Page 97 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 195
Very Scarce D.S. Nippes Maynard Conversion U.S. Contract Model
1840 Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 69 cal., 42 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Edward Maynard originally intended to join the military but was forced to drop out of West Point due to ill health. He subsequently became arguably the nation’s leading dentist and was also an active inventor. He is most famous today for his automatic tape primer which ultimately proved too unreliable for sustained military use and his more dependable breech loading single shot rifles and carbines. Only 2,000 of these muskets were converted by D.S. Nippes of Philadelphia in the late 1840s using Maynard’s patented tape primer. These conversion muskets helped pave the way in development of the subsequent Maynard primed Model 1855 rifle-muskets. It has a bayonet stud on the bottom of the barrel, brass blade front sight on the forward strap of the front
barrel band, trumpet head ram rod, “US/JH/P” marked at the breech, “1843” dated barrel tang, “MILL CREEK/PA/1844” marked at the tail of the lock, “EDWARD MAYNARD/PATENTEE/1845” marked on the primer door, and two oval script inspection cartouches including “JH” (either Joseph Hannis or John Hawkins) and “WAT” (William A. Thornton). A “GDM” collection stamp is present at the toe. Includes a US socket bayonet and R. W. Oliver Pittsburg, PA leather sling. CONDITION: Very good with some mild flash pitting, scattered light pitting, mottled brown patina on the lock, and sharp markings in the metal. The stock is fine as re-oiled with some scattered dents, some light scratches, some chips ahead of the rear lock screw, a minor crack behind the lock, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very good with scattered light pitting. This is a solid example of a rare and early Maynard primed firearm and an important piece in the evolution of U.S. martial arms that precedes the U.S. Model 1855 series. Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
1861, and another 12,158 were manufactured at Harpers Ferry. The Model 1855 was the first U.S. martial arm designed for use with Minie bullets in .58 caliber, giving it a considerable advantage in accuracy and effective range over earlier military rifles. These rifles were widely used in the Civil War and first saw action in the Coeur d’Alene War in the Pacific Northwest in 1858. This example has an “1858” date lock and barrel with standard markings and early features including the long range rear sight. “SB” (Samuel Byington) and “JAS” (John A. Schaeffer) circled script inspection cartouches on the left stock flat. “US” marked buttplate tang. A coil of Maynard priming tape is included. CONDITION: Very good, retaining a bright polished barrel, some light pitting on the edges of the barrel and on the rear sight, and sharp lock markings. Stock is also very good with scattered light scratches mostly concentrated on the left of the buttstock, some slight darkening at the edges, very light chips behind the barrel tang, a minor chip to the left of the buttplate tang, and nice cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 197
Scarce Documented A. H. Waters & Company U.S. Model 1842 Percussion Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 69 cal., 42 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. A. H. Waters & Company Model 1842 muskets are described on pages 210-212 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III”, with this exact musket pictured on pages 210 and 211. It has a bayonet stud on bottom near the muzzle, brass blade front sight on the forward strap of the front barrel band, sling swivels on the middle barrel band and front of the trigger guard, and a “trumpet” head ramrod. “A.H.WATERS & Co/MILLBURY MASS” marked at the tail of the lock and an “eagle/US” motif at the center. “V/P/eagle head” proofs marked on the left side of the barrel at the breech and an “1853” dated barrel tang. Faint boxed script “JS” (John C. Stebbins) inspection cartouche marked on the left stock flat. “565” stamped into the top of the stock behind the barrel tang. Initials “TC” carved upside down into the right of the buttstock. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a US socket bayonet and period leather sling. CONDITION: Very good with some scattered light pitting and mostly visible markings in the metal. Stock is good with scattered scratches, dents, and chips, some cracks in the sides of the forend and in the ramrod channel, a repaired section behind the lock, carving as noted above, and chips at the toe. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very good with some light pitting and sharp edges, and sling is very good with some light cracking. Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
LOT 196
U.S. Springfield
Model 1855 Type I Percussion Rifle-Musket with Desirable Long
Range Rear Sight - NSN, 58 cal., 40 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock.
47,115 Model 1855 rifle-muskets were manufactured at Springfield Armory between 1857-
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750 95