Daniel Baird Wesson (1825-1906) of Smith & Wesson fame began his firearms career by apprenticing to his brother Edwin Wesson in 1842. Edwin Wesson was one of the finest makers of target rifles in the 1830s and 1840s prior to his death in 1849. After his death, D.B. Wesson continued the business in Hartford, Connecticut, for a short while before his famous partnerships with Horace Smith. The Wesson target rifles remained among the best in the country and are known to have been used by multiple Civil War sharpshooters. This rifle has a false muzzle, a dovetailed silver coin blade front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, "D.B. WESSON" somewhat crudely stamped on top ahead of the rear sight, large breech plug with cleanout screw, boxlock style frame with back action lock, threaded upper tang for a peep sight, German silver spurred trigger guard, lightly figured walnut buttstock, and German silver buttplate. The interesting later takedown case is fitted to the rifle and has a variety of loading tools.

Very good with traces of original finish and otherwise dark brown and gray patina on the barrel and action, chipped replacement hammer, aged patina on the German silver, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has some thin cracks and chips in the wrist and mild dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are good with mild age and storage related wear and components of varying ages. Overall, a very attractive set.