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LOT 237
Exhibition Quality Gustave Young Engraved and Silver Mounted Wesson Box Lock Percussion Civil War Sniper Rifle with Scope - NSN, 38 Percussion cal., 27 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/ silver finish, walnut stock. In the 1840s, some of the world’s best target rifles and pistols were manufactured in the New England shop of Edwin Wesson (1811-1849), older brother of fellow gunmakers Daniel Baird Wesson (1825-1906) of Smith & Wesson fame and Franklin Wesson (1828-1899). It is possible that Daniel or Franklin had a hand in making this rifle since they were both trained by their older brother. Daniel also briefly produced these rifles after Edwin’s untimely demise from a heart attack in 1849. A similar, but more lightly engraved, scope outfitted Wesson rifle in the Smithsonian collection was used by Edwin J. Stanclift of the 8th Company, 1st Battalion, New York Sharpshooters in the Civil War. This rifle has no visible markings aside from the extensive scroll and punch-dot engraving patterns on the action, German silver trigger guard and buttplate, silver patch box, left stock inlay, and toe plate; and tail of the trigger plate. The barrel, scope, and back of the buttplate are the only plain areas.
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