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LOT 1283
Thomas Oldham Attributed “T * O” Signed Bedford County Percussion Side by Side Combination Gun - NSN, 45 gauge,
36 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/bright finish, curly maple stock. Both of the distinctive Bedford locks are signed “T * O” in fancy script and have light engraving. The letters and the overall style of the rifle are similar to
LOT 1282
Stunning G. Fay Signed Bedford County Percussion Long Rifle with Extensive Engraved Silver Inlays - NSN, 38 cal., 35 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/silver/bright finish, curly maple stock. The rifle features seven-groove rifling, traditional low blade and notch sights, wavy line engraving accenting
the rear sight, a distinctive Bedford style lock signed “G. Fay” with some light engraving, adjustable double set triggers, brass furniture, and a curly maple stock with over 60
pieces of silver and German silver inlaid along its length in a variety of patterns. George Fay was a gunmaker in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The county was formed on February 26, 1846, from sections of Bedford and Huntingdon counties.
He was active until at least 1882 when his shop was robbed. The Altoona Times on December 16, 1885, indicated that “Mr. George Fay, the gunsmith, well known to all the older residents of Altoona, is now nearly blind and much enfeebled by age, having endured the frosts of seventy-nine-winters. He resides at No. 2120 Third avenue.” On August 19, 1891, the Altoona Tribune indicated he had died the previous day and was born on December 18, 1890, and had resided in Altoona for over 30 years “and during the greater portion of that time he followed his trade-that of a gunsmith.” Riflemaker Jacob Snider was Fay’s apprentice (see his rifles in Lot 275 and Lot 3282), and William Fay also became a gunsmith but was killed after being drafted to serve in the Civil War.
CONDITION: Very good with dark brown patina on the lock and barrel, mild pitting concentrated at the breech, attractive aged patina on the brass furniture and silver inlays, repair on the entry pipe, and generally mild overall wear. The refinished stock has some cracks and repairs, attractive figure, and mild scratches and dings. The lock does not securely hold half or full-cock. The triggers are fine. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
the “T * Oldham” signed rifle sold by Rock Island
Auction Company in December 2021 as well as
other rifles signed by Thomas Oldham (1809-
1891) of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Two
Oldham double rifles are featured on page 129 of “Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties” by Whisker and Yantz, but
Bedford County double rifles and combination guns are very rare. Oldham was active in Bedford around the 1830s-1850s and was listed in the 1850 Census as a gunsmith. He and his family moved to Iowa in the mid-1850s and he became a farmer. He died in Mallory Township, Clayton County, Iowa, in 1891. The rifle is a classic Bedford rifle in style but is a side by side with
the right barrel .45 caliber and smoothbore and the left barrel approximately .32 caliber and rifled. Each barrel has a set of traditional blade and notch sights, and the forend is fitted with two sets of ramrod pipes to carry the two hickory ramrods. The rifle is equipped with double set triggers, a curly maple stock with cheekpiece, and fairly plain brass furniture, including a classic Bedford patchbox.
CONDITION: Very good with dark brown on the barrel and locks, some mild flash erosion and pitting at the breech, crack in the left hammer neck, attractive aged patina on the brass furniture, and mild overall wear. The refinished stock has some small cracks and chips, faint repairs, and general mild overall wear. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
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