Lot # 252 (Sale Order: 252 of 600)
Low Estimate: 2,000High Estimate: 4,000
serial #851, .41 caliber rifled barrel and .50 cal smoothbore barrel, both about 30 1/4'', the rifle barrel octagonal, the smoothbore barrel part octagon, part hexadecagonal. The rifle barrel rates very fine with mostly bright sharp rifling and some very sparsely scattered light frosting within the grooves. The smoothbore barrel rates very good with remnants of scattered light pitting. Both barrels have light open engraving at the front near the sights, again at the breech and surrounding the makers name, a bit ahead of the rear sight and again at the point of transition on the other barrel. The rifle is sighted with a scant silver blade front and flat-top v-notch rear, step adjustable for elevation, with a simple half-moon silver blade front sight and buckhorn rear on the smoothbore barrel. The barrels retain generous original plum brown, flaking to a near even mix of the pewter gunmetal beneath, with scattered light oxidation, near overall, but it is light in character and unobtrusive. Each barrel is maker marked on the top flat ''N Kendall/Windsor VT'' and each is properly serial numbered to the frame on its underside, the smoothbore being a Remington ''twisted'' steel barrel, showing only remnants of the damascus pattern. The barrel frame shows light open engraving on the octagonal sections with dual turned medials and shows Win. Smith's ''Smith's Improved Patent Stud Lock'' patent marking on the long upper tang, also with light open engraving front and rear. The arm has lovely German silver furniture with a dual spur triggerguard, toeplate, crescent buttplate and nice patchbox, all with lightly chiseled extensions and with light open flowing rudimentary engraving typical of Kendall's arms. The tang of the buttplate is numbered to the gun, there is a lozenge-shaped German silver inlay on the cheekpiece and two open swirls inlaid left and right for the lock mechanism screws. The very close-grain stock appears very much to be of cherry, but possibly butternut, it has been stained a red-russet with a bit of darkening beneath the finish. The left side flared cheekpiece has a dual ribbed edge and the varnish is wonderful showing tiny antique age crackling throughout. Kendall, later of '' Robbins, Kendall & Lawrence'' fame, had his arms made in the Vermont State Prison, each of the makers paid 32 cents per day, interestingly if one of Kendall's rifles was returned by a purchaser, the craftsman who built the rifle was charged back for it until such time as the arm was made right. This example comes nicely cased in a walnut carry case with brass corners and handle in the lid with a wad punch, ebony handled turn screw, Bush pattern common top flask and a three cavity iron bullet mould casting two smaller projectiles and one of the larger. The sprue cutter is stamped ''84'', as-is the face of the rifled barrel. The interior shows a fading burgundy baize interior, neatly fitted to each of the arms components, externally the case rating very good with the expected minor dings and handling marks that come from the years. A single ramrod is included that neatly fits both sets of barrels, each of the barrels mounts solidly but turns just a whisker past top dead center. A very handsome two-barrel set, doubtless made for a customer of means, as most of Kendall's arms are very Spartan and very ''Yankee'', this example nicely embellished and is a two-barrel set to boot. (3C9905-1) {ANTIQUE} (2000/4000)
serial #851, .41 caliber rifled barrel and .50 cal smoothbore barrel, both about 30 1/4'', the rifle barrel octagonal, the smoothbore barrel part octagon, part hexadecago
...morenal. The rifle barrel rates very fine with mostly bright sharp rifling and some very sparsely scattered light frosting within the grooves. The smoothbore barrel rates very good with remnants of scattered light pitting. Both barrels have light open engraving at the front near the sights, again at the breech and surrounding the makers name, a bit ahead of the rear sight and again at the point of transition on the other barrel. The rifle is sighted with a scant silver blade front and flat-top v-notch rear, step adjustable for elevation, with a simple half-moon silver blade front sight and buckhorn rear on the smoothbore barrel. The barrels retain generous original plum brown, flaking to a near even mix of the pewter gunmetal beneath, with scattered light oxidation, near overall, but it is light in character and unobtrusive. Each barrel is maker marked on the top flat ''N Kendall/Windsor VT'' and each is properly serial numbered to the frame on its underside, the smoothbore being a Remington ''twisted'' steel barrel, showing only remnants of the damascus pattern. The barrel frame shows light open engraving on the octagonal sections with dual turned medials and shows Win. Smith's ''Smith's Improved Patent Stud Lock'' patent marking on the long upper tang, also with light open engraving front and rear. The arm has lovely German silver furniture with a dual spur triggerguard, toeplate, crescent buttplate and nice patchbox, all with lightly chiseled extensions and with light open flowing rudimentary engraving typical of Kendall's arms. The tang of the buttplate is numbered to the gun, there is a lozenge-shaped German silver inlay on the cheekpiece and two open swirls inlaid left and right for the lock mechanism screws. The very close-grain stock appears very much to be of cherry, but possibly butternut, it has been stained a red-russet with a bit of darkening beneath the finish. The left side flared cheekpiece has a dual ribbed edge and the varnish is wonderful showing tiny antique age crackling throughout. Kendall, later of '' Robbins, Kendall & Lawrence'' fame, had his arms made in the Vermont State Prison, each of the makers paid 32 cents per day, interestingly if one of Kendall's rifles was returned by a purchaser, the craftsman who built the rifle was charged back for it until such time as the arm was made right. This example comes nicely cased in a walnut carry case with brass corners and handle in the lid with a wad punch, ebony handled turn screw, Bush pattern common top flask and a three cavity iron bullet mould casting two smaller projectiles and one of the larger. The sprue cutter is stamped ''84'', as-is the face of the rifled barrel. The interior shows a fading burgundy baize interior, neatly fitted to each of the arms components, externally the case rating very good with the expected minor dings and handling marks that come from the years. A single ramrod is included that neatly fits both sets of barrels, each of the barrels mounts solidly but turns just a whisker past top dead center. A very handsome two-barrel set, doubtless made for a customer of means, as most of Kendall's arms are very Spartan and very ''Yankee'', this example nicely embellished and is a two-barrel set to boot. (3C9905-1) {ANTIQUE} (2000/4000)less...
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