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LOT 296
Exhibition Quality Panel Scene Engraved J. & J. Miller Revolving Pill Lock Rifle with Gold Fittings - NSN, 50 cal., 36 inch part octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, highly figured walnut stock. Manufactured between 1835-1850, these Miller patent revolving rifles were commonly called Billinghurst rifles because William Billinghurst of Rochester, New York, was the most prolific and well-known maker of the rifles. At least 15 gunsmiths made revolving rifles under the Miller patent, and it is estimated that only a few hundred were made in total. With over a dozen known makers, surviving examples of revolving rifles using the Miller patent show a variety of variations including varying calibers, barrel lengths, barrel styles and number of cylinder chambers. Each is a unique glimpse into
mid-19th century craftsmanship and design. This J.&J. Miller marked rifle follows the basic pattern of the Miller patent, operates with pill lock ignition and has the distinctive
front latch on the cylinder. Very tiny pills containing the fulminate are retained in small receptacles in the cylinder by use of bees wax. The pill lock, or pellet lock, was originally patented by renowned London gunsmith Joseph Manton in the early 19th century. The seven shot cylinder is rotated manually by releasing the latch located in front of the cylinder on the bottom of the barrel lug. James Miller patented this system on June 11, 1829 under U.S. patent number 203 (the original patent record was lost in the fire of 1836). This is one of the earliest revolving firearm patents and pre-dates the automatic cocking and locking system that Colt patented in 1836. The manually operated cylinder is serrated for an easier grip. The top barrel flat is marked “J. & J. Miller Rochester” in Gothic lettering, the top of the breech ahead of the cylinder is non-factory numbered “1735” and the lock plate is marked “J. & J. MILLER”. The lock plate is engraved with a panel scene of a dog running through grassland with trees and a fence ahead of a bordered section with a motif, and the rear frame section, trigger guard and buttplate feature fine floral engraved motifs and borders. The barrel is equipped with fixed sights and solid under rib carrying a hickory ramrod. The cylinder and barrel are brown, and the remaining surfaces appear to have been casehardened. Mounted with a highly figured straight grip stock featuring gold wrist and barrel wedge escutcheons, horn forend tip and steel buttplate. CONDITION: Very good, showing a mix of thinned original brown finish and smooth brown patina on the barrel and cylinder, a reattached split in the top strap with applied artificially aged brown finish, the remaining casehardened surfaces have a mixture of smooth brown and silvery gray patinas, with some scattered patches of light surface oxidation, some marred edges on a few screws, and the engravings and markings are mostly crisp. Refinished wood is good with some cracks, a few glued and nailed repairs visible above and below the lock, discoloration, and scattered light scratches and handling marks. Mechanically fine. A solid representative example of a rarely encountered highly embellished revolving rifle that will fill a gap in the most advanced antique American rifle collections. Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
270
A.R. Davis New York Percussion Target Rifle with Starter and False Muzzle - NSN, 44 cal., 30 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened/German silver finish, walnut stock. Amos R. Davis (d. 1894) was a riflemaker in Deposit, New York, just north of the New York and Pennsylvania line starting around 1850. At least one of his guns was engraved by L.D. Nimschke of New York City and appears in his pull-book. The rifle is cut and drilled for the included false muzzle and starter and has a dovetailed globe front sight, “A.R. DAVIS/DEPOSIT N.Y./CAST-STEEL” marked on top, “REMINGTON/CAST STEEL” on the lower left flat, a ramrod fitted underneath, nicely shaped bolster on the breech, peep sight threaded into the upper tang, back action lock, adjustable single set trigger, German silver furniture, checkered wrist, elongated oval cheekpiece, and a Swiss style buttplate. CONDITION: Very good plus with dark brown patina, mild oxidation, aged patina on the German silver, and general mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has a small chip above the lock from the mainspring, crisp checkering, some thin cracks in the butt, and minor scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 297 Documented Truman Lamson Percussion Match Rifle with Accessories - NSN, 54 cal., 33 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This rifle is featured on page 156 of Ned Robert’s classic book “The Muzzleloading
Caplock Rifle” where it is identified as a “T. Lamson, 54 calibre Match Rifle, 34-inch barrel, weight 17 1/2 pounds From Floyd R. Butler’s Collection.” The barrel length given in the book includes the breech plug. The rifle is cut and drilled for the included false muzzle and has a modern globe front sight, hole in the underside of the barrel for fitting a rest, filled taps from previous sight fittings, a tang mounted peep sight, adjustable single set trigger, scroll engraved trigger guard and buttplate, and a half-length stock with a pewter forend cap and shotgun profile. Includes a
modern case with the false muzzle and starter along with a flask, powder measure, bullet mold, sizer, rods, and jag. The Burlington Free Press on July 31, 1875, stated: “Col. Truman Lamson, of Bennington, died in that village on Wednesday last, of consumption. He was eighty years old on the 10th of June last. From forty to fifty years ago he was the most distinguished shot in America, and was the originator of the present system of rifling guns, an invention which revolutionized the construction of that branch of
fire arms...” Other obituaries made similar statements. The prior winter, “Scraps of an Old Man’s Recollections of His Life” was published in several newspapers and indicated he had been unwell for decades but had previously traveled widely in the South and made a living as a marksman and had been an accomplished riflemaker. CONDITION: Very good with mostly a smoky gray appearance overall, some light oxidation, faint crack at the peep tap, and generally minor overall wear. The re-oiled stock is fine
and has mild scratches and dings, a thin crack between the breech and front of the lock, and a few bruises. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are also fine with mild wear.
Provenance: The Floyd R. Butler Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE MUZZLELOADING CAPLOCK RIFLE BY ROBERTS
LOT 298