Rock Island Auction Company Homepage
The Nation's Leading Auction House for Firearms, Edged Weapons, & Military Artifacts
collection HOME AUCTIONS CATALOGS CONSIGNMENTS NEWS & PRESS EVENTS ABOUT US LINKS CONTACT US western
swords
Upcoming Auctions    Past Auctions    Absentee Bidding    Prices Realized    FAQs
dagger
AUCTION ITEM
Premiere Firearms Auction (April 25, 26 & 27 2009)
Lot #: 3001
Estimated Price: $18,000 - $25,000
Extremely Rare, Presentation, Morrill, Mosman and Blair Elgin Cutlass Pistol with Scabbard
LOT SOLD
Serial #: NSN Manufacturer: Morrill, Mosman, & Blair
Model: Elgin Cutlass Type: Pistol
Gauge: 34 Catalog Page: 105
Barrel Length: 4 inch Finish: N/A
Grip: walnut Stock: N/A
Sell Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Condition Rating:  
Description: An extremely rare example of an Elgin Cutlass Pistol made by Henry Morrill, Silas Mosman and Charles Blair in 1837-38. The Elgin Cutlass Pistol was patented by George Elgin of Macon, Georgia, in 1837. The unique design combined a box-lock percussion pistol with a Bowie type knife. The Elgin Cutlass Pistols were equipped with a distinctive, form-fitted, black leather scabbard with a metal throat. The U.S. Navy contracted for 150 Elgin Cutlass Pistols to arm the Wilkes South Seas Exploring Expedition in 1837. The Wilkes Expedition pistols were made by Cyrus B. Allen and N.P. Ames manufactured the blades. Apparently spurred by the Navy order, the firm of Morrill, Mossman and Blair was established to manufacture Elgin Cutlass Pistols in August 1837. Silas Mosman previously worked as an engraver for N.P. Ames and subsequently returned to work for that firm in July, 1838. In contrast to the Navy cutlass pistols manufactured by N.P. Ames and Cyrus Allen; Morrill, Mosman and Blair manufactured both the pistol and the Bowie blade. This pistol has a round, four inch, .34 caliber rifled barrel with brass front sight blade. The top of the barrel is stamped "CAST STEEL". The box-lock action has a rudimentary rear sight and is fitted with a walnut, bag-shaped grip. The hammer, sides of the lock and the receiver tang are decorated with floral engraving. The Bowie type blade has an integral spur trigger guard and is approximately 10 5/8 inches long. The blade has acid etched panels with dry needle engraving. The obverse features a vase with flowers, the legend "Elgin's Patent" and an eagle clutching three arrows with a ribbon engraved "Freedom" in it's beak. The eagle is surrounded by seventeen five-pointed stars and a dry etched floral border. The reverse side of the blade is etched with a vase and flowers and the legend "Morrell Mosman/& Blair/Amherst Mass" in three lines below an eagle with a ribbon engraved "Liberty" in its beak surmounted by seventeen stars and a dry-etched floral border. The eagle motif is very similar to the eagle engraved by Silas Mosman on the Ames pattern 1833 Dragoon Officer's Saber. The pistol is complete with the very rarely encountered black leather scabbard. The scabbard has a German silver throat with a frog stud on the right side. The left side of the scabbard is inscribed "Dr. J. Mauran/to/Geo. W. Steinhauer/June 14th, 1848". Dr. Joseph Mauran was a Providence, Rhode Island, physician who was twice elected president of the Rhode Island Medical Society. George Steinhauer was a prominent Providence businessman. This may be the only inscribed, presentation, Elgin Cutlass Pistol existent.
Condition: Fine. The pistol and the upper one-third of the blade have an even, medium brown, patina. There is some minor flash pitting on the percussion nipple, bolster and adjacent portions of the lock but the remainder of the metal surfaces are smooth. The engraving on the lock, hammer and back strap is crisp. The walnut grip retains about 60% of the original varnish. The tip of the blade is broken but the blade remains in very good condition. The delicate acid etched panels and dry needle engraving are quite clear with excellent detail. The forward six inches of the blade have a darker patina then the pistol and the rear of the blade. The forward portion of the blade has a mottled finish with some very minor pitting on the back edge. The lighter patina on the pistol and upper blade is apparently the result of the pistol being stored with the blade and barrel partially out of the scabbard. The delicate black leather scabbard remains in outstanding condition. The scabbard has scattered age cracks with some minor flaking; the most noticeable wear is a small split in the bottom seam near the throat. The scabbard is solid; the few remaining 170 year-old Elgin Pistol scabbards are usually in relic condition. The scabbard throat is in excellent condition with an attractive, un-polished, patina and crisp engraving. This is an outstanding example of a rare Elgin Cutlass Pistol with inscribed scabbard.
RELATED LOTS
Preview Lot# Auction Item Description Estimated Price
15 Two British Flintlock Pistols -A) British Tower Horse Flintlock Trade Pistol $1,000.00 - $1,500.00
15 B) Ketland Flintlock Pistol $1,000.00 - $1,500.00
16 B) Resop Marked Flintlock Pistol $750.00 - $1,300.00
16 Two Flintlock Pistols -A) Unmarked Engraved Caucasian Horsemans Flintlock Pistol $750.00 - $1,300.00
17 B) Unidentified Mediterranean Style Flintlock Pistol $650.00 - $900.00
17 Two Flintlock Pistols -A) Caucasian Horsemans Flintlock Pistol $650.00 - $900.00
18 U.S. Martial Flintlock Pistol $600.00 - $900.00
19 U.S. Johnson Contract Model 1842 Percussion Pistol $750.00 - $1,100.00
20 U.S. Simeon North Model 1816 Flintlock Pistol $850.00 - $1,300.00
21 U.S. H. Aston Contract Model 1842 Percussion Pistol Dated 1847 $800.00 - $1,100.00
22 U.S. Simeon North Model 1816 Martial Flintlock Pistol $950.00 - $1,400.00
23 B) French Martial Flintlock Pistol $1,200.00 - $1,700.00
23 Two Antique Martial Pistols -A) U.S. H. Aston Model 1842 Percussion Pistol $1,200.00 - $1,700.00
24 U.S. Model 1836 Flintlock Pistol by Robert Johnson $700.00 - $900.00
25 Rare Circa 1780 East India Company Marked Fusil $2,000.00 - $3,000.00
26 Extremely Rare U.S. Harpers Ferry Model 1817 Artillery Flintlock Musket $5,500.00 - $8,500.00
467 Two Ruger Semi-Automatics -A) Ruger 22 Charger Semi-Automatic Pistol with Box, Sight, Bipod and Carrying Case $1,200.00 - $1,600.00
467 B) Ruger Mini-14 Target Semi-Automatic Rifle with Box $1,200.00 - $1,600.00
838 Cased Browning Medalist Semi Automatic Pistol $800.00 - $1,200.00
849 Engraved and Gold Inlaid Smith & Wesson Model 25-2 Double Action Revolver with One of a Kind 3 1/2 Inch Barrel and Factory Letter $7,500.00 - $10,000.00
898 Colt Gold Cup National Match Semi Automatic Pistol $1,000.00 - $1,200.00
1000 Factory Cased Colt Model 1849 Pocket Navy Revolver with Accessories $6,500.00 - $9,000.00
1003 Unique Colt Baby Dragoon Non-Factory Cartridge Conversion Revolver $2,000.00 - $3,000.00
1004 B) Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver $1,300.00 - $1,900.00
1004 Two Colt Pocket Revolvers -A) Colt Pocket Model of Navy Caliber Conversion Revolver $1,300.00 - $1,900.00
1006 B) Colt Model 1855 "Root" Percussion Revolver $1,300.00 - $1,700.00
1006 Two Colt 1855 "Root" Model Sidehammer Pocket Revolvers -A) Colt 1855 "Root" Model 7A Sidehammer Pocket Revolver $1,300.00 - $1,700.00
1009 Colt Model 1851 Navy Conversion "Belly Gun" Revolver $1,100.00 - $1,600.00
1010 Copy of Colt 1851 Navy Model Percussion Revolver $600.00 - $800.00
1011 B) Colt Model 1849 Single Shot Conversion Pocket Pistol $750.00 - $1,000.00
1011 Two Colt Single Shot Conversion Pistols -A) Colt 1855 "Root" Sidehammer Pocket Single Shot Conversion Pistol $750.00 - $1,000.00
1012 Rare Colt Pocket Model Paterson Revolver No. 1 with Two Digit Serial Number $25,000.00 - $37,500.00
1017 Unique German 1849 Colt Brevete Pattern Revolver $850.00 - $1,300.00
1020 Historic Engraved Moore' Patent Firearms Company Belt Revolver with Ivory Grip From the Moore Family $5,000.00 - $10,000.00
1021 Fine Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver $3,000.00 - $4,000.00
1022 Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver with Non-Factory Cartridge Conversion $1,600.00 - $2,500.00
1023 United States Navy Colt Model 1851 Navy-Navy Percussion Revolver $1,100.00 - $1,600.00
1024 First Year Production Colt Model 1862 Police Percussion Revolver $1,100.00 - $1,600.00
1025 Colt Model 1860 Richards-Mason Conversion Revolver $1,800.00 - $2,750.00
1025 Colt 1855 "Root" Model 5A Sidehammer Revolver $1,800.00 - $2,750.00
1026 Two Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolvers -A) Colt Model 1849 Non-Factory Conversion Pocket Revolver $1,000.00 - $1,400.00
1026 B) Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver $1,000.00 - $1,400.00
1027 Colt Model 1849 Wells Fargo Pocket Percussion Revolver $2,000.00 - $3,000.00
1028 Scarce Colt London Pocket Model of Navy Caliber Revolver $1,100.00 - $1,600.00
1029 Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver $1,000.00 - $2,000.00
1030 Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver $750.00 - $1,200.00
1191 Chicago Protector Palm Pistol $1,600.00 - $2,500.00
1192 Remington-Elliot Pepperbox Derringer in .22 Rimfire $1,600.00 - $2,500.00
3000 Exhibition Set of Relief Engraved "Gastinne Renette" French Dueling Pistols With Gold Inlay Ebony Stocks, Original Case And Accessories -A) Gastinne Renette French Dueling Pistol $16,000.00 - $25,000.00
3000 B) Gastinne Renette French Dueling Pistol $16,000.00 - $25,000.00
3002 B) Manton Dueling Pistol $7,500.00 - $9,000.00
3002 Fine Cased Set of Manton Dueling Pistols with Accessories -A) Manton Dueling Pistol $7,500.00 - $9,000.00
3003 Fine Set of British Dueling Pistols Made By "Richardson" with Case and Accessories -A) Richardson British Dueling Pistol $7,000.00 - $9,000.00
3003 B) Richardson British Dueling Pistol $7,000.00 - $9,000.00
3005 Excellent Silver Banded and Engraved Andrew Wurfflein Philadelphia Pocket Derringer $6,000.00 - $9,000.00
3009 Rare Engraved Silver Mounted and Gold Inlaid Slotter & Company "Deringer" Patent Infringement Pistol in "Peanut" Size $5,500.00 - $8,500.00
3010 Engraved and German Silver Mounted Unmarked Wurfflein Philadelphia Derringer Pocket Pistol $2,500.00 - $3,750.00
3011 Superb Cased, Engraved and Gold Banded Pair of Henry Deringer Percussion Pistols with Coin Silver Furniture-A) Deringer Percussion Pistol with Gold Bands $40,000.00 - $60,000.00
3011 B) Engraved, Cased and Gold Banded Henry Deringer Pistol $40,000.00 - $60,000.00
3012 Engraved Silver Banded Deringer Philadelphia Pocket Pistol $3,250.00 - $4,750.00
3013 Silver Mounted Henry Deringer Silver Banded Pocket Pistol with Scarce A.J. Taylor San Francisco $2,500.00 - $3,750.00
3014 Engraved Belgian Derringer Pistol Copy with Scarce B. Kittredge Cincinnati Dealer's Markings $2,000.00 - $3,000.00
3015 Extremely Rare Unmarked J.E. Evans Attributed "Peanut" Size Derringer Percussion Pistol with a Cast Silver Stock $7,500.00 - $15,000.00
3021 Engraved and Silver Banded Henry Deringer Philadelphia Pocket Pistol with Rare J.B. Gilmore Shreveport, Louisiana Agent Markings. $4,000.00 - $6,000.00
3022 Excellent Engraved German Silver Banded Wurfflein Philadelphia Derringer Percussion Pistol $3,500.00 - $5,500.00
3026 Engraved English "Deringer" Marked Single Shot Pocket Pistol $3,000.00 - $4,500.00
3029 Henry Derringer Percussion Pistol with Inscription, Engraved Coin Silver Furniture and Rare Wolf & Durringer Louisville Kentucky Agent Markings $4,500.00 - $6,500.00
(c) 2006-2009 Rock Island Auction Company     info@rockislandauction.com     1-800-238-8022     4507 49th Avenue, Moline, IL 61265