Page 122 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 247 Very Scarce Perry Patent Arms Co. Breech Loading Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 385, 54 cal., 20 3/4 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Estimates vary on the total number of Perry breech loaders manufactured by the Perry Patent Arms Co. of Newark, New Jersey, around 1855-1857. All estimate ranges are relatively small, and just 200-250 of these “long frame” Navy type carbines are believed to have been made. The Navy ordered 150 of these carbines in 1856, but only 50 were accepted after the inspectors rejected them twice. Another 200 were ordered by the Army with “short frames,” but none are believed to have been manufactured. This one is in the Navy carbine configuration but has no visible government markings suggesting it was sold on the open market. It may have still been pushed into service during the Civil War as a private arm or with the arms purchased by the Union and C.S.A. in the rush to arm the troops. It has a blade front sight, notch rear sight, “A.D. PERRY/PATENTED” and “PERRY PATENT ARM/NEWARK, N.J.” on the breechblock, the matching serial number on the barrel, breechblock, frame and lever and smooth stock and forearm. The matching serial numbers are significant given serial numbering of surviving Perry carbines is inconsistent and many have mismatched numbers. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the stock toe. CONDITION: Very good plus. The barrel has strong original brown finish mixed with an even brown patina. The remaining metal surfaces are a mixture of brown and gray patinas with traces of original darkened case colors on the buttplate and a couple patches of pitting. The wood is fine with some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 248
Scarce Civil War Era Cosmopolitan Breech Loading Percussion Rifle - NSN, 52 cal., 31 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. The Cosmopolitan Arms Co. was formed by Edward Gwyn and Abner Campbell in 1859 in Hamilton, Ohio, and later
operated under the partners’ names. Their rifles and carbines were manufactured using a combination of a patent by Gwyn’s former partner Henry Gross and a patent held by Gwyn who was an English immigrant and prior resident of New York. Several variations of these early rifles were manufactured around 1859-1862. Estimates of the total manufactured range from under 50 to just under 100. These rifles are one of the rarest Civil War era breech loading longarms. The lock is marked “COSMOPOLITAN ARMS CO.” in an arc above “HAMILTON O. U.S./GROSS’ PATENT”. The right side of the barrel has a bayonet lug which was used for a large knife style bayonet (not included). Mounted with a smooth straight grip stock with an iron buttplate. Includes a modern reproduction leather sling. CONDITION: Fair. The metal surfaces have a dark patina over extensive moderate to deep pitting throughout. There is an absent upper tang screw. The stock is good with a chip at the lock plate, stress crack at the buttplate tang and minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. As one of less than 100 manufactured, it will likely be a long time before you find another Civil War era Cosmopolitan breech loading rifle. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
120
Very Fine Civil War American Machine Works Smith Patent Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 478, 50 cal., 21 5/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Nearly all of the Smith carbines manufactured were issued to Union cavalry units and saw hard use during the Civil War, and somehow this example appears to have seen little to no use. It has standard markings and features, “LFR” inspection initials on the left of the breech, and a boxed script “LFR” inspection cartouche on the left of the wrist ahead of an oval script “JJC” (John J. Cornwell) inspection cartouche. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% original blue finish overall, strongest on the barrel with some light flaking on the breech spring and trigger guard, 70% case colors on the frame with a patch of small dings on the lower right side and some light freckling. Wood is also very fine with attractive raised grain and rich oil finish, some light scratches and minor chips, and two crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750 LOT 250 Fine Kentucky Marked Ball & Williams Ballard Military Rifle - Serial no. 10832, 46 RF cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Ball & Williams manufactured 1,000 of these military rifles in .44 rimfire for an April 5, 1864 contract for the state of Kentucky, with another 3,000 manufactured in .46 rimfire delivered between July 1864 and March 1865. This example falls in the later .46 rimfire range and has a blade front sight, 100 yard notch rear sight with folding leaf graduated to 250 and 500 yards, “KENTUCKY” marked off center on the top of the frame, leaving the tops of some of the letters faint. Matching serial numbers on the barrel and receiver at the breech, the manufacturer and agent markings on the left, Ballard patent marking on the right, extractor beneath the barrel, musket style forearm, and a carbine style stock and buttplate. Includes leather sling and wood tampion. CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a mixture of brown and grey patina and a few scattered patches of light oxidation or pitting. The wood is very good with some scattered light dings, scratches, and chips. The sling is good with some cracking. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 251 Civil War Era Sharps New Model 1859 Breech Loading Percussion Rifle - Serial no. 39885, 52 cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The New Model 1859 Military Rifles were manufactured from 1859 to 1862. The front end of this example features a bayonet lug and guide for a saber bayonet. Blade front sight and Lawrence pattern ladder rear sight mounted on the blued barrel with three barrel bands, the three-line address, and “NEW MODEL 1859” marking. The lock plate is roll-stamped with the Sharps 1852 patent markings
and the R.S. Lawrence 1859 patent markings. The left side of the frame is stamped with the Sharps patent marking. A patch box is featured on the right side of the buttstock.
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel and bands retain 90% arsenal refurbished blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. Hints of case colors remain on the frame underneath the blue. There is some speckling of white paint mostly on the very fine replacement wood which has some very scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 249