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LOT 3296
Massive Historic Deluxe American Silver and Gold Inlaid Haslett Baltimore Flintlock “Market Gun” - NSN, 9 gauge, 53 inch part octagon bbl., brown/caseharden
ed/ blue/gold/silver finish, deluxe highly figured walnut stock. This impressive American Market Gun was
manufactured in the early 19th century by James Haslett’s shop in Baltimore to hunt waterfowl. The bore measures approximately 9 bore at the muzzle. Haslett immigrated from Ireland in 1798 and was initially the superintendent of Robert McCormick’s gun shop in
Philadelphia where he oversaw production of U.S.
contract muskets. He moved to Baltimore in 1803 and established his gun shop at 28 Water Street in Baltimore by 1805, where he produced high quality
arms and also imported quality pieces from Europe. He eventually took his son into the firm and was operating as James Haslett & Son by the publication of the 1829 Baltimore directory. He was considered to be among the finest gunmakers in our young country. The long barrel is octagon to round and has a silver blade front sight, banded transition point followed by floral engraving, “-->BALTIMORE<--” marked
on top, a gold vent liner, dual gold bands at the breech end, and an eagle head style proof on the upper left. The standing breech is dished and has floral engraving. The lock is marked “HASLETT/--> <--/BALTIMORE” and has a frizzen spring roller and light engraving. The trigger guard features a stylized pineapple finial, a bird scene on the bow, and a burst pattern towards the rear. The wrist and wedge escutcheons are silver, and a silver scroll inlay is also on the right side of the butt. The highly figured stock has a checkered wrist, cheekpiece, and an inventory number (museum?) in white ahead of the lock (first number appears to be “6” followed by “82”).
CONDITION: Very good with dark brown blend of patina on the steel, attractively aged patina on the silver, replaced top jaw and hammer screw, professionally replaced inlay on the right side of the butt, stock is fine with some repairs, faint cracks, mostly crisp checkering, and attractive figure. Mechanically fine. Haslett guns are highly sought after by American collectors thanks to the high quality of the arms sold through his shop in Baltimore.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3297
Large Muzzleloading Percussion Punt Gun - NSN, 1 inch gauge, 70 3/4 inch round bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. Used by market hunters in the 19th and early 20th centuries to take
large numbers of waterfowl with a single shot for commercial harvesting operations, the Punt Gun derives its name from the small boats, or “punts,” to which it was mounted. The hunter would maneuver his
punt slowly into optimum position and aim to kill as many birds in one shot as possible. This practice depleted stocks of wild waterfowl in the U.S., and was banned in most states by the 1860s, with this practice
of market hunting outlawed altogether in 1918 by a series of federal laws. This example is unsigned, with no visible markings, and appears to be of British origin. Round browned barrel with large percussion bolster, back
action lock, trigger guard with engraved acorn finial, and walnut stock with leather pad on top of the comb and leather buttplate. Overall length: 7 feet 2 1/2 inches. The inside of the smooth bore measures just shy of one inch. CONDITION: Very good with an aged brown patina on the iron overall and a few areas of mild pitting. Stock is also very good with a few mild chipped absent sections visible at the toe, mostly absent leather buttplate, and scattered light handling marks with defined checkering and fine figure. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3298 Engraved Massive 6 Bore John Krider Single Barrel Percussion Shotgun - NSN, 6 gauge, 36 inch part octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. John Krider (1813–1886) of Philadelphia apprenticed under Prosper Vallee starting in 1826 and purchased his master’s shop on the northeast corner of Second and Walnut in Philadelphia by 1839 and ran it as a leading gun and sporting goods store. Krider was also the maker of the prototype LeMat revolver. The shotgun features a Damascus, octagon to round, smoothbore barrel with a bead front sight, “PHILADELPHIA” marked on top of the breech section, casehardened breech plug with floral engraving, and Birmingham proofmarked on the bottom flat. The bar- in-wood flat lock is signed “J. KRIDER.” and has wavy line borders and scroll engraving. The furniture features coordinating scroll engraving. The round knob pistol grip stock has fine multi-point checkering and a 13 1/4 inch length of pull. CONDITION: Very good with strong patterns of brown finish, distinct twist patterns, some light case colors, gray and brown patina on the lock and furniture, and generally minor overall wear. The re-oiled stock is also very good and has distinct checkering, minor marks and scratches, and some nice figure. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,750
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