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LOT 1246
Documented Early Production Serial Number 14 Civil War U.S. Whitney Model 1861
Navy Percussion Rifle with Rare Fighting
Knife Bayonet - Serial no. 14, 69 cal., 34 inch
round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. The
Plymouth Rifle was manufactured on the
recommendation of Navy ordnance officer
John A. Dahlgren and was based on the
French Model 1849 “Chasseurs de Vincennes”
percussion rifle. Offered here is serial number 14, and it was one of the first 100 production
rifles delivered on February 5, 1863. It features a .69 caliber rifled barrel with bayonet lug on
the right side, long range leaf sight graduated to 1,000 yards, trigger guard with spur finger
grip and ramrod with large cylindrical tip pierced with a small hole. The 1862 dated lock is
decorated with a large eagle/shield ahead of the hammer and is marked “U.S./WHITNEY-VILLE”.
The barrel tang is marked with the low serial number “14”. The buttplate tang is correctly
unmarked as the first 100 rifles delivered lack the “US” marking. “GDM” (George D. Moller)
collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a leather sling and fighting knife
type bayonet. The bayonet has a 12 inch steel blade marked “AMES MFG Co/CHICOPEE” and
“USN/DR/1864” “1864 along with an anchor, “P” and “GG”. The walnut grip has finger grooves,
and the pommel has the inspector mark “DR.” The leather scabbard is attached to a leather
belt with a “US” buckle. Dahlgren ordered only 375 of these fighting knife bayonets from Ames
Manufacturing Co. The first 75 bayonets were for the trial rifles, and the remaining 300 bayonets
were delivered in late October 1861. These Plymouth rifles are described in depth on pages 507-
513 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III”, with this exact rifle
photographed on the top of page 510.
CONDITION: Very good showing a silver-gray appearance mixed with pitting. The stock is also very good with a few splice repairs and minor dings and
scratches. Mechanically excellent. Bayonet is fine overall with a casting flaw on upper left. Blade is mostly bright. Leather is fine.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
LOT 1247
Historic Drafting Kit Inscribed to Famous American Explorer and U.S.
Army Inspector General Randolph B. Marcy, with Books Including a First
Edition “Exploration of the Red River of Louisiana 1852” - Offered is an
extremely historically significant original drafting kit linked to Randolph B. Marcy,
with his name “R. B. MARCY ESQ” period inscribed on the silver plaque on top
of the leather wrapped case with a fitted interior containing a complete set of
numerous drafting tools. Randolph Barnes Marcy (April 9, 1812-November 22,
1887) was a U.S. Army officer, appointed in 1861 as Inspector General of the U.S.
Army, famously known for his frontier guidebook “The Prairie Traveler” published
in 1859, which was based on his own extensive experience of exploring the West.
This publication became the key guide for the many thousands of Americans
who traveled west afterwards wanting to reach Utah, Oregon, and California in
search of gold and land. Marcy also previously published “Exploration of the Red
River of Louisiana 1852” in which his account remains one of the most valuable
and interesting descriptions of our western frontier, as the first adequate account
of the region explored by him. Marcy was also involved in numerous conflicts,
including the Black Hawk War, Mexican-American War, Utah War, and the Civil
War. The lot also includes an original first edition 1854 print of “Exploration of the
Red River of Louisiana 1852” by Randolph Marcy with an accompanying original
“Maps to Marcy’s Rept”, a contemporary copy of “The Prairie Traveler” by Randolph
Marcy, “Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border” by Randolph Marcy, “Marcy & the
Gold Seekers” by Grant Foreman, and consignor research on Marcy.
CONDITION: The drafting tools are fine, with some patches of corrosion on a few
of the tools, the case is very good with some general age related wear and a loose
insert on the interior of the lid, and included books are very good to very fine.
This historically significant set is worthy of a prominent place in any western or
Americana museum collection!
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
As pictured & described
in American Military
Shoulder Arms, Vol. III
by Moller
General
Randolph
B. Marcy
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