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LOT 3142
Highly Desirable and Rare NRA Award Winning William
Billinghurst Combination Percussion Revolving Rifle and
Underhammer Shotgun - NSN, 38 cal., 25 5/8 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut
stock. This combination gun received the a “Ten Best Weapons” silver medal from the NRA in Washington,
D.C., in 1965 (medal number 51, not included). Like most William Billinghurst (1807 - 1880) revolving rifles based
This combination gun shares obvious similarities with another famous combination gun design from the period: the LeMat “grapeshot” revolvers and long guns. The upper barrel is .38 caliber, rifled, fitted with a fixed nickel silver blade front sight and a dovetailed notch rear sight, marked “W. BILLINGHURST ROCHESTER. N.Y.,” and is fed by the nine-shot, manually revolved cylinder which has a serrated surface for better grip. The lower barrel is .72 caliber smoothbore (around 12 gauge). The cylinder is fired using a back action lock with engraving and “W. BILLINGHURST” marking. The lower barrel is fired using an underhammer mechanism using the trigger guard as the spring. The standing breech, upper and lower tangs, and buttplate are also engraved to match the lock, and the upper tang is outfitted with a folding peep sight with drift adjustable aperture. The stock has a checkered wrist. CONDITION: Very good. The metal overall shows mostly silver-gray patina with some patches of minor light oxidation/pitting, and crisp markings and engraving. The shotgun barrel is slightly dented at the muzzle. The refinished stock has crisp checkering, a chip at the heel, minor flake at the tail of the lock, and minor marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent. This is a very solid and attractive example of a rare Billinghurst combination revolving rifle and shotgun.
Provenance: The Mark Aziz Collection; Property of a Gentleman. 123 Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
LOT 3141 Very Scarce Engraved and German Silver Mounted Whittier Nine-Shot “Zig-Zag” Percussion Revolving Rifle - Serial no. 19, 45 cal., 33 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, hardwood stock. Otis W. Whittier of Enfield, New Hampshire, only manufactured around 100 of these rifles based upon patent number 216 of May 30, 1837. Whittier made 6, 9, and 10-shot rifles and 6-shot shotguns in various calibers. All were handmade and show individual differences. The barrel, top strap, upper tang, and the German silver furniture have scroll engraving. There is also a spread wing eagle motif engraved on the top strap and “PATENT” among the scrollwork on the upper tang under the long peep sight base. The arbor and right side of the frame have “0” and “19.” The rifled barrel has a dovetailed blade front sight and dovetail mounted adjustable sporting rear sight. The noted peep sight folds flat to allow the use of the barrel sights. The rifle has a small patch box with patches inside on the right side of the butt and a small cap compartment in the toeplate. It uses a 9-shot “zig-zag” style cylinder and has a rear trigger that cocks the action. The stock is ebonized and has a graceful profile. CONDITION: Very good with traces of faded original blue finish and mostly a mix of gray and brown patina overall on the iron along with some mild pitting. The engraving remains crisp, and the German silver displays attractive aged patina. The stock is also fine and has an attractive dark “ebonized” finish also seen on some other Whittiers as well as some mild scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine.
This is a very scarce American revolving rifle design patented right at the beginning of American percussion revolving arms shortly after Colt’s patent and before his firearms became popular.
Provenance: The Mark Aziz Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
on the Miller patent, it utilizes pill primers rather than caps.