Lot 44

Engraved and Inlaid Remington Model 1871 Rolling Block Pistol

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Engraved and Inlaid Remington Model 1871 Rolling Block Pistol

Estimate: $8,500 - $14,000

Starting Bid: $7,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Extraordinary Exhibition Grade, Great Seal of the United States of America Engraved, Factory Gold and Silver Inlaid E. Remington & Sons Model 1871 Rolling Block Pistol with Ivory Grip and Forearm The E. Remington & Sons Model 1871 Rolling Block pistol was produced from 1871 to 1886, and this particular example was almost certainly produced around 1875 in anticipation for the centennial celebrations of the United States of America the following year and was likely intended as an exhibition piece. The largest celebration in 1876 was the famed Centennial International Exhibition held in Philadelphia, officially called the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine. The most notable manufacturers of America and the world produced eye-catching premium and luxury versions of their products for the exposition in hopes of standing out amongst the throng of companies displaying their wares. Prior to radio and television, these large trade fairs provided one of the best marketing opportunities a company could hope for, with the total attendance of the Philadelphia exposition estimated at nearly ten million visitors. Highly embellished arms such as this pistol were necessary for any company to stand out amongst the crowd as the massive fair featured more than 14,000 businesses from approximately 35 countries. The Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876 was the first official World's Fair held in the United States and coincided with the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the American Declaration of Independence. The idea for the exposition is credited to a professor from Wabash College in Indiana named John L. Campbell, who is believed to have suggested the idea to the mayor of Philadelphia in 1866. The City of Philadelphia approved the use of Fairmount Park for the exhibition in January of 1870. In 1871, a bill passed congress to create a United States Centennial Commission, with the stipulation that the U.S. government would not be liable for any expenses. By early 1872, Joseph R. Hawley was named president of the commission and fundraising began. In 1872, a Centennial Board of Finance was created by congress and authorized to sell $10 million worth of $10 shares to fund the fair, selling $1,784,320 worth by early 1873. The City of Philadelphia contributed a further $1.5 million, the state of Pennsylvania contributed $1 million, and the U.S. government provided a $1.5 million loan. Also in 1873, the commission named Alfred T. Goshorn the director general of the exposition, and it was decided that the exhibits would be organized into seven departments, including mining and metallurgy, manufactures, machinery, horticulture, education and science, art, and agriculture. Herman J. Schwarzmann was named the chief architect for the exposition and visited the Vienna International Exposition in 1873 to study the buildings and layout. The grounds for the fair consisted of approximately 285 acres within Fairmount Park and around 200 buildings were constructed as part of the fair, including the massive Machinery, Agriculture, and Main Exhibition buildings, with the Remington exhibit being within the Main Exhibition Building, which was the largest building in the world by area at the time, enclosing 21 1/2 acres. The exposition was officially opened on 10 May 1876 by President Ulysses S. Grant with great fanfare, and it ran continuously until the beginning of November. Sadly, like many of the exhibits featured at the Centennial Exposition, far less information regarding the E. Remington & Sons exhibit at the exposition is available than we as modern collectors might hope for. It is safe to assume that the Remington exhibit would have shared many similarities with those of its contemporary competitors, such as Colt's famous "wheel display" or the Winchester booth, which is known to have displayed a plethora of highly embellished arms, or Smith & Wesson who exhibited many luxurious Tiffany & Co. upgraded firearms. Frank Leslie's "Historical Register of the United States Centennial Exposition, 1876" is perhaps the best source of information available regarding the exhibit. Leslie's book describes the Remington firearms exhibit as follows: "The display of Messrs. Remington in the Main Building is a very prominent feature of the locality where it is situated. The frontage of their case is about twenty-six feet in length, comprising an elegant show-case on a neatly carpeted platform, the whole inclosed by a bronze railing. Here are to be seen a fine collection of the Remington revolvers, sporting rifles, military arms, a very handsome Creedmoor rifle, beautiful specimens of their shot-guns, long-range rifles, military rifles with sabres, short black rifles called civil guards, they being used by the municipal police of Spain and Cuba. Between the cribs of cases is a large star composed of Remington cartridges, having on either side trophies formed by a combination of sabres and muskets. Below these are sixteen different kinds of pistols of Remington manufacture. Another portion of the exhibit presents samples of every part of the military rifle in various stages of manufacture. The sign which denominates this exhibit is peculiar and original in its design. The board is three feet in height, and the name of the firm is displayed in nickel-plated revolvers laid upon purple velvet. The top of the exhibit is surmounted by an American eagle, surrounded by the flags of those governments which use the Remington rifles. This entire display of arms is arranged in the most artistic manner, and is well worthy the consideration of the curious in such matters for this reason, and still more for the real beauty and merit of the articles themselves." As mentioned, the Remington exhibit featured many wood and glass cabinets displaying a multitude of fine arms, with a likely example of one of the cabinets having been sold in our May 2025 Premier Firearms Auction. It is very probable that this particular pistol was featured in one of those display cabinets. Interestingly, we offered a very similar pair of ivory stocked, gold and silver inlaid Remington Rolling Block pistols in our December 2010 Premier Firearms Auction. That pair of pistols showed similar, though less extensive, gold and silver inlays, as well as an almost identical relief engraved and gold inlaid Great Seal of the United States on top of the breech. We firmly believe that this pistol as well as that pair were all part of the magnificent Remington display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. It is worth noting that the Remington display did not stop at the display of fine arms; there is a period drawing from the previously mentioned book which indicates their display also featured manufacturing exhibitions including a grinding wheel, and period sources note that they also displayed sewing machines and also introduced their Model 1 mechanical typewriter. The pistol, manufactured c. 1875, is one of only approximately 1,000 commercial Model 1871 Rolling Block pistols produced. The other 5,000 of the total production fulfilled a U.S. Army contract. The pistol shows extensive Beaux-Arts inspired gold and silver inlay featuring intertwining lines, arches, and some elements of scrollwork. The top of the frame over the breech features a highly detailed, relief engraved representation of the Great Seal of the United States on a matted background. The front sight dovetail is empty, and the one-line address is inlaid in gold on the top flat of the barrel in Gothic script. The back strap is inlaid in gold with "PATENT". The embellishment is of extremely high quality, representing both the highest quality produced by Remington as well as some of the finest firearms artistry America had to offer during the second half of the 19th century. It is without doubt that this pistol would have been a fitting piece to display Remington's artistry and craftsmanship to the world at fairs such as the Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition of 1876. The only other markings on the pistol are a faint number ending in "24" and another illegible marking on the bottom of the barrel. The pistol is fitted with a smooth ivory forearm and grip, adding to the deluxe nature of this extraordinary pistol. It is very fitting that the first time this pistol was publicly displayed was likely during the greatest celebration of the centennial of the United States and that it has now become available to the public again as we celebrate 250 years of this great nation.

Manufacturer: E. Remington & Sons

Model: Rolling Block Pistol

BBL: 8 1/2 inch part octagon

Gauge: 50 CF

Finish: blue

Grips: ivory

Serial NumberNSN

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Exceptionally fine, retains 70% of the bright, original, high polish blue finish, as well as essentially all the original gold and silver inlays, with the silver showing an attractively aged patina, and the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, scattered light handling marks, and a few patches of light surface spotting. The highly attractive ivory forearm and grip are both very fine with a few light chips near the forearm screw, some minor scratches, some darkened age lines, and attractively aged tone overall. Mechanically excellent. An extraordinary example of 19th century firearms art by E. Remington & Sons that was almost certainly part of their magnificent display at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000