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Fine Examples of Worcester County American Long Rifles
has small blade and notch sights, “J. MASON” marked ahead of the
rear sight on the long sighting flat which has an interrupted section in
the breech section featuring scroll and floral engraving, 9 inch side flats, and a hooked breech plug which fits into the dished and floral engraved standing breech. The lock is marked “T/KETLAND/& Co.” The furniture is brass and features very nice floral engraving. The stock also has very nice molding, silver wire inlaid designs at the ramrod entry pipe barrel tang, and front of the comb; engraved domed silver wrist escutcheon, and nicely shaped comb and butt.
CONDITION: Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with a smooth mix of brown patina and applied brown finish on the lock and barrel, some mild oxidation mainly on the lock, attractive aged patina on the silver and brass, and generally mild wear. The refinished stock has a repaired break in the wrist and some mild scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 278
Attractive Engraved and Silver Inlaid John Mason New England Flintlock Buck &
Ball Gun - NSN, 28 gauge, 38 7/8 inch round bbl., brown finish, cherry stock. John Mason (1775-1843) was a
gunmaker in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. The smoothbore barrel
LOT 279
Attractive Engraved and Silver Accented Silas Allen Jr. New England Flintlock Rifle - NSN, 54 cal., 33
3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. Silas Allen Jr. (1785-1868) is one of the better known riflemakers in New England in the early 19th century. He apprenticed under John Mason (also represented in this auction). Silas started
his own business in 1806 and had Martin Smith (represented in the previous lot) as his apprentice c. 1811-1812. In that period, Allen was also the captain of the South Company militia unit in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, c. 1810-1815. He and the other Worcester County gunmakers made firearms for the
militia. Allen remained active until 1845 when he retired and farmed for his remaining years. The tapered
octagon barrel features eight-groove rifling, a fixed blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, and “S.
ALLEN” stamped ahead of the rear sight. The lock is also stamped “S. ALLEN” at center. The iron trigger
has a brass plate, and the furniture is mostly brass with floral engraving, including a stylized pineapple
finial on the trigger guard. An engraved domed silver wrist escutcheon with silver wire inlaid border is on
the wrist, a feature often found on the nicer Worcester County rifles, and a silver hunter’s star is inlaid on the rounded cheekpiece.
CONDITION: Fine with dark brown patina on the iron, some minor pitting, attractive aged patina on the silver and brass, distinct markings and designs, and fairly minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has mild scrapes and dings, a small chip at the tail of the lock, a few hairline cracks, and generally smooth finish. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 280
Desirable Martin Smith Signed New England Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 45 cal., 41 inch octagon
bbl., brown finish, cherry stock. Martin Smith Jr. appears to have been born in Shrewsbury in 1797 and became a well-known gunmaker in Greenfield, Worcester
County, Massachusetts, c. 1819-1836. He was an early adopter of the percussion system given his May 6, 1826, dated ad with “Percussion Rifles!!!” as the heading indicating he had rifles and
fowling pieces available from as low as $9 dollars to over $100. He also ran advertisements seeking large quantities of cherry, curly maple, and brass for producing rifles in the early 1830s and sold the shop
to W.C. Clements in 1836. This rifle features an octagon barrel with “M. SMITH” crisply stamped on top, eight-groove rifling, a fixed blade front sight, and a dovetailed notch rear sight. There are wavy silver wire
inlays around the barrel tang, a feature noted on other rifles by Smith as well as by other gunmakers from his region such as Silas Allen Jr. under whom he apprenticed. The lock is marked “GOLCHER” and has some
floral designs. The trigger is brass (another regional feature) and is enclosed in a brass trigger guard with a distinctive pointed finial that is the same design seen on other Worcester County rifles. The two-piece patchbox
has a wavy line border and a deep cavity. The other brass furniture is plain. The stock is also fairly simple aside from the checkering on the wrist and shallow cheekrest.
CONDITION: Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with mix of gray and brown patina and applied brown on the lock and barrel, some mild pitting, attractive aged patina on the brass, and general mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has a few minor cracks, distinct but lightly worn checkering, and scattered dings and scratches. Mechanically fine.
264 Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500