Page 74 - 4094-BOOK2

LOT 1087
Desirable Pre-Civil
War Peter Rose, New
York Bowie Knife with Sheath
- Manufactured
c. 1829-1845
by Peter
Rose, a surgical
instrument maker
from New York, documented
at various locations on William Street during that period.
Knives such as this would have been extremely popular during the period of rapid westward expansion and
the gold rush, both for utility and defense. These American made Rose knives are always desirable among
collectors due to their rarity in comparison to the Sheffield made knives that flooded the American market
during the period. This example measures 12 5/8 inches overall with an 8 1/8 inch clip point blade with the
Rose marking on the left ricasso (“RO/NEWYO” is visible). The iron guard is elliptical with acorn-like finials,
a common feature on Rose knives. Below the guard is a German silver bolster, one piece antique ivory grip
with blank German silver nameplate on the right, and a deeply fluted shell-shaped pommel of German silver,
also a common trait of Rose’s knives. Includes a leather wrapped linen sheath.
CONDITION: Good, the blade showing a grey patina, some scattered light pitting, evidence of filing/moderate
sharpening, and the remnants of the marking clear. The guard shows similar patina. The German silver is
bright and attractively aged with light dings. The grip is good with some minor age cracking and wear. The
period replacement sheath is fair with traces of leather wrapping and extensive wear. An attractive, American
made, early 19th century Bowie knife that looks like it has some stories of the frontier to tell!
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 1086
Colt Third Model
Dragoon Percussion Revolver - Serial no.
13961, 44 cal., 8 inch part round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut grips. Colt’s Third Model Dragoon
revolvers were manufactured between 1851 to 1861, and were the last of Colt’s
massive “horse pistols” descended from the famous Colt Walker. This example was
manufactured in 1854. The Third Model Dragoon can be quickly distinguished by
its round trigger guard and rectangular cylinder stops. The Dragoons were used by the 1st
and 2nd Dragoons and U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen in the West in the antebellum
era and saw extensive use by both sides during the Civil War. The barrel has a German
silver blade front sight, with the one-line “-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY” legend
on top. The left side of the frame is marked “COLTS/PATENT” in two lines. The cylinder has the
Indian fight scene and the “Model U.S.M.R.” marking. Matching full and partial serial numbers
visible on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, cylinder pin, cylinder, loading lever, butt, and correctly
handwritten in black ink inside the back channel of the grip, with an unnumbered replacement
wedge. Includes a letter, envelopes and invoice from N. Flayderman & Co. indicating this
revolver was purchased in 1964 by a family member of the current consignor.
CONDITION: Good with gray patina, scattered mild brown spotting/pitting, some scattered
dings, and mostly legible markings in the metal. Cylinder scene is lightly visible. Absent left guide lug on the front face
of the frame. Grip is very good with some light handling marks, a crack visible at the upper left, numerous scattered
dings on the bottom flats and butt of the backstrap, and defined lower edges. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: N. Flayderman & Co.; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1085
“Frontier Issued” U.S. N. Starr & Son Model 1817 Flintlock “Common Rifle” - NSN, 54 cal., 36 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock.
Reportedly, 38,200 of the Model 1817 rifles were manufactured by various contractors between 1817-1842, and Nathan Starr produced approximately 10,200 of
them. Model 1817s saw use in the Seminole Wars, Mexican-American War and remained in use during the Civil War. The Model 1817 was dubbed the “common rifle”
in correspondence to differentiate it from the more unusual Hall breech loading rifles. At the time, rifles in military use in general were uncommon, but the U.S. Army had included
riflemen since the American Revolution alongside the more common musket armed infantry. The barrel has seven-groove rifling, a block mounted blade front sight, notch rear sight,
“US/P/JN” on the barrel at the breech, “182x” (last digit illegible) date on the tang, Partly legible N. Starr & Son maker marking on the lock below the removable brass pan, “MIDDtn/CONN/1841” in
three lines at the tail of the lock, and an oval iron patch box door on the right. Period brass repair in the wrist with part of an escutcheon plate above it, period brass inlays on the left of the buttstock, along
with the period hand carved name “ELISHA FOWLER” below the cheek piece. No further information has been located in relation to this name.
CONDITION: Good as frontier issued, with a mix of brown and gray patinas on the iron, scattered patches of light to mild pitting and some wear. Stock is also good as sanded and varnished, with various cracks,
scattered dents and scratches, and the mentioned period brass repair visible in the wrist showing a charming aged patina. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 1084
“Frontier Issued” Sharps Sporting Conversion Percussion Buffalo Rifle as Pictured in “Sharps Firearms Vol. III” by Marcot and Paxton - Serial
no. 95472, 45 cal., 34 inch heavy octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This Sharps sporting rifle appears to have been period assembled using
a Civil War era New Model 1863 action while being re-barreled with a heavy octagon target style barrel fitted with an under rib. This rifle appears to have possibly
been converted by a skilled gunsmith somewhere in the American West, specifically for the frontier marking in the late 1860s or early 1870s. Sharps sporting rifles
are considered to be one of the classic western firearms and were particularly popular with buffalo hunters. The barrel has a German silver “Rocky Mountain” blade front sight
in a dovetailed base, Lawrence pattern folding ladder rear sight (not Lawrence marked), an additional rear sight dovetail that was filled during the period of use, and appears
to be devoid of markings (including the bottom). The action has the standard Sharps markings including the serial number on the upper tang. It is mounted with a smooth
forearm pinned through a single barrel underlug and fitted with a pewter nosecap. The stock has a checkered wrist, brass patch box on the right, and is fitted with a military
pattern buttplate. This rifle is pictured on p. 352 of “Sharps Firearms: Model 1874, 1875 &1877 Target Rifles & Model Variations, Vol. III” by Marcot and Paxton.
CONDITION: Good as frontier converted to sporting rifle configuration, showing a mixture of grey and brown patinas, traces of brown finish, and light pitting on the
period replaced barrel, typical of a working gun in the American west. The action has a mixture of artificial grey and brown patina with light pitting. The refinished
wood is fair with stabilized cracks in the forearm, moderate wear, and some scattered minor dings. Mechanically fine. A Sharps buffalo rifle
with all the character of the American West!
Provenance: The J.B. Jordan Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
As pictured & described in Sharps Firearms:
Model 1874, 1875 &1877 Target Rifles & Model
Variations, Vol. III by Marcot & Paxton
72