Page 235 - 88-BOOK2

LOT 1236
Extremely Rare Pair of Silver Mounted D. Searles, Cincinnati Signed Percussion Conversion Pistols Featured in “The Kentucky Pistol” -A) D. Searles Percussion Pistol - NSN, 52 cal., 7 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brass/niter blue/silver finish, walnut stock. These fascinating pistols are featured on pages 134 and 135 of “The Kentucky Pistol” by Chandler & Whisker and feature octagonal brass barrels with smooth bores, silver blade front sights, “D Searles Cincinnati” signed on top, and rear sight grooves that continue onto the niter blued tangs which have English style engraving. The locks were originally flintlocks and have since been converted to percussion and niter blued and are signed “Capper/& Co.” As we have seen on other Capper & Co. locks, the marking appears hand signed. Capper & Co. marked locks are also found on
some other early 19th century American firearms, and the company also imported French swords c. 1800-1812. The drum bolsters are also niter blued. The furniture is all silver. The trigger guards have pineapple style finials and floral engraving on the bows. The stocks also feature engraved silver star inlays, silver wire inlays, and blank silver wrist escutcheons. The stocks have slab sided grips with a slight flare at the pommels similar to many English dueling pistols in the late 18th century.
The famous gunsmith Captain Daniel Searles (1782-1860) was born in Maryland, was living at Fort Hamilton by 1804 when he advertised in The Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette for his missing horse, moved
to Indiana shortly thereafter where he served as a private in Colonel William McFarlands Detachment of Indiana Militia, married McFarland’s sister Jane, and had two children. During the War of 1812, Searles found his way down the Mississippi River and he fought in the militia with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans and then remained in New Orleans until the 1820s when he moved to Baton Rouge and established a gunsmith and blacksmith shop on St. Louis Street. These pistols are among the few firearms by Searles known today, all of which are very fine. Among the others is a rifle owned by Robert Anderson
of the U.S. Army, son of first Ohio Governor Richard Clough Anderson Sr. Robert Anderson is most famous as the commander of Fort Sumter at the beginning of the Civil War. Like these pistols, his rifle had silver mounts (see page 76 of “Steel Canvas” or “The History and Art of the American Gun” by R.L. Wilson). While in Baton Rouge, Searles famously produced knives for Rezin Bowie, including one presented by Bowie to Captain Henry Waller Fowler of the U.S. Dragoons (see page 109 of “The History and Art of the American Gun”). While records list Searles as a gunmaker, local newspapers confirm he was a very talented craftsman and produced other fine metal goods including sun dials in addition to the famous knives for Rezin Bowie.
CONDITION: Fine with attractive aged patinas on the brass barrel and silver furniture, 60% of the period niter blue finish on the barrel tang, bolster, and lock; and generally mild overall age and storage related wear. Aside from some chips and wire absent on the forend, the stock is also fine and has minor handling marks and a few dings. Mechanically fine.
B) D. Searles Percussion Pistol - NSN, 52 cal., 7 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brass/niter blue/silver finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Fine with attractive aged patinas on the brass barrel and silver furniture, 75% of the period niter blue finish on the barrel tang, bolster, and lock; and generally mild overall age and storage related wear. The stock is good and has a crack through the forend ahead of the lock, some chips and cracks in the forend, some slivers of absent silver inlay, and only minor wear on the wrist section. Mechanically fine. This is a
very attractive pair of pistols by the famous gunsmith and cutler Daniel Searles earlier in his life while he was in Ohio prior to battling the British at New Orleans. Very few firearms by Searles have survived, and these are certainly highly desirable examples of his work.
Estimate: 60,000 - 90,000
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