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LOT 54
Scarce American Percussion Drilling Marked F. Smith - NSN, 16 cal., 29 1/4 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, highly figured checkered walnut stock. In “American Gunsmiths” by Frank Sellers “SMITH, F.,” maker of a 3 barrel percussion rifle, is listed as unlocated. He also lists a Frederick Smith of Sulphur Springs, Ohio, and one or two men of the
same name active in Union Springs and Fleming, New
LOT 53
Very Fine R. Liddle & Co. San Francisco Marked Half Stock Percussion Rifle with False Muzzle - NSN, 45 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, highly figured checkered walnut stock. Robert Liddle and Charles van Buren Kaeding purchased the Bogart Brothers
Sportsmen’s Emporium in 1859. The firm was initially known as R. Liddle & Co., and
this rifle was almost certainly manufactured before 1866 when Kaeding became
an active partner and the name changed to Liddle & Kaeding. Robert Liddle was a Baltimore trained gunsmith who immigrated from England, and the firm did manufacture
some of their own weapons and equipment and employed a number of gunsmiths. They are also known to have sold Henry rifles, Slotter & Co. copies of Henry Deringer’s famous pistols, and other arms manufactured in the East and were the largest firearms dealers in the Bay Area in the 1870s. The name changed back to R.
Liddle & Co. when Kaeding left the company in 1889
and eventually closed in 1898. The barrel is equipped
with a false muzzle, German silver blade front sight, and a
long U-notch sporting rear sight (elevator absent) and is marked “R. LIDDLE
& Co. SAN-FRANCISCO. CAST STEEL” between the rear sight and breech. The other
components have no visible markings and are casehardened. It is also equipped with double
set triggers, a spurred trigger guard with scrolling grip extension, a crescent rifle buttplate, and a
nicely figured half stock with pewter forend cap, checkered wrist, and no cheekpiece.
CONDITION: Very fine overall with 80% the original blue finish remaining with the balance having faded to an even plum brown along the barrel, the 75% vivid original case colors, minor spotting, some discoloration on the trigger guard, cracks in rear sight base, crisp checkering on the wrist, distinct markings, attractive figure in the butt, and general mild scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is a very attractive mid-19th century American sporting rifle sold by one of West’s great arms dealers.
Estimate: 3,750 - 4,750
60
York. The barrel rib is marked “F Smith” accented by a floral motif, and the locks are both signed “Smith.” The upper smoothbore barrels
are 16 gauge, and the lower rifled barrel is .36 caliber. The shotgun barrels
use the conventional side locks, and the rifled barrel uses an underhammer
powered by the trigger guard which acts as its mainspring and triggered
by a lighter pull on the right trigger. Cocking both the right hammer and
the underhammer and only pulling the trigger gently will only fire the rifled
barrel. Thus all three hammers could be cocked at once and then fired in
sequence. The rods are fitted to the sides of the rifled barrel, and the forend
has a pewter cap and silver wedge plates. The other furniture is all iron. The stock has a checkered wrist and attractive figure in the butt.
CONDITION: Very good plus with traces of original blue finish and case color patterns and otherwise mostly
a smooth brown patina throughout, some minor
oxidation and pitting, and general mild wear. The stock is fine and has some discoloration and
minor cracks in the forend, partially smoothed but distinct checkering on the wrist, beautiful figure, and minor marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive and scarce American drilling.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250