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LOT 1303
Finely Engraved, Gold/Silver Banded, and German Silver Mounted Half- Stock Percussion Sporting Rifle by Wurfflein of
LOT 1302
Rare Documented Sebastian Fischer Engraved Percussion Schuetzen Rifle - NSN, 44 percussion cal.,
30 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is a rare
early percussion rifle that’s featured on pages 66-67 of “The American Percussion Schuetzen Rifle”
by Hamilton and Rowe. It is fitted with a heavy octagonal target barrel with 15/16 inch round front section
made for a false muzzle, (rifle also includes an unfinished brass bullet starter). The top barrel flat is engraved: “SEB:
FISCHER NEW YORK”. It is fitted with the original fine scroll engraved lock plate that is fitted with a scroll engraved, “dolphin head” hammer. The lock plate is also engraved “SEB: FISCHER NEW YORK”. The rifle has an adjustable tang mounted target rear peep sight; a large windage adjustable rear sight and a small blade front sight (both of the later are on the barrel). The tang, the lock plate, hammer and three finger silver sculptured trigger guard all feature, matching fine scroll engraving. It is fitted with a one-piece walnut half-stock that has hand-cut checkering in the grip area and a hand carved “wolfs head” forend tip. The wolf’s head is fitted with glass eyes. The stock has a Germanic/Swiss small style cheekpiece with a two-prong Schuetzen style German Silver buttplate and a matching 3-finger Schuetzen trigger guard. The rifle is fitted with double set triggers, a single barrel wedge. CONDITION: Fine as period refinished with 80% of the blue finish on the barrel. The barrel has aged to a dark brown tone with areas of light pitting and spotting that have been cleaned and finished over, scattered light dings, and some light surface scratches. The action and hammer have aged to a gray patina with some darker mottled areas, light handling marks, and clear markings. The wood is fine with handling marks on the forearm, well defined checkering at the wrist, small indentations throughout, and a repaired crack at the wrist. Mechanically very good. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
Philadelphia - NSN, 48 cal., 38 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/German silver finish, checkered walnut stock. The Andrew and John Wurfflein were
German immigrant gunmakers working in Philadelphia c. 1840s-1860s and were followed by William Wurfflein.
This stunning rifle is signed “WURFFLEIN PHILADA” in ornate script amongst the floral engraving on the
top of the barrel. The rifle is very similar to the Andrew Wurfflein rifle shown in figure 5 of the American Society of Arms Collectors article “The Wurffleins of Philadelphia: Artisans at the End of an Era” by Ronelle Willadsen. The
rifle is accompanied by the listing from when this rifle was sold in N. Flayderman & Co., Inc.’s catalog 118 as item 2541. The rifle is certainly one of the finest made by the Wurffleins and features dovetailed blade and notch sights, a German silver band at the breech end of the barrel, three gold bands on the breech plug, elaborate scroll and floral engraving on the upper tang and back action lock, adjustable single set trigger, German silver furniture with floral and scroll engraving, an interesting patchbox that has a German silver lined interior, and a very gracefully shaped walnut half-stock with finely checkered wrist and very attractive oval cheekpiece.
CONDITION: Fine with a mix of fading original brown finish and dark patina along the barrel, brown patina on the lock, light pitting and oxidation mainly at the breech, attractive aged patina on the German silver, crisp engraving throughout, and fairly minor overall wear. The stock has some repaired cracks at the edges of the forend but is otherwise also fine and has crisp checkering and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Provenance: N. Flayderman & Co., Inc.; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
Fine John Wurfflein, Philadelphia Half-Stock Percussion Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 5, 45 cal., 32 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/German silver finish, walnut stock. John Wurfflein was a talented gunmaker working in Philadelphia c. 1844-1864. The barrel has a dovetailed blade front sight, screw adjustable sporting rear sight, “JOHN WURFFLEIN PHILADA” on top of the breech section, and a “5” just ahead of the breech plug on the right. The back action lock is signed “J. WURFFLEIN”. The rifle is equipped with double set triggers. The stock has a nicely shaped cheekpiece, a checkered wrist, and German silver furniture. CONDITION: Fine with a mix of fading original brown and smooth patina on the barrel, light case colors on the breech plug, smoky gray patina on the lock and upper tang, and aged patina on the furniture. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, minor scratches and dings, a very faint hairline crack at the breech on the left, and fairly minor overall wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 1,100 - 1,600
LOT 1304
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