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LOT 128
Exceptionally Fine E.
Remington & Sons Elliot No.
2 Derringer Pepperbox Pistol
with Very Scarce Original
Box - Serial no. 23962, 32 RF cal., 3 3/8 inch
fluted bbl., blue finish, rosewood grips. Remington
manufactured these distinctive multi-shot pistols
from the mid-1860s through around 1888. They
were advertised in 1866 as “Repeating Pistol, (Elliot
pt.) No. 22 Cartridge” and “Repeating Pistol, (Elliot pt.) No.
32 Cartridge.” The former is often
referred to as the No. 1 size
and the latter as the No. 2
size. This particular pistol is an
exceptionally fine example of the
No. 2 size. These pistols were often
carried in coat pockets and thus rarely found in such high condition due to wear and moistures,
making examples like this highly desirable on the collectors market. The left side rib of the barrel
group has the standard one-line E. Remington & Sons address, while the Elliot’s patent marking is
on the right rib. The matching serial number is marked on the inside of the frame and bottom of
the barrel group. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, notch rear sight, and a pair of
smooth rosewood grips. Includes the original box with correct Remington label inside the lid and
is faintly hand numbered to the gun on the bottom and a cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 85% of the original blue finish with some light wear on
high spots and at the muzzle. The grips are very fine with some scattered light handling marks.
Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with some moderate edge/corner wear.
Provenance: The Fritz Baehr Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 126
Highly
Desirable E. Remington
& Sons Thomas Patent
Rimfire Cane Gun with
“Dog’s Head” Handle and
Rare Bead Front Sight -
Serial no. 790, 32 RF , 25 inch
round bbl., black finish, gutta
percha grips. The Remington
Percussion Cane Gun was
patented by John F. Thomas,
Remington’s master mechanic,
on 9 February 1858. These
canes were one of the first
civilian firearms produced by
Remington, and they were
the only major American
manufacturer to produce one.
It is estimated that between
1858 and 1866 only 500 of the
percussion cane guns were
manufactured, with many of
them later being converted
to .32 Rimfire. This example is
one of approximately 2,000
originally manufactured in .32 RF. Along with that, this
particular example has the “dog’s head” handle, which
is fashioned out of black toned gutta percha. Though
the “dog’s head” handle is not necessarily the scarcest
handle variation seen on these canes, it is often cited
as the most desirable. There is a silver band on the
upper/grip portion of the cane. It has also been fitted
with an iron band 2 inches back from the muzzle that
has a bead front sight. The shaft is sleeved in similar
black gutta percha as the handle. The shaft is tipped
with an iron ferrule at the muzzle which is marked
Thomas patent marks, Remington address, and “790”.
CONDITION: Fine, with much of the gutta percha
showing an attractively aged chocolate brown
tone, a few scattered minor handling marks, and
the tip refinished with recut markings. Mechanically
excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 127
Very Fine Cased Engraved Tipping & Lawden Model 2 Sharps
Patent Pepperbox Pistol - Serial no. 853, 30 RF cal., 3 inch fluted bbl.,
blue/silver finish, gutta percha grips. Tipping & Lawden of Birmingham,
England, were one of only two foreign firms licensed by Sharps to
manufacture these pistols in Europe and manufactured around 4,000
of them in the 1860s and 1870s mixed between several calibers. Since they were designed to be readily carried, most are well-worn, but this example
is high condition and has beautiful engraved English scrollwork and rosettes on nearly all of the frame, as well as panels of scrollwork around the
textured gripping sections on the sides of the barrels and a border pattern on the muzzles. The grips are the standard acanthus scrollwork patterned
gutta percha type commonly found on their pistols. The barrel group is finished blue and has a post front sight. The silver-plated frame at the breech
has a groove for a rear sight and is marked “TIPPING & LAWDEN/SHARPS PATENT” around the hammer screw on the left. It comes in a highly figured
hardwood case (absent key-hole escutcheon) with engraved escutcheon and banner, fitted interior, and a bore rod and key inside. This Christian Sharps
design was easily one of the most concealable weapons of the period and has also become somewhat of a cultural icon of the era thanks to Hollywood.
CONDITION: Very fine with 75% plus original blue finish, 98% original silver plating with attractive natural aged patina, crisp engraving, and minor
overall wear. The grips are fine and have mild handling wear, aged tones, and small loss at the corners. Mechanically excellent. The case is also very fine
and has mild age and storage wear.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500