Article Alert: Possible Kelly Gun Up For Auction

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The Age has an article entitled "Possible Kelly Pistol Up For Auction."

It begins with:



When Dan Kelly burnt to an unrecognisable husk at the siege of Glenrowan, it is said police discovered an old muzzle-load single-shot pistol among the weapons used by the Kelly gang.

''But it disappeared, as far as I know,'' says Kelly historian Ian Jones, speaking from Beechworth. ''I've never seen records of it remaining in police hands.''

On November 22, an East Indian Company Cavalry pistol - the kind that uses powder and a lead ball instead of a cartridge - is going under the hammer at Leski Auctions in Hawthorn, and is expected to sell for up to $125,000.

The stock of the gun has been marked with a knife ''1876/DAN KELLY'' - a fact that's been on record since 1900, 20 years after Dan's last stand.
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So, if this is the real thing, what happened in those missing 20 years? According to a report from the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin, reprinted in the Leski catalogue, the gun was bought by a local gunsmith named H.P. Hansen from an unnamed ''townsman''.

The gun was covered ''in dirt, rust and grease'', but Hansen cleaned it up.

Hansen said the townsman had claimed to have found the gun ''years ago on the banks of the Murrumbidgee'' and there seemed to be ''no doubt'' it had been owned by a Kelly. The gun has remained in the Hansen family until now. Says historian Ian Jones: ''It's seems unlikely, on the face of it, but when I had a look at the thing and the pedigree, it's much more credible than it seems....''



To read more:

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/possible-kelly-pistol-up-for-auction-20121110-29554.html

Link to the auction listing:

https://www.livebidonline.com/catalogues/common/catalogue.php?pagecode=4TCON&eventid=413