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LOT 221
Finely Engraved Gold Banded N. Whitmore Marked Heavy Barrel Back Action Percussion Rifle with Silver Inlaid Stock - NSN, 40 cal., 28 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/bright finish, walnut stock. Nathaniel and his son N.G. Whitmore were
gunmakers in Mansfield, Massachusetts, (located between Boston and Providence, R.I.) and manufactured a rifle presented to President Grant from citizens of Providence (in Smithsonian Museum). The younger Whitmore later worked for Sharps and Remington. The barrel has dovetailed blade and notch sights, serrated rings at the muzzle and transition point, “N. WHITMORE CAST STEEL” on the upper right flat next to the rear sight, scroll engraving at the breech, and an engraved and gold banded breech plug. It is equipped with adjustable double set triggers. The upper tang, lock, and German silver furniture are also engraved. The right side of the smooth stock has a silver patriotic spread wing bald eagle with a banner in its beak, and the left side has a large hunter star and scrollwork inlay on the cheekpiece and a silver turkey.
CONDITION: Very good plus with mostly gray patina on the iron, some light pitting and oxidation, aged patinas on the silver and German silver, generally crisp engraving and markings,
and mild overall wear including some dings and scratches. The stock has a very discreet repair along the top edge of the forend on the right, some
minor nicks and flakes at the edges, minor pressure marks and scratches, and some
figure in the butt. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
Highly Desirable Documented John Wurfflein Full-Stock “Turner” Percussion Rifle with Eagle Hilt Bayonet - Serial no. 26, 42 cal., 30 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/German silver finish, walnut stock. This rifle is pictured and discussed on pages 448-449 of “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume III: Flintlock Alterations and Muzzleloading Percussion Shoulder Arms, 1840-1865” where it is listed as a “.42 caliber full stock Turner rifle made by John Wurfflein of Philadelphia...” Moller’s “GDM” collection mark is by the toe plate. The Turner rifles are associated with the Turnverein aka Turner clubs created by German immigrants in the late 1840s and 1850s. Many of the German-Americans who formed and joined these clubs had participated in the failed 1848 revolutions in Europe which led to suppression of the movement within Germany, and, though they maintained strong ties to their German heritage, many Turners became fiercely patriotic Americans and fought for the Union during the Civil War. Gunmaker John Wurfflein himself was German immigrants who came over to the States in 1844 and was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Schuetzen club (Schuetzenverein). These shooting clubs were also key fixtures of German-American society. This rifle has sporting style blade and adjustable notch rear sights, a bayonet bar on the right side for the included saber bayonet which has a brass eagle hilt and a scabbard, “JOHN WURFFLEIN PHILADA” on top ahead of the breech, “J. WURFFLEIN PHILADA” on the lock, “26” on many of the components, adjustable double set triggers, German silver furniture, and a nearly full-length walnut stock with checkered wrist and shadowline cheekpiece. The brass ramrod has a threaded on brass ball tip, and a later leather sling is fitted on the sling swivels on the upper barrel band and front of the trigger guard bow. CONDITION: Very good with mottled gray and brown patina and mild pitting on the barrel, cracked upper tang, mild tool marks, cold blue on the hammer and breech plug, gray and brown patina on the lock, and light aged patina on the furniture. The re-oiled stock is fine and has worn checkering, some chips and slivers absent at the edges, a thin tension crack on the left flat, and mild marks and scratches. Mechanically fine. The bayonet is good and has aged patina on the hilt, gray patina and moderate pitting and edge wear on the blade, and heavy wear on the scabbard. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 222
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
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