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LOT 170
Rare Documented Gold Banded, Engraved, and Silver Mounted Derringer Percussion Pocket Pistol Signed by African American James “Gunsmith” Jones - NSN, 41 cal., 2 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/silver/gold finish, walnut stock. This pistol is featured and discussed on page 214 of “The Deringer in America Volume I: The Percussion Period” by R.L. Wilson and L.D. Eberhart. The author’s note that J.M. Jones of London, Ohio, was “One of a handful of American Blacks engaged in making guns in the 19th century” and that “Jones ultimately moved to Toronto, Canada where he continued his trade. With workmanship that often approaches the exquisite, Jones’ pistols are today considered collector prizes.” The pistol features a six-groove rifled barrel turned round at the muzzle with a dovetailed silver blade front sight, “J.M. JONES” signed on top,
engraved border at the breech, and a sculpted breech plug with gold bands and gold plug. There is a notch rear sight on the standing breech. The lock and silver furniture feature fine border
and scroll engraving. The bird’s head grip stock has checkering and a Schnabel tip.
James Monroe Jones (1821-1906), known as “Gunsmith Jones,” was from an enslaved family in North Carolina, but
his father, Allen Jones, saved money by working in the evenings and nights and purchased his family’s freedom and moved them to Ohio where Jones attended Oberlin College and graduated in 1849 becoming the fourth African American to graduate with a bachelor of science degree. He moved to Chatham, Canada West, in 1852. In Canada,
he was connected with runaway slaves in Chatham and signed onto the Provisional Constitutional Convention with radical abolitionist John Brown and loaned him $75. Jones skills did not go unrecognized. He won a medal at the Montreal Manufacturing and Trade Fair for a pair of his derringers in 1859 and won first prize in 1864 at the Provincial Exhibition. James Gooding of the “Canadian Journal of Arms Collecting” wrote that Jones was “one of six Canadian gunsmiths who had the skill...to be compared with the best in the world.” In addition to derringers, he also produced high quality rifles similar to the famous Hawken rifles.
CONDITION: Very good with crisp engraving and signature, bright gold, dark aged patina on the silver, brown patina on the barrel and lock, mild oxidation, and minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, a faint crack on the left, minor scratches and dings, and a nice figure. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Peter Buxtun Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 171
Etched G. Wostenholm & Son “California Knife” Bowie Knife with I*XL Sheath - Manufactured c. 1850 by the George Wostenholm firm of Sheffield, England, one of the largest Sheffield manufacturers and importers to the United States during the gold rush era and beyond. The blade of this knife has faint period acid etching with the partial Wostenholm maker name above “CALIFORNIA KNIFE” and is marked “G. WOSTENHOLM & SON/ WASHINGTON WORKS/NONE ARE GENUINE BUT THOSE” on the left ricasso, with the bottom line cut off although it likely would have read “MARKED I*XL” as seen on similar examples. Knives such as this were popular during the California Gold Rush. Measures approximately 12 inches in overall length with the blade measuring 7 3/4 inches long by 1 9/16 inches wide with a 1/4 inch thick spine. German silver guard. Includes a leather sheath with gold inlaid “I*XL” and floral bordering.
CONDITION: Very good, exhibiting lightly visible etchings on the blade with some scattered patches of mild oxidation/pitting, and clear markings on the ricasso. The German silver guard shows an attractive lightly aged patina. The grip panels are very good with some light handling marks, a few cracks, and defined edges. The sheath is fair with some mild tears, age related wear and cracking, and half of the gold finish remaining.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 172
Exceptional Victorian Era J. Lawson Military Style Folding Bowie Knife with
Sheath - Measuring 14 1/4 inches when fully opened, 9 3/8 inches of which is the blade.
Features a built in, spring supported folding mechanism which allows blade to be folded
down to a more compact 10 1/4 inches, with a German silver release button on the
left side of the handle and German silver guards which fold away with the blade. The polished blade is marked “J LAWSON/GLASGLOW,” on the left side of the ricasso. Fitted with checkered horn grips. Includes an unmarked dark leather sheath fit to the blade as folded.
CONDITION: Very fine, with slight spotting and light patina on the excellent blade and fittings, along with slight friction wear on the blade from folding. The horn grips are excellent with crisp checkering. The sheath is fine with supple leather. Lockup mechanism functions properly.
154 Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250