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LOT 174 U.S. Harpers Ferry Model 1841 Percussion “Mississippi Rifle” - NSN, 54 cal., 33 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Model 1841 is the first official percussion rifle adopted by the U.S. Military. Harpers Ferry Armory manufactured 25,296 Model 1841 rifles between 1846 and 1855. With most of these rifles receiving various alterations, this example is of the original Harpers Ferry pattern with no alterations or provisions for a bayonet, and still retains its original .54 caliber rifling for use with patched round balls. Fitted with brass blade front and fixed notch rear sights. It has standard markings and features including a browned barrel, casehardened lock, brass fittings, blued screw heads, and blued band retainers. Lock plate and barrel both dated “1854”. “JLR” (John L. Reseler) cartouche on the left flat of the stock. Includes a leather sling marked with a circled “G.T. WOODBURY/U.S./ORD. DEPT./SUB INSPECTOR”, wood tampion, tools and an extra nipple in the patch box. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 50% refinished brown finish on the barrel mixed with brown patina, and bright brass fittings. The casehardened lock has turned to a smooth gray/brown patina with attractive blue case colors visible on the hammer. Wood is very good with scattered light scratches and dents. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of a Harpers Ferry U.S. Model 1841 “Mississippi Rifle”. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 175
Fine, Documented State of New Jersey Marked U.S. Frankford Arsenal/Remington Maynard Priming System Conversion Model 1816 Percussion Rifle-Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 69 cal., 41 inch round bbl., bright
finish, walnut stock. Using Maynard primer locks and percussion bolsters supplied by Remington Arms Co., Frankford Arsenal converted Model 1816s flintlock muskets to percussion ignition as well as rifled the bores from 1856 to 1859. This example is dated “1858” on the lock tang and has the standard U.S./Remington markings on the lock. The buttplate tang is marked “US” and “10.” The State of New Jersey “NJ” marking appears on the left side of the barrel at the breech. New Jersey received approximately 2,000 of these conversions. The letter “B” is stamped on top of the barrel at the breech. The rear sight has a folding leaf graduated from 600 to 800 yards on the left branch and a base graduated from 1 to 4 on the left side. The left stock flat is stamped with the letter “V” along with an oval inspection stamp. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock.
Includes a “US” marked socket bayonet, iron ramrod with trumpet head and leather sling. This exact rifle-musket is pictured on pages 43 and 45 and the model is discussed on pages 42-52 in George D. Moller’s “American Military Shoulder Arms, Vol. III.” CONDITION: Fine, having a silver-gray appearance mixed with some areas light pitting. The wood is also fine with an absent chip along the ramrod channel and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
LOT 176
Scarce Documented U.S. Springfield Model 1851 Cadet Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 57 cal., 40 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. These Model
1851 Cadet muskets are described in depth on pages 243-247 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume III”, with this exact musket photographed on page 244 and 245. Springfield Armory manufactured a total of 4,000 cadet muskets c. 1852-1853 for use by various cadet schools around the country. They feature the
same lock as the Model 1847 Musketoon. It has a small bayonet stud on the bottom of the barrel near the muzzle, a blade front sight on the front of the upper barrel band, “1852” dated lock and barrel tang with standard Springfield lock and barrel markings. a diamond shaped brass plaque marked “49” is affixed on top of the wrist. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the
toe of the stock. Includes a US socket bayonet, “OHIO” marked leather sling, and wood tampion. CONDITION: Fine, bright surfaces with some light dings, very light flash pitting, and crisp markings. Stock is fine with scattered light dents and scratches and a chip ahead of the lock.
LOT 177 Documented Whitney Type I Second Variation Militia Percussion Rifle - NSN, 54 cal., 33 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Whitney Militia rifles are described in depth on pages 460-471 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume III” in which it states, “It is believed these rifles were made by the Whitney Armory from the late 1840s until 1861. Known sales to states and militia units occurred between early 1860 and early 1862.” This exact rifle is photographed on page 465 and 466 under the description for “Whitney (Type I) Militia Rifle, Second Variation” in which defining features are described, “1. There is no provision for implement compartment in the stock. 2. Most are equipped with saber bayonet studs with a 1” guide key, and the stud’s foot... is usually stamped with a bayonet mating number, such as ‘48.’ 3. Most have a standing leaf rear sight dovetailed to the barrel, but a few are equipped with the Sharps Model 1853 tangent leaf sight. 4. The barrel channel is not inlet, or is only partially inlet, for a ramrod friction retainer, and these rifles are not equipped with this spring. 5. ... No examples are known with butt plate tangs marked ‘US.’ 6. All known examples have .54 caliber bores rifled with seven grooves.” This example has an 1850 dated lock. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes leather sling and wood tampion. CONDITION: Very good with mostly bright surfaces, some scattered light to mild pitting, and clear markings. Stock is also very good as lightly sanded and re-oiled with some scattered dents, chips and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is excellent.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER