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LOT 254
Scarce John Hall Patent Breech Loading Kentucky Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 80, 40 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/silver finish, maple stock. John Hancock Hall’s contributions to American martial arms are well
known; the Model 1819 Hall rifles were the only firearms ever given by an act of Congress for heroism and were the first breech loading military weapons produced in large quantities and adopted as a regulation
weapon as well as the first manufactured with entirely interchangeable parts, and the Model 1833 carbines were the first percussion weapons and the earliest percussion breech loaders adopted by the U.S.
military. Hall patented this design on May 21, 1811. This sporting rifle is one of only an estimate 150 produced between 1811 and 1818. These early rifles were handmade unlike those built using machined components while he was at the Harpers Ferry Armory or those produced by Simeon North. The breechblock is shaped like other Hall rifles except that it has the waterproof pan which has been seen on a few of these early examples. It is stamped on the top “JOHN H. HALL/PATENT” between decorative notches. The breechblock is also marked with “R.B” and “80” on the right side below the pan for Hall’s foreman Robert Blanchard of North Yarmouth, Maine. The .40 caliber chamber is 2 1/4 inches deep. The barrel tapers to 3/4 of an inch at the muzzle. The receiver is 7 7/8 inches long and consists of an iron strap on each side and a brass rear tang/spreader block attached with
screws at the rear. The sights on the barrel have the blade and notch offset to the left to allow a clear sighting plan The wooden ramrod has a brass tip. The stock is a fine, attractive piece of curly maple with attractive stripe/flame fig
and has mostly brass furniture including the brass patch box which has four rectangular piercings. It also has silver plated oval barrel key escutcheons and silver plate inlay on the cheekpiece. CONDITION: Fine. The iron surfaces have mostly a dark brown patina with some light oxidation and pitting. The brass
and silver have an attractive aged patina. The refinished stock is also fine and retains nearly all of the glossy finish. There are scattered small dings and abrasions, a few small chips, and thin cracks at the rear wedge and wrist on the right, ahead of the rear wedge on the left (repaired), and on the left at the front wedge. The lock functions fine, and the
markings are mostly crisp. This is a rare chance to own an important piece of firearms history. John H. Hall’s patented rifles and carbines paved the way for interchangeable parts and were important martial weapons during both the
Mexican-American War and the Civil War. Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 255
Tansel Attributed Engraved Powder Horn with Patriotic Motif - The Tansel family of powder horn carvers are
certainly among the most famous and talented artisans of their craft in early America, and their surviving work
remains highly sought after examples of early American folk art. While clearly talented artists, the family’s main
occupation was farming. This horn was likely an existing horn brought to Timothy Tansel (1810-1852) in Indiana
for engraving c. 1848-1850 and then had the base plug installed later. By that period, professionally engraved
powder horns had become less common thanks to the rise of manufactured metal powder flasks. More on the
Tansel maker’s can be found in articles by Shelby Gallien and Jim Dresslar. The designs on this horn include
the classic Tansel spread wing eagle and shield motif with an “E PLURIBUS UNUM” banner based on the
Great Seal of the United States, a hunter with a bow, a dog, three running deer, simpler scroll and crosshatch
accents and borders, an incomplete arrow over the hunter’s arrow, a light “T” near the tips of the arrows held
by the eagle, and some tally type lines and the worn year “1874” marked on the “fish mouth” carved throat. The body has a slightly
flattened profile giving the base an oval shape. The wooden base plug is dished and has a threaded finial. The spout has a rather
small opening with a turned wooden stopper in place, and a simple leather strap is fitted to the horn. The horn was purchased on
9/11/71 from Robert Mandel at a show in Hartford.
CONDITION: Fine with distinct and attractive carving, mostly minor wear on the body aside from a few slight cracks, slightly shortening
from the base end, and minimal wear on the base plug and finial.
Provenance: The Robert Mandel Collection; The Robert G. Smith Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500 251