Historic Firearms and Early Militaria Spring Sale

Historic Firearms and Early Militaria Spring Sale

Tuesday, April 26, 2016  |  10:00 AM Eastern
Auction closed.
Historic Firearms and Early Militaria Spring Sale

Historic Firearms and Early Militaria Spring Sale

Tuesday, April 26, 2016  |  10:00 AM Eastern
Auction closed.
Internet Premium: 20.00%
See Special Terms for additional fees
Share:

Description

Featuring the Cliff & Lynne Young Collection of Confederate Arms and Part II of the Mel Flanagan Collection of European Arms. Plus the Raymond Geddes Collection of Civil War Arms, and much more.

Cowan's Auctions


(513) 871-1670
Need help with bidding? Get Help
Catalog Terms of sale
Search Catalog :
Sort By :
Go to Lot :
Go to Page :
Per Page :
Pg : 3 of 28

Elliptical Bore Flintlock Blunderbuss with Folding Stock by Mercier 

Lot # 51 (Sale Order: 51 of 698)      

1.5" diameter elliptical bore, 18.75" round to octagonal barre with inlayed gold bands and intricate silver leaf and vine motifs at the muzzle, middle and breech.  Barrel has a dark patina finish protected by a coat of clear lacquer, engraved tang, original flint.  Lock has convex goose neck hammer and plate marked "MERCEIR", properly functioning.  Walnut stock has raised carving around the ramrod channel and triggerguard, silver wire inlay on the sides of the forearm, around the barrel tang and on the comb of the buttstock, oval mother-of-pearl wrist escutcheon.  Iron furniture with stylized fern and vase finials, side plate with saddle ring and long hook.  Stock hinged at the wrist with button lock. Complete with wood ramrod with iron disc tip. 

Condition: Bore dark but smooth, no pitting, metal and stock well preserved showing light age and service wear.

EST $ 2000 - 3000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 3,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

English Flintlock Blunderbuss by Rimes 

Lot # 52 (Sale Order: 52 of 698)      

1.25" diameter bore, 16" brass round barrel with cannon style muzzle, London proofs on the breech, iron tang, original flint. Rounded goose neck hammer and lockplate maker marked "RIMES", action functions properly.  Walnut stock with swirled pattern grain, raised beaver tail carved around the barrel tang, brass furniture, wood ramrod with horn tip. 

Condition: Bore dark but should clean to good, lock finish aging to gray, brass has been cleaned in the past, stock has some wood lose around the lock and a crack around the side plate.

EST $ 2000 - 3000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 2,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

English Flintlock Blunderbuss with Folding Bayonet by Bass 

Lot # 53 (Sale Order: 53 of 698)      

1.75" elliptical bore diameter, 15" brass round to octagonal barrel flared at the muzzle, engraved "London" on the top face with two crowned proof marks on the breech, original flint.  Has a folding bayonet with 12" triangular blade mounted on top near the muzzle. English lockplate with goose neck cock, plate engraved with London maker's name "Bass" (John Bass 1761-95).  Walnut stock with engraved brass furniture, complete with wood ramrod. 

Condition: Bore dark but smooth, lock with light brown patina, barrel and fittings have been cleaned in the past. Light age and service wear on the stock with a small amount of wood lose behind the hammer.

EST $ 2500 - 3500...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 3,750.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Henry Harrington Breech Loading Percussion Volley Rifle 

Lot # 54 (Sale Order: 54 of 698)      

Approximately .22 caliber, 19" barrel with 19 chambers. The round barrel has a brass bead sight at the muzzle and has a 1.5" diameter. The top flat of the breechblock is marked Henry Harrington Patent 1837 Southbridge Mass. The breechblock features a swinging loading gate, and has a lever on the side of the frame that locks it in place. The lock, hammer, frame and upper tang all feature scroll engravings. The walnut stock has a flat underbelly and an engraved flat profile buttplate that is silver plated over brass. 

Condition: The barrel has an even dark plum patina throughout, with some areas of spotting. The frame, hammer, upper tang, trigger guard and lock all have a dark plum patina. The breechblock has some areas of pitting, as well as a few dings to the edges on its underside, extending onto the frame. The frame also has some minor areas of pitting. The stock has some nicks and dings, as well as several age cracks on either side of the butt. Most of the silver plate is worn from the buttplate to show some brass underneath. The bores are all in good condition and could all use a cleaning. The mechanics are good.

EST $ 2000 - 3000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 10,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Henry Pieper Seven-Shot Volley Gun 

Lot # 55 (Sale Order: 55 of 698)      

.22 rimfire caliber, 25.5" round barrel with seven chambers, S/N 103. This rare and unique rolling block volley gun features seven-round barrel cluster in a single 1" diameter sleeve. The barrel has a raised blade front sight and an adjustable dovetail rear sight. Proof marks, including a Belgian Liege mark, are stamped on the left side of the barrel, with the serial on the right. The frame has a matte engraving, with the spur on the lever having checkering. The fancy grain pistol grip stock and forearm feature deluxe checkering, an engraved gripcap and a checkered shotgun style buttplate marked H. Pieper, Liege

Condition: The barrel has a flat plum patina with crisp markings. The frame has a silver and plum mottled patina with light traces of case coloring remaining in the protected areas on the frame, breechblock and lever. There is an area of light pitting on the right side of the frame. The stock has normal nicks and dings associated with use, with light fading to the checkering on the forearm. The bores have crisp rifling with very good mechanics.

EST $ 1500 - 2000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 3,750.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Early 17th Century Wheellock Blunderbuss 

Lot # 56 (Sale Order: 56 of 698)      

2.25" bore diameter, 25" octagonal-to-round barrel. Early hallmark with the initials JH. Full stock with finger groove-style trigger guard. Early style walnut stock. 

Condition: Barrel and lock with sharp and crisp grey look. Some very fine pitting and grey staining.  Stock was cleaned long ago and has a nice dark look.

EST $ 8000 - 12000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 6,500.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Mid-18th Century Germanic Blunderbuss 

Lot # 57 (Sale Order: 57 of 698)      

1.95" bore diameter, 26" octagonal-to-round barrel. Dog lock with safety on the back of hammer. Brass furniture with raised carved stock. Horn tipped ramrod with two brass ferrules. The stock has a horn tipped fore end, and a sliding door compartment in the right side of the butt. 

Provenance: 2002 Hermann Historica Auction

Condition: Brass has tarnished look. Metal with a grey to brown look. Stock has had a couple of repairs.

EST $ 1500 - 2000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 2,300.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Mid-17th Century Germanic Wheellock Blunderbuss 

Lot # 58 (Sale Order: 58 of 698)      

1.75" bore diameter, 22" barrel with German proofs top flat. Walnut stock, iron wheellock, long cavalry bar on left side. Brass tag on trigger guard reads F.W. Roebling III, Collection Trenton N.J. 51. From a descendant of the famous bridge builders, including the Cincinnati Suspension Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Provenance: Little John's/Roebling Collection

Condition: Very good. Metal has been cleaned as in the European fashion. Wood shows dents and dings from extensive service; missing a sliver of wood along barrel channel.

EST $ 15000 - 25000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

PASSED

You've been outbid  to YOU!

This lot was not sold.

Placing your bid. please wait...

Reserve Not Met

Early-18th Century Dutch Blunderbuss 

Lot # 59 (Sale Order: 59 of 698)      

2.2" bore at the muzzle, 24.25" octagonal barrel, round and flared at the muzzle with a carved crown band below the flare and at the breech. Original flint. Lock has an unmarked convex plate and gooseneck hammer. Walnut stock has a heavy high comb buttstock in the Dutch-German fashion, raised carved mortise around the barrel tang, ramrod channel and trigger guard. Horn stock end cap. Iron furniture features a fluted trigger guard, pierced vine-like side plate and buttplate with extended comb tang. Complete with iron sling swivels and a wooden ramrod. 

Condition: Good. Even dark patina. Bore dark but with little pitting. Stock is cracked across the mortise in front of the lock, on the forearm near the muzzle and half way down the barrel channel.

EST $ 3500 - 6000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 2,200.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Mid- to Late 18th Century Dog Lock English Blunderbuss by Whately 

Lot # 60 (Sale Order: 60 of 698)      

.80 caliber at the muzzle, 21.25" half-round, half-octagonal barrel with a flared muzzle. A crown over "IW" proof mark on the breech. Original flint.  Lock has flat hammer, dog lock catch and plate marked with mostly legible "WHATELY."  Walnut stock has brass furniture, the rear ramrod pipe is lacking and its place covered with wood putty. Complete with a broken and repaired wood ramrod with brass tip. 

Condition: Good. Bore dark and pitted. Metal lightly cleaned some time ago, stock sanded and refinished.

EST $ 1500 - 2500...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 1,600.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Late 8th Century Austrian Elliptical Bore Blunderbuss 

Lot # 61 (Sale Order: 61 of 698)      

2.15" across the muzzle, 22.5" half round, half octagonal barrel with flared, elliptical muzzle and button front sight, original flint, unmarked flat lockplate and gooseneck hammer.  Walnut stock has raised carved lock and barrel tang mortises and ramrod channel. Brass furniture with stylized fleur-de-lis buttplate tang and trigger guard with hand rest. Complete with a wooden ramrod. 

Condition: Very good. Bore dark but smooth. Barrel finish turning an even plum. Lock mostly bright. Stock has light normal service and age wear.

EST $ 2000 - 3000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 1,700.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Mid-18th Century English Blunderbuss by B. Farmer 

Lot # 62 (Sale Order: 62 of 698)      

1.75" bore diameter, 27" British proofed brass cannon barrel. The iron barrel tang is engraved and has a sight groove.The walnut stock is relief carved around the iron upper tang. The Iron lock is marked B. Farmer. The brass side plate features floral engravings. The brass triggerguard has a floral engraving on the underside with an acanthus finial. The brass buttplate has a floral engraved finial. With a brass tipped ramrod and two brass ferrules. 

Condition: Very good. Mechanically sound. Brass has a mellow golden patina. Stock shows light service wear.

EST $ 2000 - 3000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 4,500.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Late 18th Century English Blunderbuss by Richards 

Lot # 63 (Sale Order: 63 of 698)      

1.125" diameter, 15.25" octagonal-to-round barrel. Top of barrel marked London; engraved tang. Engraved lock with safety behind hammer, roller on the frizzen. This is not a folding bayonet, but spring loaded and mounted on the right side of barrel. A button releases it from the catch. Engraved iron-mounted furniture. Checkered walnut stock. 

Condition: Barrel retains most of the original brown finish.  Some wear to the high edges.  Some thinning on the middle part of the barrel.  Lock is very crisp with a mottled grey look.  Stock is excellent with some very few nicks and dings.

EST $ 2000 - 3500...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 2,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Chinese Jingal Percussion Wall Gun, Ca. 1860

Lot # 64 (Sale Order: 64 of 698)      

.92 caliber, a massive weapon, overall length 86.5", with a 66.5" round barrel flared at the muzzle with decorative engraved lines and fixed blade rear sight. Back action lock functions properly, completely unmarked. Four-band Asian walnut stock with brass furniture and a single iron sling swivel. The jingal was operated by a two-man team and was a principle firearm in the late Qing Dynasty's arsenal. This example was made around the time of the Teiping Rebellion (1850-1864) and would have still been in service during the Boxer Uprising (1900-1901).

Condition: Good. Even dark patina, hairline crack in the stock opposite the lock. Normal service wear and minor recent abrasions on the wood.

EST $1500 - 2500...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 750.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Italian Lazaro Lazrino Elliptical Bore Flintlock Blunderbuss 

Lot # 65 (Sale Order: 65 of 698)      

1.75" elliptical bore diameter, 15.75" round-to-elliptical barrel. Engraved and marked in a banner on top of the barrel Lazaro Lazrino. Early style curved beveled lockplate with rounded hammer. Silver inlaid caved ebony stock.  Silver mounted.  Stock is inlaid with silver trophies of Ottoman arms.  Raised carved stock especially around ramrod channel and back of tang. 

Condition: Barrel has been cleaned to bright. Lockplate and hammer have been polished bright. Stock with exceptional carvings.  Silver with nice patina.  Screw heads are all highly polished and blued.  Exceptional looking piece.

EST $ 3500 - 5000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 3,500.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Mid-19th Century Spanish Percussion Blunderbuss 

Lot # 66 (Sale Order: 66 of 698)      

1.5" bore diameter, 18.625" octagonal-to-round barrel. Round bore. Top of barrel with silver inlay and proof marks. Very fancy hammer with serpent head and four-leg body. Brass furniture with walnut stock. 

Condition: Barrel still retains most of the original brown finish with the silver inlays oxidized black.  Lock with nice dark brown finish.  Brass furniture is excellent.  Stock withe nice dark patina.

EST $ 2000 - 3000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 2,800.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

English Flintlock Blunderbuss with Folding Bayonet by Thos. Jackson 

Lot # 67 (Sale Order: 67 of 698)      

1.25" round bore diameter, 14 brass barrel with folding bayonet.  British proofs near the breech. Thos Jackson marked on the lockplate.  Safety behind hammer. Brass furniture, checkered walnut stock. 

Condition: Barrel has very sharp markings.  Lock and hammer have been cleaned with a grey to brown look.  Sharp markings and edges.  Stock is excellent with nice open-grained look.

EST $ 2500 - 3500...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 2,750.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

First LeMat Wood Patent Model with U.S. Patent Model Tag 

Lot # 68 (Sale Order: 68 of 698)      

The unique, one-of-a-kind model for the LeMat revolver submitted to the U.S. Patent Office for protection against competitors. This wood and metal model retains the original Patent Office tag with inked inscription No 15925 1856, Alexander Le Mat Fire-Arms Oct 21st 1856. 12" length;  frame, hammer are made of metal. Cylinder strap made of brass. End of cylinder has inked simulated holes. Hammer is unique, demonstrating the extra part of the hammer to strike the center smoothbore.

From 1790-1880 all patent applications in the United States were required to include a detailed model of the invention itself.  Hundreds of thousands of these models were housed in the U.S. Patent building until 1925, when the collection was sold to industrialist Sir Henry Wellcome who dreamed of building a museum dedicated to the patent model. The stock market crash of 1929 dashed these plans, and the collection changed hands numerous times. Today, the collection is largely dispersed, though two organizations still retain thousands of models.

This extraordinary model is well-known among LeMat collectors and is illustrated in the following:

Forgett, J Valmore and Serpette
   1996    LeMat, The Man, The Gun. Arms and Militaria Press, illustrated pages 24-27.

Adams, Doug.
2006 The Confederate LeMat Revolver. Andrew Mowbray Inc., illustrated page 15.

Provenance:

A.J. Thill
Mark Aziz
Henry M. Stewart
Dr. R. L. Moore
M. Clifford Young 

Condition: Excellent condition for this one-of-a-kind item. It has great importance to the collectors of LeMats.

EST $ 7500 - 10000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 6,500.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Relic Transitional LeMat Percussion Revolver from the Battle of Franklin Tennessee 

Lot # 69 (Sale Order: 69 of 698)      

.42 caliber, 6.75" full octagonal barrel. Spur trigger guard, no grips. Six of the chambers are still loaded; with spur trigger guard and full octagonal barrel. Though its serial number has not yet been positively ascertained it appears to be 801, stamped on the left side of the grip near the main spring.

This relic LeMat is a transitional model, exhibiting both First Model features such as the spur trigger guard, swiveling lanyard ring, frame pivot lever and small protruding spurs on either side of the nose of the hammer; Second Model features are its octagonal barrel and left side loading lever assembly.

Cliff Young's notes indicate that this relic was purportedly unearthed near the banks of the Harpeth River, near Franklin, Tennessee. It is obviously a relic from the Battle of Franklin, November 30th, 1864, involving Hood's Army of Tennessee. Hood suffered over 6000 casualties, while Union General John Schofield, losing only 2300 in casualties, withdrew and moved to join Sherman in the Nashville Campaign. The loss at Franklin substantially contributed to Hood's crushing defeat at Nashville.

M. Clifford Young obtained the relic from Fred Edmunds 

Condition: Relic condition; no grips.

EST $ 3000 - 6000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 11,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Baby LeMat Percussion Revolver 

Lot # 70 (Sale Order: 70 of 698)      

.32 caliber, 41 caliber smoothbore, 4" octagonal barrel, S/N 1327. All matching numbers, no markings on top of the barrel.  Checkered walnut grips.  There is a small notch on the right side of the barrel close to the muzzle.

Provenance:

Andy Palmer's Firearms Collection, C. B. Charles Auction Galleries, October, 1972, Lot 436.

M. Clifford Young

Condition: This revolver is very good with a smooth brown patina. The hammer screw has been restored and two chips of wood have been professionally repaired and checkering re-done. Overall a very good example of a Baby LeMat percussion revolver. A small chip of wood missing out of the left grip about 3/8" of an inch from the butt.

EST $ 17500 - 27500...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 21,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Rigdon & Ansley Cartridge Conversion Revolver 

Lot # 71 (Sale Order: 71 of 698)      

.38 RF caliber, 7.437" octagonal-to-round barrel, S/N 1780. Numbered on the backstrap, trigger guard, frame, barrel, loading lever, front of the loading lever catch.  Marked on the top flat of barrel CSA. Original cylinder with 12 cylinder slots. Brass backstrap and trigger guard. Walnut grips. Conversion was made post-war by cutting the back of the original cylinder and adding a recoil shield with notching at the top so the hammer with a rectangular firing pin could strike the cartridge

Literature:

McDowell, R. Bruce. "A Rigdon & Ansley Confederate Revolver Conversion.” The Gun Report, 02/00. 

Provenance: Eldon Owens, M. Clifford Young

Condition: Barrel and loading lever have a nice untouched look with sharp edges and some blue bleeding through the plum patina. Frame and cylinder also with an untouched patina.  Backstrap and trigger guard have a dark patina.  Walnut grips are very good with some nicks and dings.  A very rare use of a Confederate revolver, modifying it to cartridge.

EST $ 20000 - 30000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 15,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Spiller & Burr Cartridge Conversion Revolver 

Lot # 72 (Sale Order: 72 of 698)      

.38 RF caliber, 6.875" octagonal barrel, S/N 700. The only markings are on the left side of the frame with C.S. in the bottom left corner.  Brass frame with steel cylinder, barrel and hammer.  Walnut grips. This revolver was converted to rimfire cartridge after the Civil War using an original Spiller & Burr revolver.  The original cylinder had the rear portion sawed off with a collar added and the frame notched so the hammer could strike the back of the cartridge.

This specific Spiller & Burr was the subject of the article "A Spiller & Burr Confederate Revolver Conversion", R. Bruce McDowell, The Gun Report, 12/99.

Provenance: Cecil Anderson, Tom McVay, Fred Edmunds, M. Clifford Young

Condition: Brass with untouched patina. Barrel and cylinder have a dark plum patina. Loading lever is evenly matched with the barrel and cylinder. Grips with untouched patina and a small chip out on the right side of the grip.  Overall excellent untouched condition.

EST $ 20000 - 30000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

PASSED

You've been outbid  to YOU!

This lot was not sold.

Placing your bid. please wait...

Reserve Not Met

Engraved LeMat Percussion Revolver with LeMat Made Extension Barrel 

Lot # 73 (Sale Order: 73 of 698)      

.42 caliber, 6.875" octagonal barrel, S/N 18. With extension barrel 15.75" octagonal-to-round with front folding sight.  No markings on the barrel. Smoothbore barrel has the serial number markings and Birmingham proofs. Engraved frame, loading lever and octagonal barrel. Checkered walnut grips with lanyard ring in the butt of the pistol grip. Light tin finish. Other than the engraving, its features and extension barrel give every indication that this specimen is a "Navy" type.

This is the ONLY known surviving example, and comes with a lengthy collection history beginning with the October, 1918 issue of Hobbies Magazine where a drawing of the gun was illustrated. This revolver was also in three major collections before being purchased by Mr. Young.

Provenance:

Ben Ames Williams Collection
Charles Bricker Collection
Norman Flayderman Sales Catalog
M. Clifford Young Collection
 

Condition: Barrel is sharp and crisp with a light brown patina. Smooth-bore barrel has a grey to brown patina. Cylinder has some traces of tin finish blending with a  brown patina. Frame has some traces in the protected areas of tin finish, but the rest has turned to the brown patina. The extension barrel has a brown patina that blends well with the rest of the revolver. Overall it has nice sharp and crisp lines with an untouched patina.

EST $ 25000 - 50000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

PASSED

You've been outbid  to YOU!

This lot was not sold.

Placing your bid. please wait...

Reserve Not Met

Engraved LeMat Second Model Percussion Revolver 

Lot # 74 (Sale Order: 74 of 698)      

.42 caliber, 6.525" octagonal barrel, .640 smoothbore, S/N 2475. Barrel marked on top Systeme LEMAT "B" Paris.  Left side of barrel with serial number and LM under a five-pointed star. Engraved frame and cylinder in vines and floral designs. Engraved smoothbore barrel band.  Walnut grips at one time embellished with silver inlays, most now missing. A fine, engraved LeMat, almost certainly used by a Confederate officer.

Literature:

Adams, Doug.
  2006   The Confederate LeMat Revolver. Andrew Mowbray Inc. Illustrated, page 69.

Albaugh III, William A., Benet, Hugh Jr., and Simmons, Edward.
  2012   Confederate Handguns: Concerning the Guns, the Men who Made Them, and the Times of Their Use. Literary Licensing.  Illustrated page 103.
 

Provenance: M. Clifford Young

Condition: All metal is sharp and crisp with nice untouched brown patina; all barrel and other markings similarly crisp  clear.   Walnut grips with nicks and dings; lacking most of the original silver inlays.

EST $ 25000 - 35000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

PASSED

You've been outbid  to YOU!

This lot was not sold.

Placing your bid. please wait...

Reserve Not Met

J. H. Dance & Brothers Navy Percussion Confederate Revolver Without Recoil Shield 

Lot # 75 (Sale Order: 75 of 698)      

.36 caliber, 7.375" octagonal-to-round barrel, S/N 135. Numbered on the barrel, cylinder, backstrap, trigger guard, cylinder pin and hammer.  Three cylinder pins on the back of the cylinder remain; the rest are battered down from use. Made without recoil shield.  Brass backstrap and trigger guard. One-piece walnut grip.

Always considered a "holy grail" for the advanced Confederate arms collector, the Texas J.H. Dance & Brothers revolver was produced in both .44 caliber, and rarely, .36 caliber. Total production for the Dance was approximately 325 to 500, and most scholars believe that 275-350 were in the larger caliber size.  

Few honest .36 caliber Dance revolvers exist today. Early Dance Navy's are known with a recoil shield, but they are few in number and all that have survived have serial numbers below 100. Likewise, of those Dance Navy's without a recoil shield, very few are known today. There is no serial number overlap for the guns with or without a recoil shield.

This revolver has been known to collectors since 1954, when Cincinnati collector and founding member of The American Society of Arms Collectors Herman Strumpf sold it to Cliff Young for the unheard of sum of $1000. At the time -- serial number 135 -- was one of two known examples of the Dance Navy in .36 caliber and without recoil shield. The only other example, serial number 119, remains part of the Nunnemacher Collection of Firearms, curated by the Milwaukee Public Museum. Since then, a few additional examples have surfaced, though less than ten are known to exist.

Literature:

Albaugh, William.
   1963   Confederate Handguns. Riling
This gun is illustrated on the back cover, as well as on page 159.

Gary, Bill. 
   1987  Confederate Revolvers. Taylor Publishing, page. 66.

Wiggins, Gary.
   1986   Dance & Brothers Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy. Moss Publications, pages 72-73.
 

Condition: All metal has an untouched patina with a dark even look.  Some pitting blending in as well as some black staining. All lines are sharp and crisp.  Brass backstrap and trigger guard with untouched patina and even look.  Barrel still retains the rifling with some pitting and rough bore.  Grips are good with dark patina.  Two old hairline cracks have been repaired on both sides of the grips at the frame.

EST $ 40000 - 80000...more

Bid Not Accepted!

Bid Accepted!

You've been outbid!

Sold for: USD 45,000.00

You've been outbid  to onsite! to YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

Search Catalog :
Sort By :
Go to Lot :
Go to Page :
Per Page :
Pg : 3 of 28

1.178.0.1774.cf7307d.14.120