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LOT 225
Finely Engraved J.P. Goodwin Percussion Target Rifle with Custom Case and Accessories - NSN, 41 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., brown/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. Riflemaker James P. Goodwin worked in Waterbury, Connecticut, from the 1860s to the late 1880s. This
spectacular rifle features a heavy octagonal barrel measuring approximately 1.35 inches across the flats, equipped with a dovetailed globe front
sight, cut for the included false muzzle, and marked “J.P. GOODWIN./WATERBURY, CONN.” and “CAST-STEEL.” on the upper left flat. A large “lollipop”
peep sight is fitted to the upper tang, and the rifle is equipped with adjustable double set triggers. The back action lock is also marked “J.P. GOODWIN.” and the lock breech, and German
silver mounts feature exceptionally fine scrollwork and animal heads, including a profile portrait of a dog on the trigger guard. The engraving quality is certainly among the absolute finest of the
period and appears to have been completed by Master Engraver L.D. Nimschke. Note for example the similarly engraved patchboxes on pages 82 and 90 of “L.D. Nimschke: Firearms Engraver” by R.L.
Wilson. The figured walnut buttstock has a checkered wrist and a beautifully sculpted cheekpiece. The rifle comes with a large case with a partially full bullet block, rod, measure, funnel, false muzzle
and bullet starter, American Powder Mills Deadshot Rifle FFG powder can, cap tins, nipple wrench, bullet mold, punch, and sizer.
CONDITION: Fine as partially refinished around the base of the barrel with artificial brown with the balance of the barrel retaining 70% original brown finish, 70% casehardened finish, light fading from age,
attractively aged patina on the German silver mounts, minor marks and scratches, crisp engraving and checkering, and particularly attractive figure on the left side of the very fine stock. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The John T. Amber Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 228
Engraved Nelson Lewis Boxlock
Percussion Target Rifle with Extra Barrel, Case, and Accessories - NSN, 37 cal., 30 1/4 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut stock. This c. 1850-1870s rifle
from Nelson Lewis’s shop in Troy, New York, features two barrels marked “N. LEWIS TROY”. The installed 30 1/4 inch barrel includes a false muzzle and brass bullet starter
and is equipped with a globe front sight, and the 24 1/4 inch octagonal barrel has a plain muzzle, a dovetailed blade front sight, and an adjustable sporting rear sight. The 1 inch
breech plugs have very nicely sculpted bolsters and scroll engraving. Each barrel also features an iron “forearm” with border and scroll engraving. The action features a running
buck scene on top, a peep sight, adjustable double set triggers, a spurred trigger guard, and scroll engraving. The buttstock has a blued buttplate and toe plate with coordinating scroll engraving,
nickel-silver patchbox with scroll engraving and a scene of a leaping buck on the lid, nickel-silver floral inlay on the cheekpiece, and checkering on the wrist. Included notes indicate the target barrel has a
.371 bore with a 1:23 1/4 twist, while the hunting barrel has a slightly smaller .369 bore and a faster 1:21 twist. Within the modern wooden custom case are a pair of Hoch bullet molds with a shared handle set, a
Remington pattern powder flask with multiple spout options, the noted false muzzle and starter, an antique pair of shooting glasses, a martial pattern button, and an 1863 penny.
CONDITION: Very good plus with 30% of the original blue finish concentrated on the left side of the frame and the forearm of the shorter barrel and otherwise smooth gray
and brown patina, crisp engraving and markings, and minor overall wear. The stock is fine and has distinct checkering, a few small cracks and repairs, and minor marks and
scratches. Mechanically fine. The custom case is fine.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 227
Frank Wesson
Percussion Target Rifle with Custom Case and Accessories - NSN, 41 cal., 32 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. This rifle was manufactured in the mid-19th century by Frank Wesson of Worcester, Mass. He and his brother Daniel B. Wesson were
trained in their elder brother Edwin Wesson’s shop which produced fine target rifles in the 1840s. The rifle features a globe front sight, “lollipop”
tang peep sight with folding aperture, “F. WESSON. MAKER/Worcester Mass.” marked on top of the breech, a single set trigger, spurred German silver trigger guard, checkered walnut buttstock, and an
iron buttplate. The modern wooden case contains a variety of loading equipment, including a bullet mold, starter, false muzzle, and takedown rod.
CONDITION: Very fine. The rifle retains 70% original blue finish and 40% original case colors and has fairly minor overall age and storage related wear. The stock is also very fine and has crisp checkering and most of
the re-oiled finish. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories have generally minor wear.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 226
Heavy Barrel Bench Rest Percussion Target Rifle or “Sharpshooter
Telescope Rifle” by G. H. Ferriss of Utica, New York, with Scope,
Custom Case, and Accessories - NSN, 50 cal., 28 5/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. George H. Ferriss (1820-1885) was a gunmaker in Utica, New
York, in the mid to late 19th century and worked at times with Morgan James. He was an accomplished marksman in the antebellum era, and heavy target rifles like this one,
sometimes referred to as “telescope rifles,” by various New York gunmakers were famously used by sharpshooters during the Civil War. The heavy octagonal barrel is marked “G.H.
FERRISS/UTICA/NY” and is cut for the included false muzzle. A 31 3/4 inch long scope is fitted to a dovetailed mount on the barrel and an threaded adjustable mount in the upper tang. The rifle
also features a large sculpted bolster with a clean out screw on the casehardened breech plug, an unmarked back action lock, double set triggers, a spurred trigger guard, figured walnut buttstock, crescent
buttplate, and toe plate. It comes with a modern wooden case with a variety of accessories, including the noted false muzzle, a large bullet starter, loading rod, nipple wrench, cap tins, powder cans, mold,
and more. Information on the gunmaker is also included.
CONDITION: Fine with 40% original case colors on the breech plug and lighter original case colors elsewhere, the blue on the barrel and scope tube aged to a smooth plum brown, some light oxidation/
pitting, and generally fairly minor overall wear. The stock has some light chipping around the lock mortise, a crack at the toe, and mild scratches and dings but is otherwise fine and has smooth finish and
some attractive figure and grain. Mechanically fine. The optics and crosshairs are mostly distinct with some light clouding.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500