Page 31 - 85-Book3

LOT 3052
Documented Master Engraver Alvin A. White’s Personal
Silver Mounted, Gold and Silver Inlaid, and Engraved English
Style Half-Stock Percussion Sporting Rifle with Framed Photograph of White with the Rifle and R.L. Wilson Letter - NSN, 40
cal., 21 3/4 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened/
silver/gold finish, walnut stock. In an included
letter from R.L. Wilson, the rifle is described as a
.40 caliber percussion rifle built by Alvin A. White
in the 1940s shortly after he got out of the U.S. Army Air Corps for hunting whitetail deer. It is designed for a conical bullet with a cross-shaped patch. Wilson owned the rifle for over twenty years. The tapered octagon barrel has a blade front sight and a two-leaf rear sight dovetailed into the rib which is signed “A. A. WHITE MAKER ATTLE. MS.” The breech end of the
rib has another dovetail scroll engraving. The patent breech has a silver plug, scroll engraving, and dual gold bands. The standing breech has scroll engraving and a gold inlaid dog’s head. The lock has scroll and border engraving, “A.A. WHITE” signed ahead of the hammer, a pair of gold inlaid fawns in a pastoral scene at the rear, and a gold inlaid doe in another scene below the bolster. The trigger plate has a pineapple finial. The furniture is mostly silver, including the ramrod pipes. The silver trigger guard is engraved with a detailed scene of a stag and
doe along with scroll engraving. The patch box has a gold inlaid turkey in another scene as well as scroll engraving and a silver finial. The silver buttplate has a swan scene engraved by the heel and floral engraving on the tang. The expertly shaped and nicely figured walnut half-stock has a horn forend cap, silver wedge escutcheons, multi-point checkering on the forend and wrist, silver heart inlay on the bottom of the forend, and a crescent moon face in silver and a gold star inlaid on the cheekpiece. The picture of Alvin White holding this rifle is signed from him to R.L. Wilson.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with 90% plus original finish, crisp engraving and markings, some minor age and storage related wear including spots of slight oxidation, and dark aged patina on the silver. The stock is also exceptionally fine and has crisp checkering, smooth oiled finish, nice figure, and only a few minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A stunning custom-built personal rifle by one of the 20th century’s most popular engravers. Provenance: Alvin A. White and R.L. Wilson.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 3053
Exceptional Alvin A. White Master Engraved and Silver Mounted Contemporary “Kentucky” Flintlock
Pistol - NSN, 38 cal., 8 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., bright/casehardened/silver finish, maple stock. The rifled brass barrel is signed “AAW” in script on top by Master Engraver Alvin A.
White who was one of the most talented American arms engravers in the 20th century and indeed in American history. While best known for engraved Colt revolvers, White had a personal interest in muzzleloading firearms. The barrel also features a silver blade front sight and flourishes of scroll engraving. The bright steel/iron upper tang has floral engraving and a notch rear sight. The lock is signed “A.A. White” and has scroll engraving. The furniture is silver.
The sideplate is engraved with a bald eagle and classical martial trophies. The pommel cap has a grotesque mask. The trigger guard has floral and fan patterns. The wrist escutcheon has floral finials. The nicely figured and shaped stock has raised shell carving at the barrel tang.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with light aged patinas on the brass and
silver, French gray color and light case colors on the lock, crisp engraving and
markings, and minor marks and scratches. The stock is also very fine and has
smooth finish, nice figure, crisp carving, and some minor dings and scratches
mainly on the forend. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,500 - 6,500
29