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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. II BY MOLLER
LOT 130 Rare and Desirable Documented Large Bore Henry E. Leman Flintlock Northwest Trade Gun - NSN, 69 cal., 36 inch part octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut
stock. This exact trade gun is pictured on page 392 of “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume II: From the 1790s to the End of the Flintlock Period” by George Moller. Most Northwest Guns are around 20 bore (.62), but this one is 16 bore (.69). Moller states, “The large-bored fusil
described here is attributed to Leman’s contract of April 1 or December 1, 1857. Leman attempted to inform the government that the Indians preferred smaller-bored arms, but the government insisted on this caliber. These large-bored fusils were unpopular with the Indians, and no additional large-bored arms of this type were ordered.” Aside from the larger caliber, it is essentially a standard mid-19th century Northwest Trade Gun in form and has the over-sized trigger and iron trigger guard and classic serpentine side plate. The barrel has a small blade front sight, two banded transition points, the sitting fox over “PA” cartouche at the breech followed by “*H. E. LEMAN * LANCASTER PA,” false English proofs on the upper left flat, and a “HEL” and “P” on the upper left at the breech. The lock has the sitting fox and “PA” cartouche over “H. E. LEMAN/LANCASTER PA” at the center, light scroll and border engraving, military style cock with reinforced neck, and corresponding robust frizzen. The forend band, two ramrod pipes, side plate, and buttplate are brass. The stock is rather plain aside from the well-shaped raised tear drop side flats
and tang plateau. A circled animal design is on the left side of the buttstock. The ramrod has a shotgun style brass tip. CONDITION: Fine with much of the brown finish remaining on the barrel and trigger guard, gray and brown patina on the balance, some mild pitting mainly at the vent, aged patina on the brass furniture, and relatively minor overall wear, especially for an Indian trade gun. The stock is excellent and has some mild scratches and dings, some minor hairline cracks, and fairly light overall wear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 131
Revolutionary War Era Hudson Valley Flintlock Fowling Piece with Raised Relief Carved Stock - NSN, 70 cal., 45 1/4 inch round bbl., brown finish, maple stock. This fowling piece or fowler from c. 1760s-1770s has no visible maker’s marks, but the interior of the scroll engraved English style lock is marked “B-HOMER.” Benjamin Homer (1731-1776) and his son Benjamin Perrott Homer (born 1761) were merchants in Boston per Smith and Bitter in “Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock, 1760-1845.” They note: “A number of New England and upstate New York fowlers are known with B. Homer imported locks.” The proofs on the barrel are somewhat unclear but appear to be the early Birmingham private proof and view marks. These long smoothbore hunting guns were popular in the northern colonies during the late colonial era and into the American Revolutionary War and doubled as service weapons for many militiamen. Some where shortened and modified to take bayonets. This gun has a low rounded brass blade front sight and a groove cut at the breech for a rear sight. The furniture is brass and has some nice early styling, including the trigger guard which has spear shaped finials and a rounded profile. The stock has very nice flame figure, particularly in the forend, and has a somewhat straighter and lighter profile than the earlier fowlers and fine molding that flows into the raised relief carved floral patterns at the ramrod entry point, barrel tang, and rear of the trigger guard as well as nicely shaped flats with rounded points. George Moller’s small “GDM” collection mark is by the toe. CONDITION: Good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with dark brown patina and applied finish on the barrel, dark gray and brown patina on the lock, aged patina on the brass furniture, and mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has beautiful flame figure, 12 1/2 inch section spliced at the front of the forend, repaired crack in the butt, some other discreet repairs, minor chips and flakes around the lock mortise edges, and general mild dings and scratches. The carving and engraving remain mostly distinct aside from smoothing from handling on the forend. The lock will drop from half-cock but functions fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500 LOT 132 C. Gumpf Signed Engraved Smoothbore Flintlock American Long Rifle with Sweitzer Lock - NSN, 50 cal., 36 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, maple stock. George Moller noted this as a “trade rifle.” His tiny “GDM” collection mark is ahead of toe plate. The gun is certainly more plainly built than others signed by Christopher Gumpf, a gunmaker in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 1791 to 1834. The barrel has a smoothbore and appears to have been shortened and bored out smooth in the period. It has low profile rifle style sights, decorative floral and wavy line engraving in the midsection, “C Gumpf” signed on top, a stamp on the upper left at the breech that appears to be “CH,” and a decorative dot pattern at the breech. The flat lock is signed “SWEITZER” at center (Z horizontally inverted as seen on others) and has a lightly stepped tail with simple engraving. It is equipped with adjustable double set triggers and has brass furniture. The four-piece patchbox has piercings on the finial and side plates, light engraving, “2 W H” (2 probably a J) inscribed on the lid, and a release button on the heel of the buttplate. The toe plate is an interesting design with scalloped edge and three “key- hole” piercings. Silver oval inlays are pinned on the wrist and the shallow cheek rest, and there is a pinned brass plate with wavy line and dot patterns pinned on the left side of the butt. CONDITION: Good as reconverted to flintlock configuration and shortened/altered with dark brown patina and finish on the barrel, dark bluish tone on the lock, mild pitting mainly at the breech, aged patina on the brass and silver, distinct signatures, and generally crisp engraving. The stock is fine and has repairs in the forend including eye shaped spliced around the barrel wedges, some small chips and flakes at the edges and barrel tang, attractive flame figure, and mild scratches and dings. The lock and trigger setup requires the triggers to be set before cocking, and it will drop from half-cock when the trigger is pulled. Otherwise, it is mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
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