Historic Firearms & Early Militaria
Historic Firearms & Early Militaria
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Description
Bucks County Flintlock Kentucky Fowler From French Musket Parts
Lot # 1 (Sale Order: 1 of 370)
The lock is marked in script Maubeuge, indicating that is was produced at the Maubeuge Arsenal, and is additionally marked with a */B inspection between the cock and the pan. The inside of the lock is marked with a P and an R inspection mark. The lock is retained by two lock screws that pass through a 5.5" long, flat brass side plate that is typical of mid-to-late 18th century Pennsylvania-made long arms. The relief cast, rounded brass triggerguard is likely of English or Continental origins and incorporates classical motifs with some flowing foliate scrolls and an urn shaped finial. Inside the triggerguard is an iron trigger, suspended from a stock pin, that has a substantial reward curl at its end. The buttplate appears to be an American-made copy of the simple furniture often found on French fusils. It is secured by two screws through the bottom and has a stepped, geometric tang that is roughly 3.5" in length and terminates in a point. A 1.125" sheet brass reinforcement is present at the forend to reduce the possibility of the stock splitting. The design does not use an actual nose cap, simply this reinforcing strip. The only other furniture are two sheet brass ramrod pipes and an entry pipe. The two upper pipes measure 2.25" and 2.125" respectively, are somewhat crudely formed and have baluster turned rings near their ends. The entry pipe is 3" in length and has matching baluster turned rings. The pipes retain a 42.625" wooden ramrod that shows some decent age and wear, which may or may not be original to the gun. The two lock screws and the tang screw are handmade of the period and fit the gun and their associated parts perfectly.
While the lock and barrel are of French origin and the triggerguard appears to be a non-American made piece as well, the rest of the furniture appears to be American made, and there is no doubt that the stock is also of American origin. It retains the distinctive Roman nosed profile of French fusil stocks that were adopted by the Pennsylvania gunmakers, who made it a distinctive feature of the Golden Age Kentucky Rifle. The gun has a graceful 1.125" drop at the comb, a 3" drop at the heel and a relatively short 13" length of pull from the center of the buttplate to the iron trigger. While the butt retains the basis of the graceful French lines, they are executed in a very workman-like fashion and overall the stock is slightly blockier and sturdier than an original French fusil stock, although the wrist remains fairly slender. The stock does not incorporate the pronounced rail to the butt, commonly found on French-made fusils. The stock shows some simple incised line carving that mimics the English "beaver tail" apron around the tang and which is also present in a double line from the lock to the entry pipe on each side of the stock. This style of decoration is another feature indicative of guns built in the Bucks County region of Pennsylvania. The gun is handy and well balanced, weighing in at a about 7.5 pounds, about three-quarters of the weight of a period military musket.
Condition: Very good. For specific condition details, please go to cowans.com.
EST $2000 - 3000
Short Land Pattern Brown Bess Musket
Lot # 2 (Sale Order: 2 of 370)
Condition: Good. Barrel with what appears to be an old applied chemical brown mixed with some surface oxidation and age discoloration. Barrel mostly smooth with scattered roughness and some scuffed tool marks just behind the palm swell. Touchhole bushed with moderate oxidation and wear from percussion use. Lock reconverted to flint with welded pan and replaced external flint battery and hammer. Lock markings weak. Mechanically functional, moderately oxidized bore. Brass with a medium golden patina. Stock fine with scattered handling marks, bumps and dings, but free of any splices or significant repairs. Missing upper barrel pin.
EST $2500 - 5000
Raised Carved Kentucky Rifle By George Schreyer
Lot # 3 (Sale Order: 3 of 370)
Provenance: Property from the Estate of Lewis W. Walker, Jr., Hudson, OH
Condition: Fine. Barrel evenly and moderately oxidized with a dark brown patina. A small portion of the upper barrel flat was lightly cleaned long ago to make the signature more legible. Lock needs mechanical attention as the sear or tumbler is too worn to reliably hold any position. Bore fair, heavily oxidized and very dirty. Brass furniture with a medium golden patina indicative of an old cleaning now toning down. Stock fine, lightly cleaned and remaining in wonderful condition that is free of the repairs that are universally present in rifles from this period. Forend remains solid and free of splices or repairs. There is a small surface grain crack on the obverse of the butt, below the patchbox. Otherwise the stock retains crisp lines and carving and shows only some lightly scattered handling marks and minor mars. A fantastic early flintlock rifle with a wonderful look, made by a master craftsman.
EST $15000 - 25000
Flintlock Pistol With Nock Lock
Lot # 4 (Sale Order: 4 of 370)
Provenance: From the collection of Peter Wainwright Jr.
Condition: Good. Metal cleaned to bright, lock mechanically functional. Bore moderately oxidized with dirt and rust. Stock with numerous scattered bumps and dings, scattered dents and mars and some wood loss around the pins.
EST $500 - 700
Stag Handled Hand Forged Bowie Knife
Lot # 5 (Sale Order: 5 of 370)
Provenance: Property from the Estate of Lewis W. Walker, Jr., Hudson, OH
Condition: Very good. Metal with forging and tool marks, blade lightly sharpened, with scattered surface oxidation and a mottled brown and gray patina. Stag scales with nice age and a mellow patina.
EST $1500 - 2000
Pipe Tomahawk
Lot # 6 (Sale Order: 6 of 370)
Provenance: Property from the Estate of Lewis W. Walker, Jr., Hudson, OH
Condition: Head has a dark patination with some pitting from age throughout. Underside of haft shows 4" stable split with an additional split the length of the piece with some missing wood at bottom. Despite wood imperfections, the haft is stable and is not particularly fragile or in danger of disintegration.
EST $3000 - 5000
Engraved French And Indian War Powderhorn Dated 1759
Lot # 7 (Sale Order: 7 of 370)
Provenance: Property from the Estate of Lewis W. Walker, Jr., Hudson, OH
Condition: The horn is in excellent condition with a nice untouched dark amber to brown patina. The wood base has nice untouched patina. Engraving is nicely done. A great piece of folk art.
EST $3500 - 6500
Engraved Powder Horn Adam Fischer Merlend 1775
Lot # 8 (Sale Order: 8 of 370)
Condition: Horn with nice dark amber to brown patina.
EST $2500 - 5000
Engraved Powder Horn Attributed to Ephraim Guthrie, 1776
Lot # 9 (Sale Order: 9 of 370)
An Ephraim Guthrie (1737-1809) appears in records pertaining to Durham Connecticut, alongside a son Daniel (1764-1841). Ephraim appears to have served during the French and Indian War with a 1758 enlistment paper stating his residence as New Milford, Connecticut. His regiment, the Fourth Connecticut Regiment of Foot was placed under the command of Colonel David Wooster (a future American General), for the purpose of invading Canada. It participated in the disastrous attack on Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga) where British forces under the Command of General James Abercrombie suffered heavy losses against a defending French garrison of significantly smaller size. Guthrie is also believed to have served against the British during the American Revolution.
Condition: Warm caramel coloration to bottom area of horn tapering to a dark gray. Carvings are legible and retain good detail. Plug is tight and does not appear to have any serious cracks or splits.
EST $1000 - 2000
1777 Dated Engraved Powder Horn With Masonic Emblems
Lot # 10 (Sale Order: 10 of 370)
Condition: Horn has a nice untouched dark patina. Excellent overall with nice Masonic association.
EST $1500 - 3000
1758 French & Indian Wars Carved Flat Sided Horn,
Lot # 11 (Sale Order: 11 of 370)
Condition: Very nice dark brown patina. Overall excellent.
EST $1500 - 2500
Revolutionary War Engraved Powder Horn of Robert Burns,
Lot # 12 (Sale Order: 12 of 370)
Robert Burns served as a private in Captain David Speer's Company of Colonel Charles Pynchon's Regiment Massachusetts Militia which marched on the alarm to Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. He served for 22 days. At present, nothing more is known of Burn's Revolutionary War service.
Condition: Horn showing nice aged patina. Excellent condition.
EST $3000 - 5000
Josiah Morris His Horn Engraved Powder Horn Dated 1775,
Lot # 13 (Sale Order: 13 of 370)
Condition: This is an outstanding engraved powder horn, with nice untouched patina. More than likely a priming horn and part of a set.
EST $2000 - 3500
Folk Art Carved Powder Horn Identified to John Attwood, 1777
Lot # 14 (Sale Order: 14 of 370)
Condition: The horn proper displays a deep yellow to mustard patina with sharp and crisp engravings. The spout has a dark brown patina with some wear near the edges. Nicks and dings with a split in horn running from the base towards the middle of the horn proper.
EST $2000 - 4000
British India Pattern "3rd Model" Brown Bess
Lot # 15 (Sale Order: 15 of 370)
Condition: Good. Metal with a thick brown patina and even pitting from poor storage. Mechanically functional, moderately oxidized bore. Wood crisp with scattered bumps and dings.
EST $1000 - 2000
Belgian Contract British India Pattern "3rd Model" Brown Bess
Lot # 16 (Sale Order: 16 of 370)
Condition: Good. Metal cleaned to bright with most marks legible and scattered areas of pitting and wear. Mechanically functional, cock and pan replaced, some small lock parts replaced. Bore fair, very dirty and oxidized. Stock with scattered bumps and dings and an 8" crack extending from the counterpane diagonally to the barrel channel.
EST $700 - 1000
British India Pattern "3rd Model" Brown Bess
Lot # 17 (Sale Order: 17 of 370)
Condition: Good. Barrel with a thick brown patina and even pitting from poor storage. Lock cleaned to gray chemically with pitting but legible markings. Mechanically functional, moderately oxidized bore. Wood crisp with scattered bumps and dings.
EST $1000 - 2000
British Royal Navy Sea Service Musket
Lot # 18 (Sale Order: 18 of 370)
Condition: Good. Metal with a mottled and modestly oxidized patina showing light to moderate pitting and only traces of markings on the barrel. Lock pitted with mostly legible markings. Mechanically functional, good bore that is dirty and pitted. Brass with a mellow golden patina. Stock very good and fairly crisp with numerous scattered dents and dings and some wood loss along the top edge of the forend on the reverse.
EST $1000 - 2000
Springfield U.S. Model 1795 Type III Flintlock Musket
Lot # 19 (Sale Order: 19 of 370)
Condition: Good overall. Barrel has a mixed light plum and gray salt and pepper patination with some old pitting on lockplate and cock. Some pitting around breech from reconversion. Some replaced parts of lock. Markings somewhat worn but legible. Stock shows some minor bruises and handling marks but free of serious cracks or splits. Mechanically functional.
EST $1000 - 1500
British Royal Navy "Black" Sea Service Flintlock Musket w/ Bayonet
Lot # 20 (Sale Order: 20 of 370)
Condition: Very good. Retains traces of an old, likely period applied brown, with an evenly oxidized brown appearance throughout. Some light pitting is present around the breech area. The touch hole shows light erosion, is well centered in the pan, is properly tapered and shows no indication of having been molested in any way. Lock remains functional with a weak frizzen spring and some light pitting on the lock plate that partially obscures some of the markings. Brass with a medium golden patina, stock near very good with some added finish and indications of sanding forward of the rear pipe, suggesting that this area has some repair and/or restoration. Balance of the stock appears to be void of repairs, although some minor cracking and chipping is present around the lock mortise and the stock may have been lightly sanded long ago, leaving the storekeeper's mark weak and slightly smeared. Otherwise the wood shows the expected scattered bumps, dings and mars expected for a musket that was likely in service during the period of the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. Bayonet very good with clear markings and a thick brown patina that appears to include old, dried grease.
EST $3000 - 6000
Carved War of 1812 Boston Hussars Powder Horn,
Lot # 22 (Sale Order: 21 of 370)
The Boston Hussars were organized October 29, 1810 as a company of cavalry in the 3rd Brig., 1st Div. of the Massachusetts Militia. The second part of this company was the Boston light Dragoons. Both divisions were under the command of Major Josiah Quincy.
Condition: Engraving is nice and crisp, Nice untouched patina with a yellow look. A small crack line on the bottom of the horn at the base running up the horn from the base, doesn't detract from the horn.
EST $1500 - 3000
Johan Christoph Engraved Horn Dated Sept 2, 1780
Lot # 23 (Sale Order: 22 of 370)
Very little, if any, concrete information could be found on Johan Christoph. Presumably, York refers to the York, Pennsylvania militia. If so, then Revolutionary War period rosters for the combined Washington, Westmoreland & York Militia are available on CD published originally in 1906 as Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series Vol. II.
Condition: Turned spout is a modern replacement, horn has been cleaned at one time and has begun to re-patinate. A small chip at plug and two very old cracks. Wood plug has some scrapes as well as some nicks and dings.
EST $1500 - 3000
Engraved Powder Horn Attributed to Seth Van Matre July 4,1812
Lot # 24 (Sale Order: 23 of 370)
Condition: Some fading to engravings and minor loss of detail. Some minor cracks to plug but is still holding tight. Some minor insect damage to uncarved area.
EST $1500 - 2500
War of 1812 British Engraved Powder Horn
Lot # 25 (Sale Order: 24 of 370)
Condition: This horn displays a very good yellowing patina through the horn proper. The throat, spout and base have a dark brown patina. Horn has normal nicks and dings with the exception of one spot on the back of the horn which displays a gouge. This is a good horn that undoubtedly saw action on the British side of the War of 1812 and made its way back to the U.S. via our consignor.
EST $3000 - 5000
French And Indian War Engraved Powder Horn
Lot # 26 (Sale Order: 25 of 370)
Condition: Horn has a nice untouched dark-to-yellow patina.
EST $1000 - 2000