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LOT 3240
Engraved “Cofer Portsmouth Virginia” Marked Half-
Stock Percussion Rifle - NSN, 40 cal., 36 3/8 inch octagon bbl., bright
finish, curly maple stock. Thomas Wrenn Cofer (1828-1885) of Virginia designed
a revolver in 1861 that was produced by T.W. Cofer & Co. until the fall of Portsmouth
in May 1863. Firearms from his shop are also known to have been used by Confederates. He
later ran a gun store on Union Street in Norfolk, Virginia, until his death in 1885. This c. 1850s
rifle has traditional dovetailed blade and notch sights, “COFER PORTSMOUTH VA” marked at the breech, scroll and floral engraving, a “J. DANA & CO/
WARRANTED” marked lock, double set trigger, brass mounts, and curly maple half-stock with checkered wrist and a cheekpiece.
CONDITION: Good with silver-gray patina on the lock and barrel, some minor pitting, attractive aged patina on the mounts, re-oiled with crisp
checkering, replacement hammer screw, chipped hammer spur, splice at the trigger guard finial, crack on the left at the breech, and mild overall wear.
The patchbox latch is weak. The lock and set triggers are mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3243
Engraved English Double Barrel Percussion Shotgun from T.W. Cofer of Virginia - NSN, 10
gauge, 34 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. Thomas Wrenn
Cofer (1828-1885) of Virginia designed a revolver in 1861 produced by T.W. Cofer & Co. until the fall of Portsmouth in May
1862. Shotguns from his shop are also known to have been used by Confederates. He later ran a gun store on Union Street in
Norfolk, Virginia, until his death in 1885. This shotgun’s barrels have a broad flat rib with a bead front sight, arrow engraving, “London
Fine Twist” in silver inlay, scroll engraving, nickel-silver bands at the breech, and Birmingham proofs. The locks are marked “T W Cofer”, and the
German silver mounts feature scroll and game scene engraving. The stock has a small patchbox and a 14 3/8 inch length of pull.
CONDITION: Good with dark brown patina, moderate oxidation, and general moderate overall wear including some cracks and chips in the stock. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3242
Engraved English Double Barrel Percussion Shotgun “T.W. Cofer Norfolk, Virginia” -
NSN, 12 gauge, 30 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. This
is an example of an English percussion shotgun imported by Thomas Wrenn Cofer (1828-1885) Virginia. Cofer
designed a revolver in 1861 produced by T.W. Cofer & Co. until the fall of Portsmouth in May 1862. Shotguns from his shop
are also known to have been used by Confederates. This shotgun comes from his later gun shop on Union Street in Norfolk,
Virginia, which he ran until his death in 1885. It features Damascus barrels with a single bead sight on the smooth concave solid rib
inscribed “NORFOLK, VA (FINE TWIST)”, and the underside of the barrel has Birmingham
proofs. The locks are marked “T.W. COFER”, and the locks and mounts have scroll
engraving. The stock has checkering on the forend and wrist and a 14 1/2 inch length of pull.
CONDITION: Good with dark brown patina, moderate oxidation and pitting, and general moderate wear including smoothed
checkering on the stock. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 3241
Engraved Percussion Shotgun by Cofer of Portsmouth, Virginia - NSN, 16 gauge, 39 3/4 inch part octagon bbl., unknown
finish, walnut stock. Thomas Wrenn Cofer (1828-1885) of Portsmouth, Virginia, designed a revolver in 1861 produced by T.W. Cofer &
Co. until the fall of Portsmouth in May 1862. Shotguns from his shop are also known to have been used by Confederates. He later
ran a gun store on Union Street in Norfolk, Virginia, until his death in 1885. Many of the double barrel shotguns from his shop were
imports from Birmingham, England, but this single barrel is American made. The smoothbore barrel has a silver tear drop front sight base
and is marked “PORTSMOUTH VA” on top at the breech. The back action lock is marked “COFER”. It
features scroll engraving, and the half-stock has a checkered wrist and a 14 1/8 inch length of pull.
CONDITION: Good with gray and brown patina, moderate oxidation/pitting, a separated front ram rod
pipe, aged patina on the German silver, and general mild overall wear, including a crack in the butt.
Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
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