Page 260 - Auction84-Book3

LOT 3502
Documented, Unusual Frank Wesson Two-Trigger Cape Gun
- NSN, 16/.44 cal., 26 inch solid rib bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut
stock. Offered here is a highly unusual, possibly one-of-a-kind experimental, cape gun by noted 19th century American gunsmith Frank
Wesson. This combination gun is built on Wesson’s two-trigger rifle design, circa 1872-1880s and is pictured in “Frank Wesson Gunmaker, Volume III” on page 275. This
cape gun was once owned by Dick Littlefield, one of the authors of the three volume set “Frank Wesson Gunmaker.” Frank Wesson, brother of Smith & Wesson co-founder
Daniel Wesson, produced his famed two-trigger rifle in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1859 to 1888. Built for nearly 30 years, these rifles saw a great number of variations
produced and were highly popular and well-used during the era. In fact, these rifles were purchased by many state governments during the Civil War. As a cape gun, this Wesson two-trigger
arm certainly breaks from the traditional single shot rifle series commonly encountered. The nickel plated receiver is the early design with two round side plates and early nickel plated Vernier tang sight.
A forward trigger acts as the release for the barrel set, and two triggers operate separate hammers for each barrel. The shotgun barrel is in 16 gauge and the rifle barrel is in .44 CF caliber. The 26 inch barrels have a
solid rib with a blade front sight, is drilled and tapped for a rear sight, and is marked “F. WESSON PATENT” (double stamped) over “Worcester Mass.” The checkered forearm and straight grip stock are nicely figured walnut. The buttstock is fitted with a nickel plated crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrels retain 80% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The frame retains 95% original nickel plating. The wood is very good with worn checkering and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Richard Littlefield; The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3503
Frank Wesson Two-Trigger Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 6015, 25 cal., 24 1/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1870s-1880s.
Features centerfire floating firing pin, globe, sporting (elevator absent), and tang mounted peep sights and a “5207” numbered barrel.
CONDITION: Fine as refinished/restored overall with nearly all of the finish remaining, replacement sights, minimal edge wear on the stock, and general light handling and storage
marks. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 700 - 1,100
LOT 3504
J. Stevens Tip-Up Rifle - Serial no. 397, 38 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in the 1870s to 1895 in numerous variations. This
example is a tip-up rifle without the forend. The barrel has a hooded post front sight with fixed German silver blade on top, a folding combination aperture and notch
rear sight and the single line J. Stevens address/patent marking on the upper left flat. Two-tone finish with blued barrel and nickel iron frame, trigger guard and buttplate.
The stock is straight grip and uncheckered fancy grain walnut.
CONDITION: Excellent. The barrel retains 85% plus slightly faded original blue finish. The remaining metal surfaces retain 98% original nickel. The stock is excellent with
some minor dings and scratches and most of the original varnish remaining. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 1,300 - 1,900
LOT 3505
Stevens Hunter’s Pet No. 34 Pocket Rifle with Matching Stock - Serial no. 1688, 38 CF cal., 18 inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured from 1872 to 1900. It has a globe front sight, folding ladder rear sight and matching serial numbers on the grip frame, grip cap, stock and barrel.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel retains 75% faded original blue finish. The frame retains 98% original nickel plating. The stock retains 85% original nickel plating and has
been repaired at the buttplate heel. The grips are fine with minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 1,100 - 1,600
LOT 3506
Stevens Hunter’s Pet No. 34 Pocket Rifle with Matching Stock - Serial no. 915, 32 CF cal., 18 inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured from 1872 to 1900. It has a globe front sight, folding ladder rear sight and matching serial numbers on the grip frame, grip cap, right grip panel, stock
and barrel.
CONDITION: Excellent. The barrel retains 90% original blue finish. The frame retains 95% original nickel plating. The grips are fine with minor handling marks. The
stock retains 70% original nickel plating with an area of moderate pitting. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
LOT 3507
Smith & Wesson Military & Police 2nd
Model (Model of 1902) Target Double Action Revolver with H.M. Pope
Barrel - Serial no. 30489, 38 S&W cal., 8 3/8 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1902/03 as a standard Target Model and subsequently upgraded with
a Pope barrel. The barrel is marked “H.M.POPE” on the top and Pope’s number “269” is on bottom. The trigger face is checkered. Right grip panel numbered to a different gun. Matching serial numbers on the cylinder and butt. Per the included letter from S&W historian Roy Jinks, the revolver was not shipped from the factory to Pope.
CONDITION: Fine as rebarreled by H.M. Pope with the barrel retaining 97% blue finish and
the frame and cylinder retaining 70% original blue finish with the grip straps having smooth brown patina mixed with spotting. 98% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are fine with minimal minor handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3508
Stevens New Model
Pocket Rifle No. 40 with
Matching Stock - Serial no. 22067, 22
cal., 15 inch part octagon bbl., blue/
nickel finish, walnut grips. Manufactured
from 1896 to 1916. It has the two line barrel address (without
patent marking), dovetail blade front sight, two leaf Lyman rear sight,
peep sight marked “81” on base, and matching numbers on grip frame, butt cap,
stock and barrel.
CONDITION: Excellent. The barrel retains 95% original blue finish with some loss at the muzzle and thinning on the balance. The frame retains 98% original nickel plating. Stock is excellent with 98% plus original nickel remaining. The grips are also excellent with some minor handling marks mostly on the left panel. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection.
Estimate: 1,100 - 1,600
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