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Dan Kelly's Pistol: An East India Company Cavalry Pistol,…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
21-Nov-2012
Lot No.
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Description:
Dan Kelly's Pistol: An East India Company Cavalry Pistol, converted to percussion cap system c1840, with Rampant Lion logo on lock, barrel marked 'Saml Marson', with a swiveling trapped steel ramrod for use on horseback. The stock marked with a knife '1876/ Dan Kelly' the story of the pistol's discovery was published in the 'Morning Bulletin' (Rockhampton, Queensland) on Wednesday 17th October 1900, and re-published shortly afterwards in 'The Northern Miner' (Charters Towers, Qld) & 'Warwick Examiner and Times' (St.Lucia, Qld): - 'The Kelly Gang. a Memento of the Once Notorious Kelly Gang Was Found in Rockhampton Recently in a Rather Curious Way. Mr. H.P. Hansen, Gunsmith, of Denham Terrace, a Short Time Since Bought a Lot of Old and Rusty Firearms From a Townsman. Among These Weapons Was An Old Horse Pistol of Large Size. It Was Covered with Dirt, Rust, and Grease, But Mr.Hansen Determined to Have It Cleaned. This Was No Cosy Job, But Finally It Was Done. The Pistol Is About Eighteen Inches Long, and Has An Ounce and Half Bore. The Stock Is of Walnut, and the Weapon Is Brass Mounted, with a Ramrod. on the Stock, Where Held By the Hand, Was Found Cut, Apparently with a Knife, '1876,' and underneath 'Dan Kelly.' the maker's name ' Samuel Marson' was on the barrel, and the letters 'Xn' were cut with a knife on the wood just below the barrel. on another part of the stock were the small letters 'Rc,' as if made with a stamp. Mr. Hansen States the person he bought the pistol from found it years ago on the bank of the Murrumbidgee River, and there seems to be no doubt it was at one time owned by one of the Kelly Brothers'. It was reported that a muzzle-load single-shot pistol was found on a Kelly pack-horse at the Glenrowan siege, it is possible that this is the gun. Provenance: The gun has remained in the Hansen family since being acquired in 1900. It is now being offered for sale by a descendent
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Militaria & Weapons: Firearms - Pistols