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CONFEDERATE FAYETTEVILLE
CONVERSION |
This
is a typical Fayetteville Arsenal Confederate Conversion of a Model 1836 U. S.
Flintlock Pistol. It is in an above average state of condition for one of
these. The US barrel markings and cartouches are still visible. Most
of the lockplate markings were defaced during the conversion. The metal is
relatively smooth and nicely patinaed. The stock is sound with no cracks
or repairs and a pleasant oil finish.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
COLT 1851 NAVY FLASK |
This
is an original Colt 1851 Navy Flask which has fallen on hard times. It is
dented and dinged, polished and somebody has tried to solder the seams. It
is missing its spring at the top and I doubt the spout is actually correct but
it looks good. It does have the Colt's Patent marking embossed above the
stand of arms. Would make somebody a nice project.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
ORIGINAL CYLINDER FOR |
This
is a hard one to find today. It is an original cylinder, which would
be appropriate for a 2nd or 3rd Model Colt Dragoon. It is a military
parts cylinder. Even though it has deteriorated somewhat, it is not
serial numbered and has never been mounted on a gun. With every
military contract Colt filled, there was a large number of unnumbered parts,
which went with it. They were for the purpose of maintaining the guns
in the field. This is one of those unnumbered cylinders.
Typically, there is a star stamped on the face of the cylinder, subinspector
marks on the circumference of the cylinder and a "P" subinspection at the
rear. You will note that the face of the cylinder still has its finish
marks and the safety pins at the rear are fully intact. Between the
two cartouches on the cylinder, there is a single part number stamped, there
is not a serial number. This cylinder was a part of the Third US
Contract and as such is appropriate for a 2nd or 3rd Model Dragoon.
The upper cartouche bears the words "U S Dragoons" not Model USMR. The
first US Contract, which was the Colt Walker and the second US Contract,
which was the Fluck Dragoon had cylinder scenes marked Model USMR in the
upper cartouche. The reason for that was that both contracts went to
the 1st Regimate of United States Mounted Rifles. The third contract
was initially for the Second Regiment of US Dragoons, which was stationed in
Texas. In order to keep the regimental association on the Third US
Contract, they spliced the die that rolled the cylinder scene.
They made an eliptical cut and removed the model USMR, replaced the metal
and recut the die to roll the impression "US Dragoons." I assume that
the Third Contract was extended because very soon, the relationship of
the marking on the cylinder and the regiment to which the guns were to be
issued was lost. You can find these US Dragoon marked cylinders on
both 2nd Model and 3rd Model Dragoons and they appear to intermixed with
those marked Model USMR. This cylinder still has a very good cylinder
scene with an Ormsby signature and Colt Patent in the lower cartouche.
I used to find these old Colt military parts fairly frequently but they
don't turn up much anymore. Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
MONKEY TAIL CARBINE |
This
carbine would appear to be made around 1860 and is typical of Monkey Tail
Carbines made in England. I don't believe I've ever seen one made anywhere
else. Even so, there are no external markings on this gun with the
exception of two stamps which look like kanji. The gun is brown,
relatively smooth with minor age cracks in the wood and has a dirty bore.
The bore could use a cleaning. It appears to be in about .45 caliber and
is intact with a good action. The oriental characters on the left side of
the breech are a bit of an enigma. I know that Japanese ordnance bought
examples of virtually ever gun made beginning around 1860. The guns were
kept at the naval ordnance research facility, south of Tokyo and were used as
reference pieces by their engineers in the development of their own modern
weaponry. It could be from their naval stores.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
KENTUCKY RIFLE |
I
found this gun lying about and feeling very sorry for itself indeed. The
barrel was taped to the stock. The breech plug had been turned side ways
and the tank was bent. I reset the breech plug, straightened the tang and
set the barrel and tang back into the stock. Then I re-taped it.
What intrigued me when I saw it was that it started its life as a Golden Age
Kentucky Rifle made by Sheetz in the upper valley of Virginia. It was
originally made sometime around 1795 to about 1800. By the 1840's or so,
it had made its way to the western part of North Carolina or the eastern part of
Tennessee. Obviously it suffered damage and was restocked, probably using
the original stock profile as a pattern. At the same time, it was
converted from flintlock to percussion by cutting the barrel at the rear and
adding a new breech plug with a long, Southern style tang. Sometime, I
would guess in the 1950's, somebody tried to fix it and really never finished
the job. From what I can tell, the barrel, ramrod pipes, tail pipe,
trigger guard, trigger plate, butt plate, patch box, toe plate and probably the
lock are original Sheetz construction. Whoever converted it to percussion
used a standard, plain grade maple, pinned the stock to the barrel and salvaged
as many parts as possible. It actually has a really nice bore but the lock
assembly and trigger assembly are not functioning. I just thought it was
fascinating to see what happened to a Golden Age Kentucky, which is without
question originally about 200 years old. The wrist is cracked and re-glued
but sealed up pretty nice. There are keyways cut into the forearm which
shouldn't be there. In the 1840's the forearm was pinned to the barrel.
This old gun was probably carried among the Cherokee. A fascinating piece
of history worth salvaging, in my opinion. A great project for those cold
winter nights.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
COLT 1860 FLUTED ARMY |
This
is an early 1860 production Colt Fluted Army. It is serial number 330 and
is all matching. The barrel, frame, cylinder, backstrap, trigger guard,
wedge and cylinder pin have matching serial numbers. The gun has a very
smooth, light patination with considerable traces of original blue on the bottom
of the barrel, underneath the loading lever and in the barrel flute beneath the
barrel wedge. It has a 7 1/2 inch barrel and a Hartford barrel address.
The Colt's patent on the frame and the patent date on the cylinder are clearly
visible. The back strap and trigger guard retain about 80 percent of the
original silver plate. The grips are lightly worn but smooth without
damage. The gun has good mechanical function, good lines and edges with a
few dents and dings. A strong very good to fine condition example.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
COLT 1860 ARMY |
This is a superb condition Colt
1860 Shoulder Stock for an early fluted cylinder army. This stock is
really nice. It is for a gun that was serial number 1226 which is an early
fluted cylinder model. It is in military finish. It has no silver
plating and the wood is oil finished instead of varnish finished. The
screws and the hasp still retain the original Colt bluing. The brass has a
very nice mellow patina, which is a little darker than our photographs reveal.
The stock, with the exception of a few minor dents, is like new. All the
components are original and have matching serial numbers. The butt plate,
the yoke and the hasp are all stamped with the correct serial number. The
wood has the serial number in India ink in two places, underneath the butt plate
and underneath the yoke. This is correct. If you look close, you
will see that there is a tiny U.S. stamped on the left side of the yoke above
the hasp. There is also a tiny U.S. stamped on top of the butt plate.
This die is about the same size as the US stamp on a Colt Navy frame. When
I purchased this stock, I realized that I had seen this before. I have the
brass yoke for a Colt Dragoon that has had the front portion of it cut off,
probably after it broke. It has been in my junk box for nearly thirty
years. It has the same US stamped in the same place as this stock. I
believe this U.S. stamp is original, this stock is absolutely untouched and has
not been fiddled around with. I don't necessarily believe U.S. Ordnance
bought this stock. It could be that Colt prepared some early Armies in
military finish in an attempt to entice US Ordnance to purchase them. If
anybody has any knowledge of this, I'd like to hear from you. The gun that
went with this stock would also have been in military finish. There would
have been no silver plating on the trigger guard or back strap, the grips would
have been in an oil finish and the bluing would have been the dull military
blue. I have contacted Colt in an attempt to letter this, but they don't
have this serial number in their computer database and they apparently don't
want to look back through the old ledgers to search for it, which might produce
a result but would be a long shot. It's a shame, because I think this is a
significant piece. The stock is also in a serial number range of
160 Fluted Armies with 80 stocks which were shipped to Natchez, Mississippi.
I know of Fluted Armies which have lettered to Natchez, Mississippi just before
this serial number and just after this serial number.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
FACTORY ENGRAVED |
This
gun was manufactured in 1854 at Colt's London Factory in England.
Somewhere between six and seven hundred Colt Dragoons of various configurations
were produced. The parts for the Colt London Dragoon were shipped to
England from Hartford to be assembled in London. The parts were apparently
in various stages of construction. Many of the barrels already had their
barrel addresses and it seems the cylinders already had the cylinder scene
rolls. This gun is correct and has never been tinkered with. I see
no replacement parts. It has completely matching serial numbers including
the wedge and cylinder pin. The loading lever has a different number,
which may be an attempt to use an assembly number that is found on early
Dragoons. At any rate, the lever is correct, authentic and was engraved
along with the other parts of the gun and assembled in this configuration.
The gun has a very nice, light patination with no pits of any consequence at
all. The frame, hammer, barrel, loading lever, trigger guard and back
strap are beautifully engraved in the English style. A clamshell appears
on the back strap behind the hammer. The frame and barrel have rope border
treatment along with a very delicate foliate design. The stem of the
loading lever is also engraved. It was done with a master engravers touch
and is completely authentic Colt London factory engraving. The grips still
retain the majority of their varnished finished and are constructed from
European wood. When viewed from the rear, the grips are wasp waisted,
which is typical of London production guns. The cylinder still retains a
respectable amount of cylinder scene. However, you will note that it is
very light. This is typical of the London production Dragoons. The
cylinders sent for assembly from Hartford already had cylinder scenes. But
the English market demanded a much higher luster blue than the American market.
In order to get the high luster blue, Colt's polishers literally buffed the
cylinder scene away. In effect, when this gun was built and polished, much
of the cylinder scene was polished away. That is how the cylinder would
have looked the day it was made. According to Rosa in his book "Colonel
Colt London" 200 dragoons were still in inventory at the Colt sales office in
London by 1861. Seventy three engraved Colt London Dragoons were shipped
to J.C. Grubbs and Company of Philadelphia. They were presumably sold into
the American Civil War market. This gun is very likely one of those 73
engraved Dragoons shipped back to the U.S. at the beginning of the American
Civil War.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
CIVIL WAR CAVALRY CARBINE |
Early in the American Civil War,
Barnett had a contract to supply Enfields to Confederate Ordnance. I have
little doubt but that this is one of the guns imported into the South. The
gun has Barnet's early lock markings and as you can tell, it has been to the
mountain and back. It has seen hard use, is still intact and has decent
markings. There is much pitting around the bolster, the rest is a heavy
brown patination. The wood has a number of hairline cracks and speaks of
hard use.
Click on image for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
SNIPER RIFLE |
This
is the only purpose built high velocity long range rifle made in the South
during the Civil War that I know of. It was made by T. W. Cofer,
Portsmouth, Virginia based on his Confederate Patent #9, granted August 12, 1861
by the Confederate Patent Office. No, it is not a patent model but is
rather a fully functional, fully developed long range rifle. It has one
purpose and one purpose only and that is to place a bullet on target at 1000
yards or better.
This is a virtually unknown rifle developed by T. W. Cofer. I have found out through an intermediary, that Cliff Young had in his collection extensive notes and photography on this rifle along with the picture of a Cofer Sniper that had a scope. Whether that picture is a photo of this gun with it's original scope, which has been removed or not, is not known. I have requested copies of Cliff's notes on these guns and will update the web site when I see what he had. I have also gone back to the family to see if there is any possibility that a scope was removed from the gun and if there is any possibility they still have it. All to be updated at a later time.
This gun is in exceptional condition. It has a 34 1/2" barrel with an overall length of 52 1/4 inches. It weighs a little over 14 pounds. It has a breech block that slides horizontally, left and right. It is chambered for a brass cartridge with about a .42 caliber bullet. I have made a dummy round from an exact chamber casting that you can see in the photography. This cartridge was more than likely, easily reloadable and had a hole in the center to receive the flash from a percussion cap. Amazingly, the barrel is throated ahead of the chamber. This allows a larger diameter bullet than the bore to be inserted thus creating a firm grip on the rifling. The bore is five groove rifling with a fast turn, about 1 in 25 inches. The back side of the breech block is drilled to accept a small cartridge insert with a percussion cap that resembles his patent cartridges for pistols. I suspect this was not disposable but reusable. Every time you fired this gun, you would simply replace this capped cartridge and hold the spent one to be recharged and recapped for use again. The entire mechanism is beautifully machined and fitted and works perfectly. This man was even trying to manage recoil. He engineered a rod that passes all the way through the butt, from the butt plate to the rear tang screw. The rear tang screw passes through a circle on the end of this iron rod and is then screwed into the trigger group tang. This allows the recoil to the transmitted down the upper tang to the rod and then dispersed throughout the stock, otherwise the recoil would likely have split the stock at the tang screw. (As a matter of fact, it split anyway.) There are also two holes drilled deep into the butt, which probably had moveable lead rods inserted. The inertia of these two rods would have significantly reduced recoil when the gun was fired. The entire firing mechanism, hammer, trigger, mainspring, etc. is fully contained inside the brass trigger guard. I have never seen this kind of advanced ballistic thinking and engineering during the Civil War period in the South. This guy was two generations ahead of his time.
The left side of the breech block has T. W. Cofer inlaid in gold and is engraved "Pat. August 12, 1861, Portsmouth, VA". We normally associate his Confederate patent with revolvers but in his patent application, it clearly states that his patent is applicable to revolvers, firearms and canon. It took me a while to see it but the receiver of this gun, with its horizontal breech block, is drawn on his Confederate Patent drawing which was submitted with his request. The receiver on this gun is drawn as the breech of a canon mounted on a carriage with wheels with a little stubby canon barrel sticking out the front. He clearly had this breech system in his head when he submitted his request for patent. Even the font and style of letters found in his gold inlaid name is a copy of the heading on his patent application drawing.
UPDATE:
As I mentioned above, it was my intention to update this as soon as I had a look at Cliff Young's file on the rifle. The file does not contain any of Cliff Young's notes, rather it is written by one of the guys that first found the gun. The two most interesting facts about this gun were not recognized by anybody. First, the owners assumed that this gun shot a paper cartridge. You can clearly see that the dummy round I made from the chamber casting, without doubt indicates that this gun shot a self contained metallic cartridge, probably made of brass and reloadable. They missed this key feature. The second thing they missed was literally staring them in the face and that is that on the patent drawing the receiver of this rifle with its horizontal sliding breech is clearly depicted in the drawing of the canon. Without doubt, Cofer had this design in his mind when he applied for his patent. They never realized the connection. Reference the book "Confederate Handguns" by Albaugh, Benet & Simmons. This is the single best source of information on Cofer, his patent application and the guns he made and sold.
It is truly amazing that an item like this still exists and surfaces out of virtual obscurity at this late date. One of the most interesting long range rifles I have ever seen. Click on image for detail photos!! SOLD!!
COLT 1851 ARMY NAVY |
This
is a solid, very good condition, U.S. Contract Navy manufactured by Colt under
government contract in 1856. It has all matching serial numbers to include
barrel, frame, cylinder, back strap and trigger guard, loading lever, cylinder
pint and barrel wedge. The grips are also serial numbered in India ink
beneath the back strap. It has a respectable amount of cylinder scene
which is visible all the way around the cylinder, sub-inspector marks in all the
appropriate places and visible cartouches on both the right and left sides of
the grip. It has a strong barrel address and a nicely functioning action.
Click on image
for detail photos!! SOLD!!
BRITISH PATTERN 1853 ENFIELD RIFLE |
This
is a solid, very nice condition, Pattern 1853 57 Caliber Enfield Rifle. It
was manufactured in the middle of the American Civil War. The gun has a
very nice, smooth stock with only the slightest abrasions. The lock plate
has most of the original case hardening and the barrel has much of the original
finish, thinning to a smooth brown on top. The bore needs cleaning but is
actually much brighter than our photography exhibits. The lock is marked
with a crown behind the hammer and 1863 over Tower in front of the hammer.
The right side of the stock features the Birmingham Small Arms Trade roundel.
The left side of the stock, opposite the lock, features a single inspectors mark
"D". The belly of the stock has the furnisher mark "Joseph Smith."
Joseph Smith is listed in the new book "The English Connection" by Pritchard &
Huey as a Birmingham, England manufacturer and furnisher. The list of
furnishers they provided are names observed on rifles with a reliable
Confederate association. The barrel, the breech plug tang and the stock
have matching assembly numbers, which are stamped beside the hammer. The
left side rear of the barrel has the standard 25 bore Birmingham proof marks.
The ramrod is original. The sights are very nice and the action is crisp.
The gun is missing its rear and forward swivels, which can be easily replaced.
A very pleasant, solid, Civil War Enfield which may very well be Confederate
purchase. Click on image
for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
WHITWORTH MILITARY RIFLE |
A
superb Whitworth Military Rifle in a basic military configuration. It is
actually very similar to some of the 2nd Quality Guns bought by the South during
the Civil War. It has a non-checkered stock without patch box and standard
P-53 Enfield front and rear sights, which are extremely well made. The
lock is P-53 pattern and has no external hammer lock. The barrel is 36
inches in length and 52 bore proofed (.451 Cal.). It has three Badeley
Patent barrel bands. Each is marked Palmer on one wide and Patent on the
other and is serial numbered to the gun. The lock is plain and
undecorated. The lower edge, forward of the hammer, is marked Manchester
Ordnance & Rifle Company. Behind the hammer, the Crown with Wheat Sheaf
over W Whitworth trademark is stamped. The top of the barrel, between the
rear sight and breech, is marked Whitworth Patent. One of the most amazing
features of this gun is that it accepts, without any fitting up, a standard P-53
Enfield Bayonet. When I bought the gun, I realized there was a wear
pattern on the end of the barrel, which looked like a socket bayonet had been
with it. I located a couple of examples of a P-53 Enfield Bayonet and they
both fit perfectly. The bayonet that is pictured is not original to the
gun but is an Enfield production military bayonet. I have never heard of a
Whitworth Rifle actually set up to receive a socket bayonet but this one flat is
and it is authentic and untouched. The gun retains about 95% of the
original barrel finish with 95% plus case colors on the lock plate and hammer.
The barrel bands are high polish blue which is about 60-70% present. The
trigger guard assembly was case hardened and still bears much bright color.
The nose cap and butt plate were also case hardened and are silvering slightly.
The ramrod is an original Whitworth iron rod. The stock is in beautiful
condition with minor dents and dings and no major damage. The fit and
finish of the gun, like all Whitworths, is superior, to day the least. An
extraordinary, early 1862 production, Whitworth Military Rifle. P.O.R. Click on
image
for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
COLT WELLS FARGO |
This
is a solid example of the Colt Wells Fargo pistol manufactured in 1856.
The gun has a healthy brown patina, has been carefully cleaned and functions
nicely. It has all matching serial numbers to include the wedge, cylinder
pin, barrel, frame, trigger guard, backstrap and cylinder. The barrel
address is quite legible as is the Colt Patent mark on the left side of the
frame. The cylinder retains a considerable amount of cylinder scene.
The grips are solid and somewhat oil soaked. The wedge screw looks to be a
replacement but the rest appears to be authentic to the gun. The gun has
good lines and edges and is still relatively sharp. A good solid example
of a Wells Fargo Colt. Click on
image
for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
CONFEDERATE CAVALRY SABER |
This
is a rare
Cavalry Saber made by James Conning of Mobile, Alabama under contract for the
State of Alabama during the Civil War. Conning contracted with the State
of Alabama to produce 500 cavalry sabers and this is serial number 200.
This sword is in untouched attic condition. It is actually
smoother than it looks having never been cleaned. The blade has no
chips and is not pitted. It has a nice dark patina with a little
crust laying on top, all of which could be properly cleaned
with steel wool and oil and it would be very smooth. Conning's mounts were made out of cast iron and
is actually an indication of authenticity when you are looking at the mounts on
a Conning Scabbard to see a little chip here and there. The brass guard is beautifully patinaed and the grip
wire on is intact. Typical of an attic sword, it has a little paint on
the drag from when the closet it was stored in was painted. Characteristic of
Conning Cavalry Sabers, the leather on the grip has vaporized. Conning used the single worst batch of improperly tanned leather of
anyone in the Confederacy. Most Conning Cav Sabers come out of the woods
with the leather badly degraded if not gone altogether. He apparently knew
this because when he made the artillery sword for the State of Alabama, he
didn't even bother to put leather on those grips. They are just wood and
wire. This sword is properly serial numbered on the pommel cap, on the top
of the blade and on top of the guard. A really rare Conning Cavalry Saber in
untouched condition. Click on image for additional views.
SOLD!!
COURTNEY & TENNENT |
This is a very
rare sheet iron guard variation of the Courtney & Tennent Confederate Naval
Cutlass. It was manufactured by Mole in England. The top of the
blade is clearly marked Mole. It was made for Courtney & Tennent of
Charlston, South Carolina, which held a contract with the Confederate Navy.
It is a beautiful example. The blade still has most of it's original
polish and is very clearly marked COURTNEY & TENNENT, CHARLESTON. S. C.
The blade has no chips on its edge. The leather gripped scales are in
excellent condition. The sheet iron guard is not dented, warped or shifted
in any manner. Further, it is in its original scabbard which is in superb
condition, with a beautiful, original frog. It is just about as good an
assembly as you could ever hope to find. P.O.R. Click on
image
for detail photos!!
SOLD!!
COLT CUSTOM SHOP SINGLE ACTION |
These
guns were commissioned by the Winchester Museum of the Buffalo Bill Historical
Center in Cody, Wyoming. They were a limited edition of 250 cased guns
produced by the Colt Custom Shop. They were made to commemorate William F.
"Buffalo Bill" Cody. It is scroll engraved with punch dot background,
nickel plated with a gold plated ejector housing, cylinder pin, cylinder, hammer
and trigger. The grips bear the Colt Custom Shop medallion and are
elephant ivory. The scrimshawed likeness of William F. Cody is almost
photographic in it's quality. The backstrap bears William F. Cody's
signature and the left forward portion of the barrel is inscribed "Buffalo Bill
Historical Center, Winchester Museum, One of 250." The left side of the
barrel also has the image of a horse and rider. The gun is new and the
cylinder is unturned. The Moroccan leather, gold embossed case was
especially made by Arno Werner, chief book binder for the rare book collection
at Harvard University's Houghton Library. This is a very impressive Colt
Custom Shop product. FFL
Required!
SOLD!!
COLT WELLS FARGO |
This
is a solid example of the Colt Wells Fargo pistol manufactured in 1856.
The gun has a healthy brown patina, has been carefully cleaned and functions
nicely. It has all matching serial numbers to include the wedge, cylinder
pin, barrel, frame, trigger guard, backstrap and cylinder. The barrel
address is quite legible as is the Colt Patent mark on the left side of the
frame. The cylinder retains a considerable amount of cylinder scene.
The grips are solid and somewhat oil soaked. The wedge screw looks to be a
replacement but the rest appears to be authentic to the gun. The gun has
good lines and edges and is still relatively sharp. A good solid example
of a Wells Fargo Colt.
SOLD!!
UNUSUAL DUELING PISTOL |
During
the 1850's Natchez, Mississippi was one of the wealthiest towns in America.
The gunsmiths who worked in Natchez built guns for some very well heeled
customers and often produced some very unusual pieces. This pistol is, for
all practical purposes, a late Dueling Pistol. The drop of the grip, the
coming up quality of the architecture, fine sites and adjustable trigger are all
characteristics of a Southern Dueling Pistol. By the 1850's, the caliber
of dueling pistols became smaller and rifled bores became common. Earlier
production dueling pistols were smooth bore and rifling was considered to be
less than gentlemanly. This gun has an bore that is approximately 42
caliber. This piece is astounding in that it has an 18 inch barrel with a
patent breech. Whoever it was made for was farsighted or was in middle to
advanced age, as the rear sight is positioned well toward the end of the barrel.
The workmanship on this gun is of the highest quality with good finish and fit
and profuse engraving. The barrel of the gun is turned round at the
muzzle. This is to accommodate a loading block which minimizes the wear at
the edge of the bore and aids in precision loading. H. G. Newcomb was a
fixture in the Natchez gun trade for some time and his work is very scarce.
He did make a variety of different guns, i.e. Half Stock Sporting Rifles,
Deringers and obviously Dueling Pistols. A very significant Southern made
pistol. P.O.R. SOLD!!
U. S. ISSUE |
This is a strong, very good
condition U. S. issue .44 Caliber 1860 Colt Army. It is early Civil War
Issue manufactured in 1862. The gun is complete with very good markings,
has all matching serial numbers with the exception of the wedge. The wedge
is an original Colt wedge which is unnumbered. The barrel address is nice
and clear as are the frame markings and the majority of the cylinder scene is
distinctly present. The back of the cylinder retains remnants of the
safety pins and the grips have their original oil finish with good legible
cartouches on either side. The military sub-inspection marks are present
on both sides of the barrel, on the cylinder, backstrap, trigger guard and
grips. The grips are clearly numbered to the gun in India ink beneath the
backstrap. The gun is mechanically excellent, tight and solid as a rock.
It has moderate wear and no major disfiguring of any kind. A solid,
honest, very good condition U. S. Issue Colt Army.
SOLD!!
PERIOD OFFICER'S |
Period Officer's Custom Made Military Holster For Colt Model 1900 Sight Safety. This is NOT a new reproduction holster. It is a commercially made copy of the Arsenal Holster made for the Model 1900 Sight Safety. It would have been a part of an officer's privately purchase equipment around 1900 or so. We tend to call such outfits Sam Brown Rigs today. It is of the period when officer's were beginning to purchase early Colt Automatics as their personal service equipment. SOLD!!
CONFEDERATE |
This is a very nice, early Kerr Revolver with liberal amounts of blue mixing with a beautiful thin, brown patination. It is what the new book "The English Connection" describes as a 2nd Type Kerr Revolver. That is, it has the early loading lever with the forward placement of the lever screw, without the groove in the top strap. It is a very early gun but is JS & Anchor marked and would have been in the first contract delivered to the South. The cylinder and frame number are matching. The mechanics are excellent and the grips are superb. It is complete and has an exceptionally nice look to it. The JS & Anchor, which is the Confederate inspection stamp, is upside down in the grip panel at the end of the bottom frame tang. The gun is complete, all the nipples are intact and it has an exceptionally pleasant appearance. SOLD!!
CONFEDERATE |
This gun is
without question, a Confederate import. The South purchased these guns in
the serial number range from about 32XXX to about 41XXX. The are listed on
the Pratt List and replete in the historical record. The new book, "The
English Connection" lists one of these which is identified to a Confederate
Artilleryman, which is 233 numbers from this very gun. The London Armoury
Company manufactured the Beaumont Adams concurrently with the Kerr Revolver.
While the Kerr was bought under contracts, it would appear the Adams was
purchased open market as funds were available. Their Confederate
association cannot be denied. The ones Southern purchasing agents bought
will generally not have dealer or agent markings on the top strap. This
gun shows moderate wear, has matching numbers, is complete with excellent
function. You will note, there is a neat lanyard hole drilled in the grip.
To my mind, that is not a defacement. It is further indication of its
military use, probably by Confederate Cavalry.
SOLD!!
This is an original Holster for a Confederate Kerr Revolver. It has the perfect impression of a Kerr Revolver worn into its surfaces. The holster is well used and has a couple of period repairs. You will find this holster pictured on Page 358 of the book "The English Connections." It is shown among a group of holsters which were issued with English revolvers. P.O.R. SOLD!!
COLT MODEL 1900 SIGHT SAFETY |
This is a Model 1900 Sight Safety, Second Army Issue, U.S. Trial Guns. Only 200 of these guns were made for the U.S. Government. They were sent into the field as trial guns. Most went to the Philippines. They are a critical step in the development of an acceptable automatic pistol for the U. S. Army. The information gained from the trial utililizing these guns, led to the development of the Model 1902 Military. From there, the progression of the development moves to the 1907, the 1909, the 1910, and eventually the time honored 1911. The lessons learned at each stage of development were eventually incorporated into the 1911. As a test gun, it is truly rare. There is plenty of blue mixing with light patina, the gun having been well cared for and moderately used. The gun is properly US marked and will letter shipped to the United States Ordnance. It has a matching numbered slide, correct second issue grips and nice nickel mag with the patent date on the bottom. It is in an original, unaltered sight safety configuration. Click on image for additional views. P.O.R. SOLD!!
UNALTERED SLIDE |
Unaltered Slide For Model
1907 US Trial Gun. This is an unnumbered, unaltered slide for a Model 1907 US
Trial Gun. 200 of these guns were made by Colt for US Army Trials. The 200 guns
were issued and then withdrawn to the factory, altered then reissued. A part of
that process was to open up the ejection port by machining the lower edge on the
right side. This slide has not been so altered. It is in the original
configuration of the Model 1907 and is exceedingly rare. The slides for the 1907
were serial numbered in the dovetail slot beneath the rear sight. This one has
not been numbered. It has an intact, correct firing pin and rear sight. It is
missing the extractor, the bullet indicator and the firing pin stop. The slide
retains about 90% of its original Colt finish and has very clear and distinct
markings. No major dents, dings, pitting, etc. Click on
image for additional views.
SOLD!!
CONFEDERATE ENFIELD RIFLED MUSKET |
This
is an attic condition, straight out of the woods Confederate Enfield, bought by
Sinclair, Hamilton & Company under contract with Confederate Ordnance.
Sinclair, Hamilton & Company had a large contract with the Confederate
Government and purchased P-53 Enfields from many different makers. Early
in the war, Barnett had an individual contract to supply the Confederacy.
That contract was terminated and later his products seemed to be absorbed by the
Sinclair Hamilton & Company purchases. This gun has the Sinclair Hamilton
& Company inspector mark "IC" stamped twice, opposite the lock in the stock.
One stamp is block letters and the second stamp is within a cartouche. It
is barely visible but the Sinclair Hamilton & Company mark (S over HC over an
Arrow) is stamped on top of the butt stock, just in front of the butt plate
tang. The gun is missing its rear sight, front barrel band and ramrod.
There is a sliver of wood broken out at the nose cap on the left side. The
hammer will not cock, probably a broken sear spring. I don't see any
distinct rifling in the bore, there may be traces. An attic, straight out
of the woods, Confederate P-53 Enfield at a reasonable price. Click on
image for additional views.
SOLD!!
U. S. MODEL 1816 MUSKET |
This
is a Model 1816 Springfield dated 1826. The gun is complete with an
original ramrod, swivels, etc. All the components appear to be original to
the gun except the external lock parts. The lock is clearly dated 1826 as
is the top of the barrel. The proof marks are visible at the rear of the
barrel and the cartouches are still legible on the left side of the stock.
The stock is in decent condition for one of these with numerous dents and dings
and an age crack or two toward the end of the butt. My guess is the gun is
a reconversion from a cone in the barrel US Arsenal conversion. The
hammer, pan, frizzen and frizzen spring all seem to be reproduction parts added
to the lock plate a long time ago. The fitting of the parts is quite
good and the lock functions great. There is an interesting mark on the
forward portion of the trigger plate, just in front of the trigger guard, the
capital letters C A V are stamped. I don't know what this is. It
could be an inspector mark or could be some sort of unit designation. At
any rate, it is a decent representative 1816 that is reasonably priced.
Click on image for additional views.
SOLD!!
SOUTHERN HALF STOCK RIFLE |
A
beautiful Half Stock Rifle made by Peter W. Kraft, Columbia, South Carolina in
.44 caliber and the only rifle of his make I have ever run across. I have
owned his Deringers and heard of his Dueling Pistols but I have never seen one
of his rifles before. His shop was located at 184 Main Street, Columbia,
South Carolina from about 1846. He was a heck of a gunsmith and obviously
had a well heeled clientele. This gun dates from the mid to late 1850's
and is reflective of the wealth that existed in South Carolina prior to the
Civil War. The barrel is 32 inches, patent breech, gold banded with a gold
cleanout plug. It has a three leaf, flip up rear sight and dovetail front
sight. The bore in this gun is virtually flat new with seven groove fast
turn rifling. It should have been a very accurate and relatively long
range shooter. The stock appears to be a deluxe wood with checkered wrist
and is iron mounted. It has a nice beavertail molded cheek piece on the
left side and an elaborately engraved patch box on the right side. The gun
has an adjustable, single trigger and is very delicately, tastefully and
professionally engraved. The lock, hammer, tang, trigger guard, butt
plate, patch box, etc. are all engraved. The patch box cover reflects a
bear standing on a rocky craig. The lock plate features a running deer.
The execution of the engraving is very impressive. It also has a horn nose
cap. It is in a strong, pleasant, very good state of condition with no
major pitting and an extremely stylish overall look. It has a small sliver
of wood missing along the stock edge in front of the lock plate.
Click on image for additional
views.
SOLD!!
COOK & BROTHER RIFLE |
This is a strong, honest condition, early Athens production Cook & Brother two band rifle. The barrel and lock assembly have a light to medium patination. The brasses are nice and even in coloration. The wood looks like it is actually cherry, which has a little different graining pattern than walnut. It is dark with a reddish undertone with minor dents and dings. This gun is completely original with two parts that are original Cook but taken from other rifles during the period of use. The hammer screw is original Cook but has a different number than the lock assembly. The front barrel band is original Cook but is from a gun in an earlier serial number range. These additions are no doubt due to the efforts of unit armorers to salvage damaged guns and keep the rest in the field and operating. The lock is clearly marked with the First National Confederate flag behind the hammer and Cook & Brother, Athens, GA 1863 in front of the hammer. The barrel is marked behind the rear sight, Cook & Brother over Athens, GA 1863 over the serial number 3499. The left rear of the barrel has the "PROVED" mark stamped up side down, which is correct . The barrel shows twists and metal flaws, which were present when it was made. The front and rear sites are original and intact. The breech plug and barrel have matching sub-assembly numbers on the bottom. Although the bore is still a little dirty, rifling is clearly evident. The lock assembly has completely matching subassembly numbers. The lock plate, hammer, the internal lock screws, sear, bridle and tumbler all have matching sub-assembly numbers. As pointed out earlier, the hammer screw has a different sub-assembly number. The tang screw and both lock plate screws are correctly serial numbered to the gun and are original. The rear barrel band also has matching numbers. There is very little burn out behind the nipple in the stock. This is an early Athens production gun and as such, was made in the New Orleans configuration, possibly from left over New Orleans production parts. The trigger guard is two piece, exactly like the New Orleans trigger guard. The rear swivel on this gun is also original and configured exactly like the New Orleans rear swivel. Later in Athens production, they adopted a one piece trigger guard with a boss for mounting the rear swivel which was integral to the casting. A really nice, authentic example of the early Athens production Cook Rifle. As Cooks go, a solid, intact 1863 production gun is relatively hard to come by. SOLD!!