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LOT 3196
Engraved and Samuel McCosh Signed Western Pennsylvania Long Rifle - NSN, 38
cal., 41 3/4 inch octagon bbl., unknown finish, curly maple stock. This rifle was built by Samuel
McCosh of Western Pennsylvania. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation lists: “(born 1813) Nottingham Township,
Washington County (1835-36) Pittsburgh, Allegheny County (1849-60) Gastonville, Washington County (1862-90)”,
and Kaufman and Rosenberger in “The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania” list an older McCosh (1796-1868) as working in
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1826-1830 and then Nottingham Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, in
1831-1846. The slightly tapered rifled barrel measures just under 1 inch at the breech and features seven-groove rifling, circles on the
muzzle face, dovetailed blade and notch sights, and “S McCosh” signed on top in script. The lock has game scene engraving and a “WARRANTED”
marking. The rifle is equipped with adjustable double set triggers and primarily brass mounts, including a distinctive “National Road” patchbox with
engraving. The oval wrist escutcheon and eagle engraved cheekpiece inlay are nickel silver. The full-length curly maple stock has beautiful figure and
a nicely shaped cheekpiece.
CONDITION: Very good with dark brown patina on the lock and barrel, mild
oxidation and pitting concentrated at the breech, attractively aged patina on the
mounts, crisp engraving, legible signature, and generally mild wear. The stock is
also very good and has very attractive flame figure, some small chips and cracks,
repairs including the forend, and mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 3197
Engraved and Silver Accented
New England Flintlock American Long Rifle -
NSN, 57 cal., 40 3/8 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, maple
stock. This gun was made in New England in the early 19th century
and may have originally been .54 caliber and rifled but is now smooth
and approximately 24 bore. It has small blade and notch sights, an interesting
takedown feature using two wedges and a silver banded joint in the forend, a single
trigger, engraved brass furniture, silver wire inlays around the ramrod entry pipe finial and
the grooved standing breech tang, and a checkered wrist.
CONDITION: Good as re-reconverted to flintlock with a mix of dark brown patina and applied
artificial brown finish, moderate erosion at the breech, aged patina on the silver accents
and brass furniture, general moderate overall wear, some cracks and chips in the wood, and
visible but partially smoothed checkering. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 3198
Powder Horn with Engraved Fort and Patriotic Motifs - The
horn measures approximately 15 3/4 inches
long with a 3 inch plug. It is carved with a
star fort/redoubts firing cannon along with
an American bald eagle and shield motif and
bow and arrow. There are two decorative
bands of engraving that appear to
have not been completed. The base
plug has a brass stud, and the
throat is stepped and has
a wood spout plug.
CONDITION: Fine overall with
attractive color and carving, some
chips at the edge of the base and mild
scratches and marks.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 3195
Highly Attractive Engraved Gillespie Half-Stock Percussion Rifle - NSN, 36 cal., 35 1/2 inch octagon bbl.,
brown/German silver finish, highly figured walnut stock. Flayderman’s Guide indicates George D. H. Gillespie was a
hardware merchant in New York City in the 1850s and 1860s and noted that he is believed to have been retailing guns made by other
New York gunmakers, including copies of Henry Deringer’s iconic pocket pistols. It is unknown if he was related to the Gillespie gunmakers
of North Carolina earlier in the 19th century who are famously said to have made one of Daniel Boone’s rifles. This classic 19th century American half-stock
rifle likely originates from New York and is signed “GILLESPIE” on the barrel and the back action lock and displays attractive scroll engraving, a hunter
scene on the patchbox lid, German silver mounts, a short turned down section at the muzzle for use with a starter,
dovetailed brass blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, double set triggers, and a nicely figured walnut
stock with a checkered wrist and star inlay on the oval shadowline cheekpiece.
CONDITION: Fine with period refinished brown along the barrel and the lock plate mostly silvered out gray,
mild oxidation/pitting, distinct engraving, attractively aged patina on the German silver mounts, and some
dings and scratches. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, glossy finish, scattered dings and
scratches, and minor flakes. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
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