This trade gun is featured in the chapter "U.S. Contract Arms for the Indians" in "American Military Shoulder Arms, Vol. II" by George Moller on page 394 where it is noted as "attributed to delivery under one of two contracts let by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1857" based on its larger bore which he lists at .65 (measures .69-79). Those contracts only totaled 150-225 guns. It retains the basic form of the classic Northwest Trade Gun and has a three-stage smoothbore barrel with a brass blade front sight, false English style proofs on the left ahead of "HEL," "H.E. LEMAN" in an arch followed by "LANCASTER PA" on top of the breech section, and a tombstone fox cartouche at the breech. The lock has simple scrolls and is marked "LEMAN/LANCTR PA." The left flat has a simple lock screw washer. It has the classic over-sized trigger and trigger guard and a flat brass buttplate. The stock has raised plateaus on the flats and by the tang, and elongated triangle comb. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Good with mostly gray patina on the iron, mild pitting/oxidation concentrated at the breech, added rear ramrod pipe, aged patina on the brass, and relatively light overall wear for an Indian trade gun. The sanded, re-oiled stock is fair and has some small chips and slivers absent at the edges, pinned stabilized cracks on the left flat, additional cracks at the tail of the lock and butt, and mild overall wear. Mechanically fine (sets on full-cock only).