Page 173 - 4092-BOOK3-FLIPBOOK

LOT 3183
Rare Documented Edward
Lindner 1862 Patent Prototype Lever
Cocking Air Pistol with Tip-Up Barrel - NSN, 26 , 5 1/2
inch octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut grips. This prototype air
pistol is the design of Edward Lindner, covered under U.S. patent
number 37,173 granted December 16th, 1862, with only one other
similar but slightly visually different example of one of these Lindner patent
air pistols known to exist by this writer at the current time of
writing, indicating this example is likely unique.
Inventor Edward Lindner is better known to
the U.S. martial arms collecting community in
relation to his invention of a breech loading
percussion system seen in Civil War carbines and
long arms. In the patent text for this air pistol,
Edward Lindner states, “My invention consists in
the formation of a lever constructed conformably
in shape with the handle or stock of the gun or
pistol, and in so arranging and combining with it
a piston and spring as to compress the latter by
direct action on the piston-rod...” and further goes
on to describe detailed features of the gun notably
including an India-rubber ring for an air-tight joint
between the breech of the barrel and face of the
air cylinder. It has an all brass frame and barrel with
iron cocking lever, sights and working components.
The octagon barrel has a smooth bore measuring
at approximately .26 caliber, with a dovetail mounted blade front sight and dovetail mounted notch rear sight.
The barrel uses a tip-up system for loading with a release lever below. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/445” hanging from the trigger guard. This exact Lindner prototype air pistol is pictured and described on page 698 of the book “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition”.
CONDITION: Fine overall with attractive golden aged patina on the brass surfaces, some stress cracks surrounding a screw on the left of the cylinder housing, and some scattered freckling visible on the iron components. Appears to function and has a strong spring, although no attempt was made to fully cock the lever out of respect for the item. One absent trigger guard screw. This prototype Edward Lindner patent air pistol serves as an important footprint in small arms history, and would make a fine addition to any advanced antique arms collection!
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 9,500
LOT 3184
Fine Civil War U.S. Contract E.
Remington & Sons New Model Army Percussion Revolver -
Serial no. 66546, 44 cal., 8 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Remington’s revolvers were the second most widely issued by the Union throughout
the Civil War. The New Model Army was manufactured from 1863-1875 and represents
the last of Remington’s .44 caliber percussion revolvers. “PATENTED SEPT. 14. 1858/E.
REMINGTON & SONS. ILION NEWYORK.U.S.A./NEW-MODEL” marked in three lines on the top barrel flat. Full and partial matching serial number is located on the bottom of the barrel, back of both grip panels in pencil, and right side of grip frame under the grip panel. The cylinder is numbered to another gun (“9060”). Single letter sub-inspection marks located on various components. Boxed script inspection cartouche stamped on the left grip panel. Threaded “pinched” blade front sight and top
strap groove rear sight.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 70% original blue finish with a mix of smooth flaked brown and
gray patina on the balance and some scattered pitting. 75% original case colors remain on
the hammer. The grips are very fine with a few dings and scratches and a clear cartouche.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern Clergyman.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3185
Civil War Era Rogers & Spencer Army
Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 1934, 44
percussion cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, cartouched
walnut grips. This is a very fine example of a U.S. contract percussion
revolver that was manufactured by Rogers, Spencer & Co., of Willow
Dale, New York in 1865. The Rogers & Spencer Co., was awarded a
contract by the Ordnance Department for 5,000 .44 caliber revolvers in November, 1864.
When the Civil War ended in April 1865, 1,500 revolvers had been delivered; the remaining
3,500 were delivered by September 1865. The revolvers were apparently never issued and
were subsequently sold by military surplus dealer Francis Bannerman. This well designed
revolver has a full octagon barrel with nickel-silver cone front sight. The solid
frame has a sighting groove on the top strap. The revolver has a six-shot
cylinder with safety notches between the chambers. The two-piece walnut
grips have a flared butt. The barrel, frame, cylinder, trigger guard and back
strap have a high polish blue finish and the loading lever, hammer and trigger
have a dark color casehardened finish. The top strap is roll-stamped: “RODGERS
& SPENCER/UTICA, N.Y.” on either side of the sight groove. The serial number is
stamped on the underside of the barrel, loading lever, cylinder, and bottom of
the back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. Small Ordnance “B” sub-inspection marks are stamped on each component. The lower left grip is stamped with an Ordnance inspection mark which consists of the script initials “RBP” enclosed in a rectangle.
CONDITION: Very fine. The revolver retains 70% of the original high polish blue and color casehardened finishes. The blue on the top and sides of the barrel is thin while the bottom flat has nearly all of the finish. The frame has 80% of the blue finish with high-point wear, light scratches and some traces of flash pitting on the top strap above the percussion nipples. Most of the blue finish is present on the cylinder. The blue finish on the grips straps is thin. The hammer and trigger retain nearly all of the dark color casehardened finish. The case colors on the exposed areas of the loading lever have faded to a brown patina. The grips are very fine with a raised grain and extremely sharp Ordnance inspection mark. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,250 - 4,750
LOT 3186
Civil War
U.S. Martially
Inspected Starr Model 1858 Army Double
Action Percussion Revolver with Bullet
Mold - Serial no. 10091, 44 cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. The Starr Model 1858 and Model 1863
revolvers as a group were the third most widely used revolvers
by the Union forces during the Civil War. Approximately 23,000
Model 1858 Army revolvers were manufactured in the late 1850s
to early 1860s, with 21,000 reportedly sold to the U.S. government. The frame has
the New York address on the left side and the 1856 patent date on the right. Most of
the components have single letter inspection marks. Matching visible serial numbers
“10091” marked on the front surface of the frame below the loading lever, underside
of the barrel, inside of the hammer well, hammer, and
cylinder. Boxed script inspection cartouches stamped
on both sides of the grip at the bottom. Includes a
single cavity brass bullet mold featuring a
wooden handle.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 40% original blue finish
with brown-gray patina on the balance and some
scattered pitting. Slight flashes of original case colors
remain on the loading lever and hammer. The grip is
fine showing some chipping at the front, some minor
handling marks, and faint cartouches. Mechanically
needs work as hammer does not release properly
when action is cycled. The bullet mold is fine.
Provenance: Property of a Distinguished
Southern Clergyman.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500 71
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK BLUE BOOK OF AIRGUNS, THIRTEENTH EDITION BY BEUNING
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