Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

Lot 4126

A whaling darting gun harpoon by Cole
probably New Bedford, late 19th or early 20th century

17 November 2008, 10:00 PST
San Francisco

US$500 - US$800

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Arms and Armour specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

A whaling darting gun harpoon by Cole
probably New Bedford, late 19th or early 20th century

The acute toggle head marked Cole (possibly Edward Cole of New Bedford) and on the obverse WB for waist boat. Mounted on a 35 inch iron shaft with line splicing loop 4 inches above the tip.
Condition: Showing scattered areas of pitting.

Footnotes

Note: The darting gun was invented by New Bedford whaling master Eben Pierce in 1865. It comprised a bomb lance with attached harpoon, thus combining the action of harpooning the whale and dispatching it with the bomb lance. Harpoons were marked with the boat designation to keep a tally of how many whales the boat killed.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English Late 16th Century Or Later

A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century

The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century