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LOT 1066
Attractive Silver Mounted
Dagger with Horn Grip
and Sheath - Manufactured
c. 19th century, this is a very
attractive, unmarked belt dagger with
silver mountings. It measures 12 3/4 inches
overall with an 8 5/8 inch spearpoint blade
with a deep fuller on each side running
about half the length. The oval-shaped
guard is of silver and has a bolster below
it. It is fitted with smooth, dark horn grip
scales (possibly buffalo) with an oval plate
on each side and straps down the length of
the top and bottom, all of silver. It also has
a silver pommel with a small ball-shaped
finial. There are small silver tacks/studs
on all the previously mentioned silver
components for decoration. Includes a
leather sheath with German silver throat
fitting originally made for a different knife
with a clipped point blade.
CONDITION: Fine, the blade mostly a grey
patina with some scattered patches of light
surface spotting and oxidation. The silver
shows an attractively aged patina overall
with two tacks/studs absent from the
guard. The horn grips are good with some
hairline age cracks and light chips near the
plates. Overall an attractive belt dagger!
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 1067
Rare, Documented, Early Production U.S. Ainsworth
Inspected “Oil Hole” Smith & Wesson No. 3 First Model American Single
Action Revolver with Factory Letter and Holster - Serial no. 666, 44 S&W American cal., 8 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured from 1870 to 1872, this Smith & Wesson No. 3, 1st Model American revolver is serial number “666”,
and is one of 1,000 purchased and inspected by the U.S. government. Of these 1,000 U.S. No. 3 Americans, 800 had a blue finish and 200 were
nickel plated. This revolver is also one of the first 1,500 No. 3 Americans produced by Smith & Wesson, having the “oil hole” on the underside
rear portion of the extractor housing under barrel. These revolvers saw hard use with the U.S. cavalry on the frontier and often continued on
as a civilian sidearm after their military service, and they remain desirable on the collectors market in almost any condition. The accompanying
factory letter states the revolver was shipped on 16 March 1871 to Springfield Armory with an 8 inch barrel, blue finish, and smooth walnut grips.
The letter goes on to state that the correct serial number of this revolver appears to be 666 as it is listed among the revolvers shipped to the U.S.
government. These revolvers were reportedly issued to the U.S. 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th cavalry regiments. The revolver is listed by serial
number in the “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” by Supica and Nahas as one of the 1,000 U.S. Americans on p. 105. The top of the barrel rib is
marked with the standard single line address and patent dates followed by “US”, which is perpendicular to the address. There are “A” Orville Ainsworth
inspector markings on the left of the frame and barrel rib, and a “P” proof on the right of the barrel near the hinge. The partial serial number (only “66”
visible) is marked on the butt and “666” is stamped inside the right grip. The butt appears to have once had a lanyard loop added, as there are now
two filled holes and evidence of finish touch up which appears to have obfuscated the first digit of the serial number, leaving only the last two digits.
The assembly number “T7” is marked on the right of the grip frame, rear face of the cylinder, and cylinder latch. Fitted with a German silver blade
front sight, fixed notch rear sight. Includes a leather holster that’s had the flap removed.
CONDITION: Good, retains strong traces of the original blue finish with the balance having mostly faded to a brown-grey patina with scattered light
pitting, typical of a frontier issued U.S. cavalry revolver. There are two filled screw/lanyard loop holes and some artificially applied brown touch up on
the butt. The grips are also good with the right showing lighter tone than the left, a hairline crack at the top of the left, and minor handling marks
throughout. Mechanically excellent. The holster has been period modified with moderate wear. A solid representative example of a historic U.S. Smith
& Wesson No. 3 American revolver!
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 1065
Brown Manufacturing Co. Ballard
Single Shot Heavy Barrel Rifle - Serial no. 21082, 44 CF cal., 29 7/8 inch heavy octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1869-1873 by Brown Manufacturing Company of Newburyport, Massachusetts, of which “a minimum of 500 and likely more” of the
sporting rifles were made according to 9th Edition of “Flayderman’s Guide” although it does not make any mention of a heavy barrel variant as offered here. “No44” is
marked on top of the barrel at the breech along with the serial number which is repeated on top of the receiver. The left side of the receiver is marked “BROWN MFG.
Co. NEWBURYPORT. MASS/BALLARD’S PATENT/NOV. 5, 1861.” Dovetailed German silver blade front sight and dovetailed folding notch and ladder rear sight. Most of these rifles were
purchased by the sporting goods firm of Williams Read & Sons of Boston, Mass. after the closure of the factory.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% thinning original blue finish and strong traces of case colors turning to a smooth gray patina, with scattered heavy surface freckling, cracks visible on either side of the frame
behind the breech block, and defined markings and edges in the metal. Wood is also very good as sanded and revarnished, with a small indented section on top directly behind the frame from a previously mounted
tang sight, a crack visible on the bottom rear of the forearm, and a few non-structural cracks on either side of the wrist. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 1064
“Frontier Issued” Sharps Bridgeport
Model 1874 Sporting Buffalo Rifle
in .45-70 - Serial no. 161255, 45-70
Government cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Sharps reportedly manufactured approximately 6,400 of these
sporting rifles in a variety of configurations between 1871 to 1880 according to production figures listed on page 218 of “Sharps Firearms” by Sellers. Consignor states
this rifle was shipped on December 22, 1877 to Schuyler, Hartley and Graham in a shipment of 140 guns, with a full octagon barrel and weight listed as 12 1/4 pounds.
These Sharps Model 1874 rifles were a highly valued arm on the frontier, not only due to their firepower but also their long range accuracy. They were popular for both
protection and hunting and saw widespread use throughout the turbulent American west, commonly referred to as “buffalo rifles” as used by the commercial hunters of the period. This example
features double set triggers and a 30 inch octagon barrel with a dovetail mounted blade front sight and a Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight. The top barrel flat is marked with the boxed “Old
Reliable” ahead of the Sharps Bridgeport address with “CAL.45” at the breech, and “2 1/10” upside down on the right barrel flat at the breech indicating chambering for .45-70 Government. The left side of the receiver
is marked with the two-line Sharps 1869 patent date, and the matching serial number is marked horizontally on top of the receiver and on bottom of the barrel. It is mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight grip
stock with a steel buttplate, and a small diamond shaped metal inlay on the right side.
CONDITION: Very good, full of unmistakable character typical of a working gun, with the exposed surfaces displaying smooth gray and brown patina with scattered patches of natural frontier freckling, strong original blue finish
showing in the concealed area of the barrel hidden beneath the forearm, strong traces of original case colors in a few of the protected areas, and legible markings in the metal. The wood is good, with the desirable type of wear only
seen in a western used gun, with a smooth undersized forearm indicative of plenty of time riding in the saddle showing cracks, chips, some absent sections, and numerous scattered frontier scars. Requires setting the rear trigger
prior to cocking, otherwise mechanically functions fine. This “frontier issued” Sharps Model 1874 sporting buffalo rifle certainly has plenty of stories to tell, and would display wonderfully in any western or Americana collection!
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
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