WTK: Value of Original Ellsworth cannon?

[tal35]

Friend has one he is looking to sell , very rare piece I know, what are they worth? Where to find buyer if he wanted to sell?  Low s/n on it.

[cannonmn]

I'd be happy to take a stab at evaluating it.  Preferably, for benefit of other board members, post many sharp photos of it here, with all marks, describe bore condition, does it work perfectly, carriage? or not, etc. I collect and deal in cannons of all kinds.

[tal35]

It will be awhile before I can get pics, it is a low s/n single digit and was aquired in the 60's . At one time he was offered 50k for it by a collector.

[Co. Batguano]

These "I was offered ____" numbers are often rather soft offers.  If a guy had a checkbook in his hand at the time I might be inclined to believe it.  Otherwise, it's often bluster.

[guardsgunner]

Is this gun in Mn?  on a carriage?
 

[cannonmn]

it is a low s/n single digit

That's nice but with cannons, and especially those with very low total production, a low s/n has little significance in  the actual pricing.  An exception might be s/n 1, which might bring a premium.
An old offer the owner declined carries no weight now.  When a seller hits me with the "I been offered..." (usually exactly the way they say it)) I just take it as a sign of his inexperience in doing business deals and I make allowances for it.

[flagman1776]

 
 

[tal35]

No it isnt Minn. , I have no reason to doubt the friend of mine, as he doent tell stories about offered this and that, nor does he need the money. It was a checkbook offer, at the time, and since the person that made the offer has passed away. Just how many originals of these guns are in exisrtance? 30-35? Lincold ordered around 20 of them I believe. I was thinking  that mosrt went to Harpers Ferry?
I do doubt it is a $500 cannon though.haha

[Cannoneer]

Welcome to the forum, tal35. I recall reading somewhere that around 5 of these rifles still exist, and 30-35 would be closer to the total production of this gun.

[flagman1776]

Duplicate self delete

[Cannoneer]

Ok, I dug out my Registry, and there are eight Ellsworth rifles extant (five of those being privately owned).

[flagman1776]

Thank you, Cannoneer! 
 

Ok, I dug out my Registry, and there are eight Ellsworth rifles extant (five of those being privately owned).

[tal35]

I will see what the s/n of the cannon is.

[cannonmn]

Would be very nice of you to post some pictures of the item.  A lot of cannons get mis-identified by word descriptions without photos.

[guardsgunner]

I to would be itnerested in seeing some photos. I veiwed 4 of them when I was researching and building our reproductions. 35 would be a good total if you were to count the "dozen" guns sent to Kanas before the civil war.(1856) These guns were differnt than the civil war guns being smaller in dia. and smooth bored. Jim Bender wrote a article for the Artilleryman mag. on it a few years back.
 
Bob