock: Gauge: 22 Finish: blue/silver Grips: walnut Serial Number: NSN Condition: Fine as period refurbished. The barrel and trigger retain 95% refinished bright niter blue finish. The hammer retains most of the original niter blue finish, which has dulled a bit and has more of a flat blue appearance, and showing wear on the contact areas. The remaining German silver surfaces have dulled a bit with age. The grip is very fine with a few tiny nicks and crisp checkering. The engraving and markings are crisp and clear. The action is very good. The case is good with a slightly warped lid and showing a few minor scratches and dings. The lining is also very good with a heavily worn area on one wall from the flask spout and a small hole in the lining of the lid. The accessories are all very good. B) Described in "A". BBL: 1 inch round Stock: Gauge: 22 Finish: blue/silver Grips: walnut Serial Number: NSN Condition: Fine as period refurbished. The barrel, hammer and trigger retain 90% refinished bright niter blue finish with some thinning on the barrel and wear on the contact areas of the hammer and trigger. The remaining German silver parts have dulled a bit with age and there are a few small tool marks directly behind the barrel. The grip is very fine with a few tiny dings and crisp checkering. The engraving and markings are crisp and clear. The action is very good.
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Lot 3: Cased Engraved Pair of English Wilson Over/Under Swivel Breech Percussion Large Caliber Pistols
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Description: This is a fine matching pair of English percussion pistols in their original case. The pistols are completely casehardened and have light floral scroll and border engraving on the frame. The top flat of one barrel is marked "WILSON, LONDON" and there is a "crown/V" and "crown/GP" proof mark on the side flat of each barrel. The muzzle ends of the barrels are engraved with a feather design. Center mounted hammer, folding trigger and fitted with a finely checkered one-piece walnut grip with floral scroll engraved steel buttcap and cap compartment lid, and silver thumb oval. The pair is complete in the original walnut case with silver inlaid plaque on the lid and period relined green felt lining. The case has seven compartments, two with lids that have turned bone pulls. Included is a lacquer powder flask and iron bullet mold. BBL: 3 3/8 inch octagon Stock: Gauge: 48 bore Finish: casehardened Grips: walnut Serial Number: NSN Condition: Very fine. The pistol retains 60% of the original case colors, with a smooth gray on the balance. The grip is very fine with a few minor dings and bruises in the otherwise crisp checkering. The markings and engraving are crisp and clear. The action is fine. The case is very good with a few minor dents and scratches, overall moderate lining wear and a couple of small minor stains. The flask and mold are both very good. B) Described in "A". BBL: 3 3/8 inch octagon Stock: Gauge: 48 Finish: casehardened Grips: walnut Serial Number: NSN Condition: Very fine. The pistol retains 60% original case colors with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The grip is very fine with a few minor dings and crisp checkering. There is a bit of a space between the grip and frame. The engraving and markings are clear and crisp, The action is fine. A nice cased pair of English Over/Under percussion pistols.
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Lot 4: Magnificent Cased Pair of 19th Century, Ivory Stocked, Engraved, Gold-Inlaid Target Pistols Marked Damas Turc Fin with Ivory Accessories
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Description: Cased pair of 19th century European target pistols with carved ivory stocks and ivory mounted accessories. The pistol have rifled full-octagon damascene finished barrels. "DAMAS TURC FIN" is inlaid in gold on the tops of the barrels and a single gold band is inlaid on the top of each barrel ahead of the percussion nipple bolster. Each barrel has a dovetail mounted steel front sight. A fixed rear sight is mounted on the barrel tang. The trigger guards have a pronounced finger spur. An elaborate iron buttcap is fitted to each pistol butt. The bright finished barrel tang, hammer, lock plate, trigger guard and buttcap are decorated with intricate engraved scroll-work. The pistols are numbered "1" and "2" on each tang. The pistols have wedge fastened ivory stocks with fluted grips. The stocks have no provision for a ramrod. The pistol case is highly figured European walnut with inlaid brass corners and edges. A flush fitted handle is inlaid in the center of the case. The French fitted interior is lined with purple velvet. The interior of the lid is highlighted with gold accents, "DAMAS TURC FIN" is printed in gold on the center of the lid. The case contains (1) carved ivory square-head mallet, (2) plated nipple wrench with carved ivory handle, (3) brass oil bottle, (4) bottle-shaped copper powder flask with adjustable charger, (5) plated worm. (6) plated screwdriver with ivory handle, (7) iron single cavity round-ball bullet mold, (8) ivory ramrod with brass tip and carved head, (9) ivory cleaning rod with brass jag and carved head and (10) carved ivory percussion cap container. All of the original accessories are present in the case. BBL: 10 inch octagon Stock: ivory carved Gauge: 58 percussion Finish: Damascus/bright Grips: Serial Number: none Condition: Very good. The barrel retains about half of the brown Damascus finish. The edges of the barrel are sharp. The gold inlays are in perfect condition. The bright finished barrel tang, lock, trigger guard and buttcap are in very good condition with sharp engraving. Wear is limited to some very minor age discoloration. The nipple and fenced bolster have some light flash pitting. The carved ivory stock has a mellow patina. The stock has some hairline age cracks. The accessories are all in fine condition with only minor handling wear. The case exterior remains in very good condition and shows only light handling and storage wear. The case interior is in fine condition. The lining in the lid retains the original deep purple color with some fading on the gold accents. The lining surrounding the pistol and tool compartments has some sun fading but remains in good-very good condition. This is a magnificent pair of best-quality gold inlaid, ivory stocked percussion target pistols with the original case and full set of ivory mounted accessories. These pistols would be the centerpiece of any collection of fine firearms. B) As described in "A". BBL: 10 In Stock: ivory carved Gauge: 58 percussion Finish: Damascus/bright Grips: Serial Number: None Condition: Very good. The barrel retains about half of the brown Damascus finish. The edges of the barrel are sharp. The gold inlays are in perfect condition. The bright-finished barrel tang, lock, trigger guard and buttcap are in very good condition with sharp engraving. Wear is limited to some very minor age discoloration. The nipple and fenced bolster have some light flash pitting. The carved ivory stock has a mellow patina. The stock has some hair-line age cracks but is free from chips and has no visible repairs.
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Lot 5: Cased Pair of 19th Century French Target Pistols by Galand
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Description: Cased pair of exhibition quality percussion target pistols made by Galand of Paris c.1850. The pistols have blued, full-octagon, rifled barrels with dove-tail mounted, steel blade front sights. Fixed rear sights are mounted on the barrel tangs. "GALAND PARIS" is engraved on the top flats of both barrels. The pistols have fenced bolsters, hammers with prominent knurled spurs, flush-fitted lock plates and spur-type trigger guards. The breech, tang, hammer, lock plate and trigger of each pistol is decorated with high quality, delicate, relief floral engraving on a very fine punch-dot background. The pistols have wedge-fastened ebony stocks with fluted grips. The stocks are decorated with relief carved vine engraving on the forearms, side plate and the sides and back of the grips. Each stock is fitted with an elaborate, relief carved, scroll buttcap with urn-shaped finial. The pistol case is ebony with walnut and brass inlays on the lid. The center of the case is inlaid with a brass shield surrounded by intricate brass scrollwork. The French-fitted case is lined with dark green velvet with: "GALAND/FABRICANT D'ARMES/PARIS" in gold letters on the lining of the lid. The case contains a full set of accessories that include a black gutta-percha cap box, wooden cleaning rod with brass jag, nipple wrench with ebony handle, bag-shaped, silver-plated powder flask with adjustable charger, iron single cavity round ball bullet mold, steel screw-driver with ebony handle, silver-plated oil bottle, ball-screw, ebony mallet, ebony ram rod with brass tip and head and a key. This is a best quality set of cased percussion dueling pistols with accessories by one of the best 19th Century Paris gun-makers. BBL: 10 1/2 inch octagon Stock: ebony Gauge: 45 percussion Finish: blue Grips: Serial Number: NSN Condition: Very good. The barrel retains traces of the original blue finish with scattered light pitting and patches of age discoloration. The breech, bolster, tang, lock, trigger guard and buttcap have a very attractive silver-gray patina. The engraving is crisp. There is light flash-pitting on the bolster and some very minor pitting on the areas of the grip straps that are not engraved. The stock is in very fine overall condition and show only light handling wear. The relief-carved engraving is crisp. The action is tight and functions perfectly. The case is in good condition. The exterior has numerous small dents and scratches and one of the brass inlays is loose. The green velvet interior lining has faded to tan in the exposed areas, and the interior of the lid is stained. The accessories are all present and in good overall condition with light-moderate wear. The lid of the gutta-perch percussion cap container is broken. This is a good example of a 19th Century cased pair of high-quality percussion target pistols by Galand of Paris. B) As described in "A". BBL: 10 1/2 inch octagon Stock: ebony Gauge: 45 percussion Finish: blue Grips: Serial Number: NSN Condition: Very good. The barrel retains traces of the original blue finish with scattered light pitting and patches of age discoloration. The breech, bolster, tang, lock, trigger guard and buttcap have a very attractive silver-gray patina. The engraving is crisp. There is light flash-pitting on the bolster and some very minor pitting on the areas of the grip straps that are not engraved. The stock is in very fine overall condition and show only light handling wear. The relief-carved engraving is crisp. The action is tight and functions perfectly.
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