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LOT 1130 Very Scarce Documented Revolutionary War Era Twigg Silver Mounted Flintlock Officer’s Fusil with Bayonet - NSN, 62 cal., 38 inch
round bbl., bright/silver finish, walnut stock. This exceptional officer’s fusil is pictured and discussed on pages 243-246 of “American Military Shoulder
Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms” by George Moller. British officers were traditionally equipped with spontoons
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. I BY MOLLER
and sergeants with halberds even after these arms became obsolete in warfare. They were used as a sign of rank and to direct their men. Privately purchased fusils were used by some officers during the French & Indian War. They became more widespread during the American Revolution but are rare and valuable additions to any collection of arms from the era. Since officer’s arms were a sign of their status, they are often finely mounted, carved, and engraved. George Washington forbid the carrying of fusils by Continental Army officers as he did not want his officers distracted from directing their men. The silver hallmarks on the buttplate and trigger guard tang include the “b” date code for 1777 and an “I-K” silversmith mark (likely John King). John Fox Twigg (1732-1790) was one of the greatest late 18th century English gunmakers. The convex lock plate is signed “Twigg” in script with scroll accents and has light border engraving. The 20 gauge (.62 caliber) barrel has a small bayonet stud on the underside for a socket bayonet, a silver front sight with flush inlaid “spider” base, “Twigg” signed in script with scrolling accents followed by “LONDON” on the sighting flat which has an engraved border and finial, London proof and view marks flanking Twigg’s “crown/IT” maker’s mark on the upper left at the breech, and a nice border at the breech edge. The upper tang is also engraved with scroll and floral designs. The furniture is silver. The four ramrod ferrules have banded designs. The sideplate has scroll, martial, and border engraving and has a screw in the tail in addition to the two lock screws. The wrist escutcheon has a shell finial on top and an urn on the bottom. is engraved with a coat of arms over the motto “PRO-ARIS-ET-FOCIS” (For Hearth and Home or For Altar and Hearth), a widely used motto. The trigger guard has a classic acorn finial, quiver of arrows along with a bow and club on the bow, and scroll and border designs on the tang. The buttplate has scroll, classical arms, and border designs on the tang. The richly finished stock has raised shell and scroll carving around the barrel tang. The ramrod has a silver tip. Includes a loose fitting bayonet. CONDITION: Fine. The silver displays attractive aged patina throughout, including some dark tones in the protected areas. The lock has primarily silver-gray patina with some darker gray patches, and the barrel has dark gray and brown patina, some vice marks, and light pitting. The refinished bayonet is fine and is dark brown with some mild pitting. Aside from a sliver absent under the nose of the lock, the stock is very fine and has most of the glossy finish, light scratches and dings, a few faint cracks in the forend, and light overall wear. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500 LOT 1131 Gold Inlaid Flintlock Officer’s Fusil by Nicolas-Noel Boutet of Versailles - NSN, 59 cal., 35 3/8 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Nicolas-Noël Boutet (1761-1833) was gunmaker-in-ordinary to King Louis XVI in 1788, became the artistic director of the newly formed arms factory at Versailles in 1792, then its head director in 1798, and continued to work under direction of Napoleon. The Versailles factory was the main manufacturer of regulation weapons for the French armies. Under Boutets direction, some of the finest “de luxe” firearms ever made flowed from Versailles and were presented to military officers, politicians, and foreign dignitaries. “Boutet/ Versailles” marked at the center of the lock, gold inlaid stars at the breech with three gold inlaid proofs. Features a bottom mounted bayonet lug, three barrel bands with the front sight mounted on the rear strap of the front barrel band, full length stock, and sling swivels mounted on the middle band and trigger guard finial. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes reproduction leather sling. CONDITION: Fine, mostly bright surfaces with some scattered light surface pitting, brown patina on the fittings, half of the gold inlay remains, and crisp markings. Stock is also fine with scattered light scratches and handling marks and a small chip at the toe. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1132
Scarce and Attractive Revolutionary War-Era Gentleman’s Silver Hilted Small Sword with Inscribed Scabbard - Manufactured in England circa 1750, blades of this style were highly popular in Europe and among the well-to-do of the 13 Colonies. Lacking the well established sword making centers of Britain and the Continent, an American gentlemen would have to import a blade of such quality, most likely from England. Measuring 38 inches in overall length, and fitted with a deeply fullered, triangular 32 inch blade with scroll engraved decoration. Silver hilt, with a pierced-through oval guard with floral designs, dual quillons and knuckle guard with raised “bead” designs, hollow three-dimensional pattern pommel with hallmarks, and a wood grip wrapped in silver bands and twisted wires. With a silver appointed scabbard, which is inscribed “Capt. Stitt/U.S.A./1776.” on the rear of the throat. So far, research has produced no data on the identity of Captain Stitt. CONDITION: Good, some mild spotting and handling marks are present on the blade, which shows evidence of an old polish and a mild bend to the right. The grip wrapping has shifted upward and is slightly loose, otherwise the hilt is very good, showing a deep antique patina overall with minor rubbing on the high points generating an attractive contrast. The scabbard is incomplete; the original leather outer lining is absent, with the inner rawhide core exposed and broken 1/3rd of the way down the blade. The silver fittings all appear present, with a deep patina. An attractive sidearm fit for a well-regulated Colonial Gentleman. Estimate: 3,500 - 6,500
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