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LOT 1284
Incredibly Rare U.S. Trials Jenks Breech Loading Flintlock Musketoon - Serial no. 35, 64 cal., 25 1/2 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is an incredibly rare example of a Jenks breech loading musketoon, manufactured by Chicopee Falls Co. of Massachusetts c. 1839-1840. Invented by William Jenks, U.S. patent number 747 dated May 25th, 1838. Only a few known surviving examples are left today of the reported 100 made on contract for the U.S. Ordnance Department, and another
250 ordered by the Republic of Texas. None of the Texas ordered examples have been identified. Of the 100 U.S. Ordnance musketoons, 25 were sent to the 1st Dragoons for shooting trials, and 25 to the 2nd Dragoons for field trials during the Second Seminole War in Florida where they were exposed to harsh conditions; contributing to their extreme scarcity today. Besides the Hall, the Jenks musketoon is the only other breech loading flintlock arm procured by the federal government. The top of the breech is marked “1839/WM JENKS/US/NWP/P” and the lock is marked “CHICOPEE FALLS CO./MS.” in two lines (the “CO.” is upside down). Serial number “35” is marked underneath the breech lever, on top of the breech rod and breech ramming piece. The left stock flat has a faint illegible circled script cartouche that should read “NWP” (Nahum W. Patch), and faint remnants of an illegible circled script cartouche on top of the comb that should read “MPL” (Mann Paige Lomax).
CONDITION: Very good with a mix of brown patina and old applied brown finish on the exposed iron surfaces, case coloring visible in the protected areas of the breech lever and rod, scattered light pitting, mild flash pitting, and mostly sharp markings on the breech and lock plate. The revarnished stock is fine, with numerous scattered mild dents, chips and scratches, a crack at the left of the wrist, and a few small cracks ahead of the buttplate. Mechanically fine. This rare Jenks breech loading flintlock musketoon is one of the most elusive and desirable of all the early U.S. martial issued firearms!
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
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