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LOT 3238
Scarce C.B. Allen
Cochran Patent Underhammer Revolving Turret Percussion Rifle - Serial no. 208, 45 cal., 29 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut
stock. This is a desirable example of a late production Cochran turret rifle manufactured by Cyrus B. Allen in Springfield, Massachusetts
in the mid to late 1830s. Flayderman’s Guide indicates around 50 of the “Third Type” rifles were believed to have been manufactured in the approximately 155-
200 serial range (reference 9th Edition Flayderman’s Guide, 15-003), with this late production example offered bearing serial number 208 and differing from typical
“Third Type” examples witnessed in that it has an enclosed trigger guard and a hammer that are both identical in shape to the Daniels patent revolving rifles subsequently
manufactured by C.B. Allen. This example has a hammer that engages the trigger at the front,
and a 7-shot revolving turret cylinder. The rifled barrel has a dovetailed German silver blade front
sight and dovetailed notch rear sight. The hinged top strap is marked “PATENT” on the top front area
with an eagle motif above “C.B. ALLEN/SPRINGFIELD/MASS.” on top at the rear. The barrel, frame, top strap,
and turret cylinder are marked with the matching serial number “208”. The furniture is walnut with German silver.
CONDITION: Good, exhibiting a mix of brown and gray patina with some scattered mild oxidation and pitting. Broken/
absent rear section of the rear sight. Wood is also very good, with numerous scattered dents and scratches, and a small
crack visible on top behind the wrist plate. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3237
Rare Engraved Whittier 6-Shot Revolving
Percussion Shotgun - NSN, 16 gauge cal., 31 inch
part octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, maple stock. The Whittier revolving guns
were manufactured in the late 1830s under U.S. patent number 216 of May 30, 1837, and are
considered the original zig-zag cylinder revolvers. Whittier made 6, 9, and 10-shot rifles and 6-shot
shotguns in various calibers. All were handmade and
show individual differences, and
less than 100 are believed to have been manufactured.
Rock Island Auction Company has sold less than a handful
of the Whittier revolving rifles, with this being the first example
of a shotgun we have had the opportunity to offer. Zig-zag
grooves are cut on the external surface of the cylinder, and a pin attached to the
internal hammer rides in these grooves to advance the cylinder when the hammer
is cocked. The rear “trigger” revolves and cocks the internal hammer. This 6-shot shotgun has
shields between each percussion nipple and features a blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, “PATENT” in an engraved border marked ahead of the rear
sight and “WHITTIER’S/PATENT” in an engraved border marked on the long upper tang, German silver furniture, floral scroll engraving at the ends of the octagon
barrel section, upper tang and some of the fittings, with an eagle in a border engraved on the top strap of the frame, and a maple stock.
CONDITION: Very good, with mostly brown patina on the iron with some casehardened finish showing on the cylinder, and scattered patches of
mild oxidation and light pitting. Stock is good, with an applied outer coat of dark finish, scattered
finish flaking, numerous scattered dents and scratches, and a few small chips visible at some of the
edges. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
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