VERY RARE BREECH LOADING WHALING DARTING GUN.

VERY RARE BREECH LOADING WHALING DARTING GUN. SN 11. Cal. Appears to be approx. 20 bore smooth bore, probably fired a short brass blank cartridge to propel the dart. Probably a Pierce Patent from late 19th century. This unusual whaling item is 16-1/4″ long with 13″ stepped rnd brass bbl with flared muzzle, a pin front sight & steel breech block with firing mechanism that has the rear sight a groove on top of the breech block. Bbl & breech block are mounted in brass trunnions that slide on spring loaded iron rods on each side of a square iron bar. These obscure whaling guns were apparently mounted in bow of whale boat & when the whale broached a dart was fired into the body with an explosive charge on the tip with winged grapnels attached to a line which secured the whale to the boat. Few of these rare items remain today and are seldom encountered. This little gun is mounted on a homemade base. CONDITION: Bbl retains a smooth even dark mustard patina with iron a very dark brown patina. Mechanics are fine & seem to function, worn dark bore. 4-35365 JR437 (2,000-3,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2549	$1,725.00	VERY RARE BREECH LOADING WHALING DARTING GUN. SN 11. Cal. Appears to be approx. 20 bore smooth bore, probably fired a short brass blank cartridge to propel the dart. Probably a Pierce Patent from late 19th century. This unusual whaling item is 16-1/4″ long with 13″ stepped rnd brass bbl with flared muzzle, a pin front sight & steel breech block with firing mechanism that has the rear sight a groove on top of the breech block. Bbl & breech block are mounted in brass trunnions that slide on spring loaded iron rods on each side of a square iron bar. These obscure whaling guns were apparently mounted in bow of whale boat & when the whale broached a dart was fired into the body with an explosive charge on the tip with winged grapnels attached to a line which secured the whale to the boat. Few of these rare items remain today and are seldom encountered. This little gun is mounted on a homemade base. CONDITION: Bbl retains a smooth even dark mustard patina with iron a very dark brown patina. Mechanics are fine & seem to function, worn dark bore. 4-35365 JR437 (2,000-3,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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