
Arms, Armor, and the Early West
Arms, Armor, and the Early West
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Cash Payment Discount: 3%
Description
sale of historical artifacts and collectibles, many of which have been featured in numerous historical exhibitions and institutions. Headlining the sale are selections from the General Samuel Houston Collection, victor of the Battle of San Jacinto and first President of the Republic of Texas. These lots include not only artifacts from his early military career including a militia officers chapeau (Lot 72), his field desk (Lot 79), and saddle pad (Lot 77), but also the sword belt (Lot 75), silver spurs (Lot 78) and presentation saber (Lot 74) worn by Houston at San Jacinto. Another artifact from the Battle of San Jacinto, a Mexican General Officer’s Coat attributed to Santa Anna (Lot 91) comes from the collection of James Sylvester, the only color-bearer at the battle as well as the soldier credited with Santa Anna’s capture. Sylvester was employed at the New Orleans Picayune Newspaper and spent many years of his life collecting arms and objects associated with the Texan Revolution to... Show more
Lot Location:
Bronze Lantaka Cannon Tube
Lot # 1 (Sale Order: 1 of 429)
**Good condition overall. Some verdigris with bronze showing through on high areas.**
$1,000-$1,500
A Scarce German Boar-Sword Formerly the Property of a Germanic Margrave
Lot # 2 (Sale Order: 2 of 429)
The markings are those of Frederick VII "Magnus", Margrave of Braden-Durlach (1647-1709), who succeeded his father Frederick VI in 1677, and held the title of Margrave of Basel from 1697 until his death. Fredrick VII, was a descendant of the medieval house of Zahringen and had a distinguished military record, serving the Holy Roman Empire in the War of the Spanish Succession. The Margrave's formal title was Fredrick Magnus, Markgraf von (of) Baden-Durlach. The blades' inscription, FMM z BvH, reads "Fredrich Magnus, Markgraf zu (at) Baden und Hachberg?. Hachberg was within Baden since the Middle Ages and the castle which was also know as Hochberg or ?High Mountain".
**Condition of the sword is fine overall and blade with minor corrosion pits and is lightly cleaned in the European manner. Boar swords or "Sowdegen", seem to be unique to 17th century Germany, and are highly desirable.**
$4,000-$6,000
19th Century Italian Cinquedea
Lot # 3 (Sale Order: 3 of 429)
**Gilt has been redone. The blade is gray with some staining and gilt finish.**
$1,000-$3,000
18th Century Burgonet
Lot # 4 (Sale Order: 4 of 429)
**Good condition. Some darkening of metal with scattered oxidation and light pitting. Some dryness of leather. A well-made late version of this style of helmet.**
$1,500-$3,000
19th Century Chamfron
Lot # 5 (Sale Order: 5 of 429)
**Condition is lightly patinated overall. The form is particularly elegant and will compliment any collection of armor.**
$1,500-$2,500
New Haven Contract US Model 1795 Musket
Lot # 6 (Sale Order: 6 of 429)
**Good condition overall. Barrel and metal parts have been cleaned with some oxidation near breech. Stock shows some handling marks and blemishes with a feathered grain. Action is functional with a good bore. Appears to be in original flint configuration.**
$1,500-$3,000
Waters/Whitmore Contract US Model 1808 Musket
Lot # 7 (Sale Order: 7 of 429)
**Very good condition overall. Barrel has an overall dark patination with some salt and pepper pitting towards breech. Some handling marks and blemishes to stock including an old crack around buttplate tang and old sections of missing wood around barrel channel. Very old stable crack around circumference of wrist. Action is tight and functional.**
$2,000-$3,000
Very Rare Whitney Massachusetts Contract "Marine Fencible" Musket
Lot # 8 (Sale Order: 8 of 429)
Made from muskets issued to the State of Massachusetts under the Militia Act of 1808, these arms are distinguished by their unique oversized brass buttplate. It is unknown by whose authority this modification was undertaken, but nearly all examples found have been converted to the percussion system. This example is of an 1816 pattern and is in the original flint configuration, making it exceptionally rare.
**Very good condition overall. All metal parts have been cleaned with some old removed pitting. Stock has some handling marks and blemishes with stock appearing to have been lightly refinished. Action is tight and functional with a good bore.**
$2,000-$4,000
R. & J.D. Johnson Contract Model 1817 "Common" Flintlock Rifle
Lot # 9 (Sale Order: 9 of 429)
Examples produced by R. & J.D. Johnson are the most rare of the Model 1817 contracts, with only 3,060 pieces produced, and only 220 produced in 1824. The earliest pieces delivered are believed to have been finished in "National Armory Bright", with the remainder being delivered in browned finish. This piece appears to have been "corrected" from its original bright finish to a brown finish.
**Very good condition overall. Some thinning of rebrowned finish with some covered old pitting. Some steel finish visible under barrel bands. Frizzen has been refaced Stock appears to have been refinished with some staining on sideplate and a minor section of replaced wood on left side of butt. Action is tight and functional with a bright bore.**
$2,000-$4,000
Very Rare Texas-Marked Model 1833 Hall-North Percussion Carbine
Lot # 10 (Sale Order: 10 of 429)
**The hammer has had some period restoration, more than likely broke and repaired. All metal has a nice even brown patina with some light scattered pitting blending into the metal. The Texas markings are period, quite possibly a state order. It is not known if any official state contracts were provided to Texas by North, though it is known that at least five were procured by the state.**
$3,000-$5,000
New Hampshire Marked Waters Contract US Model 1816 Conversion Musket
Lot # 11 (Sale Order: 11 of 429)
**Good condition overall. Finish has taken on a dark plumb patination throughout with some old pitting throughout, the buttplate showing moderate to heavy pitting throughout. Stock shows handling marks and blemishes from age and use. Action is functional with a dark bore.**
$1,000-$3,000
Scarce Model 1857 Dreyse "Needle Gun" Carbine
Lot # 12 (Sale Order: 12 of 429)
**Very good condition. Barrel has a dull pewter patination with some old oil staining. Stock has some scattered marks and blemishes. Stamps in metal and wood are visible and are mostly legible. Needle is present and in fine condition, the action functioning normally. Bore is fine; bright with strong rifling. An excellent example of this fairly rare carbine in a strong state of condition.**
$3,500-$5,000
Rare Unit-Marked Portuguese Contract Birmingham Snider Cavalry Carbine
Lot # 13 (Sale Order: 13 of 429)
In October 1874, Birmingham Small Arms negotiated a contract with the Portuguese government for 1,200 cavalry carbines.
**Very good condition overall. Barrel has a dark pewter patination with with some scratching around breech block. Some handling marks and blemishes to stock. Bore is bright with good edges to rifling.**
$1,500-$2,500
British Snider-Enfield Cavalry Carbine
Lot # 14 (Sale Order: 14 of 429)
**Good condition overall. Barrel has an overall untouched plumb patination with some thinning on high areas and working parts. Stock shows some scattered marks and blemishes from age and use. Action is tight and functional.**
$1,500-$2,500
Nepalese Rifle with Sharps Action
Lot # 15 (Sale Order: 15 of 429)
**Good condition overall. Barrel retains a mostly bright finish with some scattered oxidation and areas of pitting. Some spots of delamination on receiver. Stock shows some handling marks and blemishes. Action is slightly sticky with a mostly bright bore showing good edges to rifling.**
$1,000-$1,500
Springfield US Model 1866 2nd Allin Conversion Rifle
Lot # 16 (Sale Order: 16 of 429)
**Fine condition. Barrel retains a mostly bright finish with some minor spots of oxidation, breech and lock parts taking on a medium pewter color. Stock shows some handling marks and blemishes, and retains a feathery grain. Action is tight and functional with a bright bore.**
$1,000-$2,000
Springfield Altered Model 1859 Sharps Carbine
Lot # 17 (Sale Order: 17 of 429)
**Excellent condition overall. Barrel has a dull blue finish with some thinning and very light oxidation frosting. Some handling marks and blemishes to stocks with some bruising and discoloration. Counterpane cartouche has worn away. Frame has dulled to a dark oily patination. Bore is good with visible rifling.**
$2,000-$4,000
Springfield Altered Model 1868 Sharps Carbine
Lot # 18 (Sale Order: 18 of 429)
**Fine condition. Barrel retains nearly all of the blued finish with some wear around the muzzle. Attractive remaining case coloring on frame with stock showing some minor handling marks and blemishes.**
$3,500-$5,000
Rare U.S. Model 1870 Trial Springfield Rolling Block Carbine
Lot # 19 (Sale Order: 19 of 429)
Springfield Armory records indicate that just over 300 of these experimental carbines were produced for Army trials. With only eight known by this firm to exist in museums and private collections. This piece retains the distinguishing features of this model, including the small block spur, saddle ring bar, and 11.75" forend.
**Very good condition overall. The frame has been lightly cleaned with some visible cleaned pitting. Barrel has a very light pewter patination. Stock is in good condition, with some dents and handling blemishes. Bore is excellent with sharp rifling. An excellent carbine for the advanced collector, that rarely comes up for sale.**
Provenance
Ex Burton Kellerstadt Collection
$10,000-$15,000
Indian Captured Model 1870 Trial Springfield Rolling Block Carbine
Lot # 20 (Sale Order: 20 of 429)
Springfield Armory records indicate that just over 300 of these experimental carbines were produced for Army trials. This piece retains the distinguishing features of this model, including the small block spur, saddle ring bar, and 11.75" forend. It is believed that fewer than ten of these carbines still exist.
Ordnance returns in June 1873 shows Company F of the 7th Cavalry Regiment had been issued 19 1870 Carbines just before the Yellowstone Expedition, with 18 being recorded at the end of the expedition. On August 4, 1873, while escorting a group of surveyors, the 7th Cavalry was engaged a group of Hunkpapa Lakota warriors in what would become known as the Battle of Honsinger Bluff.
During the battle, a small number of 7th Cavalry troopers who had slipped away from the main force to cool off in the nearby river were ambushed and killed. The body of trooper John Ball was not recovered until September 1873, and would account for the missing carbine.
This carbine was used by Arnold Marcus Chernoff in a display that the Ohio Gun Collectors sponsored at the NRA convention in 1976 and won a display award for his display of Indian items. It is also worth noting that research in arsenal records, both Thomas and Boyce Custer had purchased a Springfield Model 70 Experimental Carbine. Four of these carbines are known to have been captured at the disastrous Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.
**Very good condition overall. The frame has been lightly cleaned with some visible cleaned pitting. The barrel has a very light pewter patination. Stock is in good condition, with some dents and handling blemishes. Bore is excellent with good rifling. An excellent example of not only an experimental weapon, but also a relic of the Indian Wars, perfect for the advanced collector.
Provenance
William O Sweet
Gerald Fox
Arnold Marcus Chernoff
C.Vance Haynes
$10,000-$15,000
U.S. Model 1870 Trial Springfield Trapdoor Carbine
Lot # 21 (Sale Order: 21 of 429)
**Barrel has been cleaned to bright with some light staining. Receiver and breechblock still retain the arsenal black. Buttplate and triggerguard has been cleaned to bright with s some staining. The stock has that nice feathered open-grained look, with a nice crisp cartouche. Stock has some nicks and dings. The bore is bright and shiny. Overall, this is an excellent example of a very hard to find trial carbine. One of 341 Trial Carbines built by Springfield Arsenal.**
$5,000-$7,500
Rare U.S. Model 1871 Trial Springfield Ward Burton Carbine
Lot # 22 (Sale Order: 22 of 429)
**Good condition overall. Most of the original blued finish has thinned to a gunmetal gray patination with some salt and pepper oxidation throughout. Stock has some handling marks and blemishes. Action is functional with a good bright bore showing visible edges to rifling. A desirable example of this rare experimental carbine of which just over 300 were made.**
$5,000-$7,500
Remington-Keene Carbine
Lot # 23 (Sale Order: 23 of 429)
**Good condition as-is. Barrel has a mostly even dark blued patina with some scattered oxidation with some old oil staining throughout. Stock has been sanded and refinished, a showing some dents and blemishes. Action is functional with a good bore showing some pitting and visible edges to rifling.**
$1,000-$3,000
Steyr German Mauser Gewehr 71 Rifle
Lot # 24 (Sale Order: 24 of 429)
**Very good condition overall. Metal parts haven taken on a pewter patination with some scattered light oil-stained oxidation throughout. Stock with scattered handling marks and blemishes to stock. Bore is bright with visible edges to rifling. A good example of this early bolt-action rifle that retains its original single-shot design.**
$1,000-$1,500
Early Springfield U.S. Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine
Lot # 25 (Sale Order: 25 of 429)
**Good condition as-is. Most fo the blued finish remains with some scattered light rust and oxidation. Trap is empty. Stock shows numerous blemishes from age and use including some dents on left side of stock where it appears to have been used as a hammer. Action is functional with a fair bore showing some old pitting and wear with visible rifling.**
$4,000-$6,000