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LOT 3180
Documented Heavy Barrel Percussion Civil War Sharpshooter/
Target Rifle with Scope, False Muzzle, and Starter - NSN, 45 cal., 31 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. This rifle and its accessories are featured in “Gun Digest 12th Edition” and “Gun Digest Treasury” by John T. Amber and also in “Civil War Guns” by William B. Edwards as an example of a Civil War sniper/sharpshooter’s rifle or bench-rest rifle. “This Gun Collecting Game” from Gun Digest was also
posted on GunDigest.com on July 28, 2009. The rifle was in Amber’s collection, and he served as the editor of Gun Digest from 1951-1979 and was also editor emeritus in 1980-1986. While the weight is noted as 25 lbs. in the articles, the overall weight of the rifle without the false muzzle is approximately 28 lbs. 11.2 oz. per our scale. It was
clearly designed for precision shooting from a rest. Sharpshooters often brought their own target rifles and “telescope rifles” during the Civil War. The muzzle is cut and drilled for the included false muzzle and brass bullet starter set and has a cant block installed on the underside and the dovetailed front mount for the scope. The adjustable rear mount for the scope is fitted into the upper tang. “7” is marked on the underside of the barrel at the breech. “H.E. LEMAN/LANCASTER PA” is marked on the lock, and the inside of the lock plate and the lock internal components are also marked “31”. The rifle is fired using adjustable double set triggers and has German silver furniture, including a spurred trigger guard and a patch/cap box marked “LOVELL” inside the lid. CONDITION: Fine with light original finish fading to smooth gray and brown patina on the barrel, stronger original blue on the scope tube, gray and brown patina on the lock, aged patina on the furniture, and general mild overall wear including some speckled oxidation. The stock is also fine and has smooth oiled finish and mild scratches and dings. The lock isn’t holding full-cock, but it otherwise functions fine. The optics are very good for their age with minor clouding. Provenance: The John T. Amber Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3181
Cased Engraved A.E. Whitmore Back Action Percussion Target Rifle with Accessories - NSN, 38 cal., 27 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened/German silver finish, deluxe walnut stock. Andrew E. Whitmore (1834-1893) was one of the sons of gunmaker
Nathaniel Whitmore (1804-1885) and was a gunmaker and machinist in Massachusetts. The rifle features a globe front sight, adjustable sporting
style notch rear sight, “A. E. WHITMORE” stamped
on the upper left at the breech, adjustable peep sight on the upper tang, scroll engraving, back action lock, single set trigger, German silver furniture, and figured walnut half-stock. The rifle comes in a hardwood takedown case along with a variety of accessories, including a false muzzle, bullet starter, green leather bound powder flask, brass powder measure, alternate blade and notch sights, multi-tool, and more. CONDITION: Fine with the original finish on the barrel fading to a dark brown, strong original blue on the sights, silver-gray patina on the breech and lock, aged patina on the German silver, absent trigger adjustment screw, and generally fairly minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has some minor scrapes and dings,
small slivers absent at the edges, and attractive figure and grain. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are generally fine to very good with mild age and storage related wear including some cracks in the wood and an absent sight blocker on the false muzzle. Overall, a remarkable cased set.
Provenance: The John T. Amber Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 3182 Engraved L.W. Tisdel Pennsylvania Percussion Sharpshooter/Target Rifle with H.M. Pope Marked Barrel, Scope, and Accessories - NSN, 34 cal., 25 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut stock. This late 19th century target rifle by Luther W. Tisdel (1829-1906) features a barrel marked “H.M. POPE HARTFORD CONN” on top for noted barrel maker Harry M. Pope (1861-1950), “L.W. TISDEL/SCRANTON PA” on the upper left, and “CAST STEEL” on the upper left and lower left. The barrel has a false muzzle with sight blocker and mounting screws on the sides of the barrel at the muzzle, and there is a tapped hole towards the muzzle end for mounting the included rests. The 30 7/8 inch long scope has no visible maker’s marks. The back action lock is marked “L.W. TISDEL/SCRANTON PA” and is fired using an interesting double set trigger group with the reversed front trigger serving as the set trigger and the rear as the firing trigger. The breech plug, lock, and furniture are nickeled and have scroll engraving. The checkered walnut stock has a large cheekpiece and a schuetzen style buttplate. The included modern case contains a variety of accessories, including a starter and other loading equipment. CONDITION: Fine as refinished with 75% plus blue finish on the barrel, 90% plus of the nickel plating, and general minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, mild dings and scratches, edge wear, and some attractive figure. The refurbished scope has good optics. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The John T. Amber Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500