Page 85 - Auction84-Book1
P. 85

   LOT 160
Documented U.S. Harpers Ferry Model 1803 Flintlock Rifle Dated 1816 - NSN, 54 cal., 35 7/8 inch part octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. Harpers Ferry Armory manufactured approximately 15,700 Type II Model 1803 rifles between 1814-1820. The U.S. Model 1803 was the first truly military rifle issued by the U.S. government. Prior rifles were basically civilian American long rifles purchased from gunmakers, but this model was designed and manufactured at the Harper’s Ferry Arsenal. Features include seven-groove rifling, low profile brass blade front and notch rear sights, faint proofs on the upper left barrel flat at the breech, an “eagle” containing a “US” marked shield at the center of the lock, “HARPERS/FERRY/1816” on the tail of the lock, brass furniture, and an iron ramrod with flared tip. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes pick and worm inside the patch box. This rifle is pictured in George Moller’s “American Military Shoulder Arms, Vol II” on page 343 (plate 149.2-D). CONDITION: Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration. The barrel retains most of the reapplied brown finish. The action has a mixed gray patina. The brass has a dark appearance. The refinished stock is also very good with a couple stress cracks at/near the side plate and minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 161
Scarce Robert Johnson U.S. Contract Model 1814 Flintlock Smoothbored Rifle - NSN, 58 cal., 33 inch part octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. According to page 404 of “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume II” by George D. Moller, “In November 1814. Robert D. Johnson of Middletown, Connecticut, contracted to deliver 2,000 rifles to the United States at $17 each, over a five-year period.” Actual delivery dates are shown from March of 1816 through June of 1819. Henry Deringer of “Philadelphia Deringer” fame manufactured a similar amount. These rifles were the predecessors of the more numerous Model 1817 “Common Rifles”. The Model 1814 can be quickly identified by its shorter and part octagon barrel as well as the smaller “stud” style retainers for the barrel bands. It has a dovetailed brass blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, “R.JOHNSON. MIDDLETOWN CONN.” marked on the top barrel flat behind the rear sight, “VT” and “P/US” on the upper left flat at the breech, browned iron furniture, and full-length stock with shallow cheek rest. The bore has been converted from its original .54 caliber rifled to approximately .58 caliber smoothbore, possibly a Civil War era conversion. It should be noted that this example is only marked “US” at the center of the lock and according to “Flayderman’s Guide 9th Edition” page 552 states, “A variation of the Johnson contract that does not bear his name, marked only US on lock, is considered rare; worth premium.” Includes leather sling and tools in patchbox. CONDITION: Good as converted to smoothbore and reconverted to flintlock configuration, with mottled brown patina and corrosion, and scattered light to moderate pitting. Stock is good as lightly sanded and re-oiled with some light scratches and dents, darkened areas, and some cracks around the buttplate. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 162 Henry Deringer U.S. First Contract Model 1817 Flintlock “Common” Rifle - NSN, 54 cal., 35 7/8 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Manufactured as part of the first contract for these Model 1817 rifles held by Henry Deringer of pocket pistol fame. He manufactured 13,000 of these rifles in multiple variations between 1817 and the early 1840s, with this example manufactured between 1819-1821. The lock plate of this first contract rifle lacks the date found on second contract rifles made from 1821 onward. These arms are among the first widely issued rifled firearms used by any military and saw use into the Civil War era. This example has a lock plate marked “US/H. DERINGER/PHILADA” (The H is covered by the cock), and is fitted with a replacement dovetail mounted brass blade front sight and standard fixed notched rear sight. It retains its .54 caliber bore with seven-groove rifling. “GF” ahead of “P/US” marked on the upper left flat at the breech. CONDITION: Good as reconverted to flintlock configuration, displaying lightly polished surfaces with some lightly worn markings and scattered light pitting. Stock is fair as lightly sanded and re-oiled with scattered light scratches, some occasional chips, a spliced and repaired forend starting from behind the rear band, cracks on either side of the lock including a mild crack running from the rear of the lock all the way around the wrist and through the rear lock screw, and a crack on the bottom left of the buttstock. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 163 Documented Alvin Pratt Signed New England Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 47 cal., 38 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. This rifle is featured and discussed on pages 293-296 of “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume 2: From the 1790s to the End of the Flintlock Period” by George Moller where it is noted as “typical of many privately owned rifles in the hands of the Massachusetts militia during the post-War of 1812 period. Alvin Pratt (1790-1877) began his apprenticeship in 1807 and established his own shop on the Mill Dam in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1821. Other rifles of this same pattern or a very similar pattern by Pratt are known and have sometimes been theorized to have been militia rifles as alluded to by Moller. The rifle has a rounded blade front sight, notch rear sight, “A. PRATT.” signed ahead of the rear sight, an “R./ASHMORE/WARRANTED” lock with light engraving accents, silver wire inlays around the barrel tang, brass trigger and furniture. Simple floral and border engraving on the patch box, concealed release under the toe plate, and full-length stock with diamond and star checkering on the wrist, and long cheek piece. “GDM” is discreetly marked ahead of the toe plate. CONDITION: Fine with brown patina along the barrel and lock, natural aged patina on the brass furniture, crisp markings and engraving, and general mild wear. The cock screw is a replacement, and the nose of the lock has a faint crack. The stock is also fine and has some discreetly repaired cracks along the forend, tension crack on the left at the breech, some wire absent by the tang, and minor chips, and some scattered scrapes. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
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   AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. II BY MOLLER
      AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. II BY MOLLER
      

























































































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