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LOT 44
Documented Engraved C.
Slotterbek San Francisco
Percussion Drilling - NSN, 12 gauge, 25 5/8 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/
blue finish, walnut stock. This fascinating combination gun is illustrated in plate 192 on page 229 of
“California Gunsmiths 1846-1900” by Shelton. The patent drawing for this design is featured on page 223, and
biographical information and examples of the work of Charles Slotterbek (1831-1886) are featured on pages
220-234. The gun features two 12 gauge smoothbore barrels fired using traditional side locks over a rifled
.41 caliber barrel fired using an underhammer lock built into the trigger plate. The upper rib has a rounded
blade front sight, notch rear sight, and “C. SLOTTERBEK PATENT, SAN FRANCISKO [sic] PATENTED MAY 13TH 1868.” A
ramrod is fit between the left barrel and the rifled barrel. The casehardened locks and mounts have light scroll engraving. The walnut
half-stock has checkering, bands of thicker wood between the locks and breech, and a 14 inch length of pull.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 90% plus original browned finish, 75% original case colors, 50% of the original blue on the bottom
hammer, gray and brown patina on the balance, mild oxidation on the buttplate, and fairly minor overall wear. The stock is also very
fine and has crisp checkering, minor handling and storage marks, and glossy finish. Mechanically fine. Overall a
very attractive and distinctive American drilling from the “Paris of the West.”
Provenance: The Hugh E. Hayes Collection; Private Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 45
Slotter & Co. Philadelphia Half Stock .50
Caliber Percussion Rifle - Serial no.
534, 50 cal., 34 inch octagon
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This heavy barrel half stock rifle is marked “SLOTTER & CO. PHILA” on the top flat behind the
rear sight, and the left rear flat is marked “GAIN TWIST/WART/534”. The barrel tang is marked “21”. The front sight is a brass
dovetailed blade, with a fixed dovetailed rear sight. The lock plate is marked “SLOTTER & CO. PHILA”. Brass mountings with patch box and crescent
buttplate. Double set triggers and wooden ram rod. Straight grip half stock with checkering on the wrist, cheek piece, and fancy trigger guard. Slotter &
Co. are probably better known for their pocket pistol fashioned identically after the Deringer, with the company being formed by former Henry Deringer
employees. One could argue a case for the aforementioned gun being a Plains Rifle due to the large caliber and rugged design.
CONDITION: Very fine. All metal surfaces have a smooth brown patina with a very small area of minor pitting on the left side of the barrel. The brass has a nice aged
patina. The stock is also very fine with overall scattered minor dents, dings and scratches, and a few hairline cracks around the lockplate screw on the left side of the
stock. The markings are clear. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 47
Colt First Model
Dragoon Percussion
Revolver - Serial no.
1687, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/
casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This First Model Dragoon
was manufactured in 1848. Only around 7,000 First Model Dragoons were
manufactured between 1848-1849, and they are important pieces in Colt
firearms history as one of the massive “holster pistols” made by Colt following the
famous Colt Walker revolvers of 1847. These revolvers were designed for mounted use by the
U.S. Mounted Riflemen and 1st and 2nd U.S. Dragoons. The First Model Dragoons were followed by
2,700 Second Model Dragoons and 10,500 Third Model Dragoons. All of the Dragoon models saw
considerable use during both the antebellum period and the Civil War, and were also popular out
west due to their stopping power. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight and “ADDRESS
SAML. COLT NEW-YORK CITY” reading from the breech towards the muzzle. The cylinder has the faintly visible Texas
Ranger and Comanche Indian battle scene with “MODEL U.S.M.R.” and “COLT’S PATENT” markings surrounding the
serial number, and the correct oval stop slots of the First Model Dragoons. The frame has “COLT’S/PATENT/U.S.”
stamped on the left. Silver plated brass grip straps with a squareback trigger guard. Single letter inspection marks
on various components. No cartouches visible on the grip. Matching visible serial numbers on the barrel, frame,
trigger guard, butt, wedge, cylinder, cylinder pin, and correctly handwritten inside the rear
channel of the grip, with a period replacement loading lever numbered “166”.
CONDITION: Good with exhibiting a mix of smooth gray and brown patina with some
areas of scattered light to mild pitting, general wear, and bright golden appearance on
the brass, with a few tiny traces of original silver finish at the
edges of the trigger guard. Grip is also good as sanded and
revarnished, slightly undersized, with a few replacement
spliced sections at the corners, and some scattered dents and
scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 46
Desirable Documented John Bach San Francisco Half-Stock
Percussion Target Rifle - NSN, 38 cal., 30 1/2 inch octagon bbl.,
unknown/German silver finish, walnut stock. This
rifle is illustrated as plate 10 on page 22 of “California
Gunsmiths 1846-1900” by Shelton and described as
“Target rifle. Barrel stamped ‘J. BACH SAN FRANCISCO
CAL.’, lock stamped ‘J. BACH SAN FRANCISCO CAL.’
Barrel length 30-1/2 inches; width across flats 1-11/16
inches. Rifling has six grooves .385 in diameter and
lands .375 diameter; turned at muzzle for straight
starter. German silver furniture; hole in trigger guard
plate for palm rest; walnut stock.” The muzzle is turned
down for use with a bullet starter. The barrel also has a
dovetailed blade front sight and a filler block in the rear
sight dovetail, and a peep sight is mounted on the upper
tang. The rifle is equipped with adjustable double set triggers. The
stock has a checkered wrist and a shadowline cheekpiece. Page
20 of “California Gunsmiths” features a portrait and biography of
German born California gunmaker John Bach (1824-1905) who
worked in San Francisco from 1852-1874. In 1864 he won an award
at the Mechanics Fair in San Francisco. He was also a competitive marksman and was involved in the Swiss Rifle
Club of San Francisco and National Rifle Club.
CONDITION: Very good, with mottled gray patina and oxidation/pitting on the lock and barrel, light aged patina
on the German silver mounts, and mild overall wear. The re-oiled stock is fine and has crisp checkering, repaired
cracks at the wedge on the right, cracks on the left at the breech and toe, and some attractive figure visible on
the butt. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Jim Field Collection; The Chris Anderson Collection; The Hugh E. Hayes Collection;
Private Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
As pictured & described in California
Gunsmiths 1846-1900 by Shelton
As pictured & described in California
Gunsmiths 1846-1900 by Shelton