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For example, both attended the 3rd annual Automobile Club Dinner alongside numerous other wealth and influential figures in the early 20th century including Samuel Clemens, several politicians, Thomas Edison, and Martin Dodge. On December 21, 1899, Miles was in Philadelphia to witness a test of a new smokeless powder, and the following day is recorded as traveling to examine Brown segmental tube wire-wound guns at the Scott Iron Works and Diamond
Drill Company. The Scott Iron Works gun was intended for New York Harbor’s defenses which would have certainly been of interest to Hegeman as a New Yorker and National Guardsman.
Included with the carbine is a copy of “Serving the Republic” by Miles, “A Hero to His Fighting Men: Nelson A. Miles, 1839- 1925” by Peter R. DeMontravel, “The Unregimented General: A Biography of Nelson A. Miles” by Virginia W. Johnson, “The Search for General Miles” by Newton F. Tolman, “Nelson A. Miles & the Twilight of the Frontier Army” by Robert Wooster, and a binder of documents relating to the provenance of the carbine and General Miles. The documents indicate the carbine was formerly owned by legendary collector and dealer Norm Flayderman, and copies of letters from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center to Flayderman in the 1970s discussing the carbine are included. Miles’s Model 1895 along with Hegeman’s 1895 in Lot 1015 and Hegeman’s sword in Lot 1016 were sold by Flayderman to well-known Texas collector Charles Schreiner III of the Y-O Ranch in 1983, and the letter from Flayderman to Schreiner is included.
The two carbines and the sword are also featured in the included copy of “Man at Arms” Volume 1 Number 6 from November/December 1979 in the article “A Matter of Provenance” by R.L. Wilson who notes that “Miles ranks as one of the most accomplished leaders of the Plains Indian campaigns, and was apparently quite a good friend of Hegeman. Miles’ carbine and Hegeman’s were probably built within a short time of each other, and, as mentioned, are custom guns of an extremely rare type.” Wilson notes that Hegeman was clearly enamored with the Old West and notes that he was a secretive firearms collector. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The gold inlaid inscription on the frame remains distinct and bright. The silver plaque on the buttstock has attractive aged patina and a crisp inscription. The barrel retains 90% plus original bright
blue finish with only light scratches and minor wear at the muzzle. The frame retains 80% of the original bright blue finish with some flaked areas on the lower portions and lever exhibiting smooth brown patina, some scratches at “MAJOR,” mild oxidation and pitting on top by the hammer, and the hammer retains 90% original fiery case colors. The buttplate has dark patina, moderate pitting, and filing. The wood is very fine and has beautiful flame figure on the butt, minor wear on the otherwise crisp checkering, some checks in the figure on the buttstock, minor chips at the heel and toe,
and general light handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance:
The Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles Collection;
The Norm Flayderman Collection, The Charles Schreiner III Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 75,000 - 150,000
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