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LOT 86
Rare Early Cased London
Armoury Company “Kerr Patent” Five-Shot Single Action Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 417, 54 bore cal., 5 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. With octagonal barrel with brass front sight and stamped “L.A.C.” on the upper left flat and engraved “LONDON” on the top flat, the barrel extending to the topstrap which in turn extends to the wrist of the grip, and with a rammer beneath. Serial numbered cylinder and frame, the latter signed “KERR’S PATENT 417” on the right side. Blued back action lock signed “LONDON ARMOURY / BERMONDSEY”. Checkered walnut butt and plain furniture. London proof marks. In fitted stained oak case lined in green baize, the lid with large printed Kerr patent label with description of the revolver and directions for loading and cleaning, the label overstamped in red ink “SOLE MANUFACTURERS / THE LONDON ARMOURY COMPANY LIMITED”. Includes brass mounted copper Hawksley powder flask and double cavity brass bullet mold. CONDITION: Good. The revolver is mostly bright metal and has scattered corrosion marking and pitting and the stamped and engraved details slightly worn. The lock and trigger have traces of original blued finish. The butt has some minor chips around the lock and the checkering worn smooth. The cylinder occasionally does not rotate when cocking the hammer; otherwise, mechanically very good. The case is good with a later varnished/stained exterior finish, relined interior with some age wear to lining, minor age staining to otherwise fine reattached original trade label, and externally with some storage and handling marks. Estimate: 3,500 - 4,750
LOT 87
London Armoury Co. Kerr Patent Single Action Percussion no. 10,927, 44 cal., 5 5/8 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut grips. Approximately 11,000 of these Kerr patent revolvers were manufactured by the London Armoury Company between 1859 to 1866, and many were known to have been exported for use by the Confederacy during the American Civil War, with some stopped by the Union blockade. These revolvers were well regarded by the men who carried them. This example does not carry the “JS/anchor” marking found on known Confederate issued examples, although the lack of said marking does not necessarily preclude it from Confederate use. The Kerr revolver’s cylinder can be rotated by pulling the trigger, but the hammer must be cocked manually and also revolves the cylinder when it is. The use of an older style back action percussion lock meant that these revolvers were easier to work on and repair than more complicated revolver actions. “L.A.C” London Armory Company marking followed by “crown/GP” and “crown/V” proofs on the upper left barrel flat, “LONDON/ARMOURY” marked on the left of the frame, “KERR’S PATENT. 10,927.” on the right of the frame, “LONDON ARMOURY Co.” on the lock plate, “10,927” and faint London crown proofs marked on the outside of the cylinder, “J522” marked on the frame under the cylinder, “522” marked on the front face of the cylinder, right of the trigger and inside of the trigger guard. CONDITION: Very good with a few areas retaining 20% original blue finish and mostly smooth gray patina on the balance with scattered moderate pitting and mostly clear markings with some light wear to the proof marks on the cylinder. Grip is also very good with some light wear areas, some crazing at the edges, a minor chip on the right beneath the edge of the lock and otherwise defined checkering. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 88
Revolver - Serial
Pre-Civil War U.S. Inspected Massachusetts Arms Co. First Model Maynard Breech Loading Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 3500, 35 cal., 20 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 5,000 First Model Maynard carbines were manufactured c. 1858-1859. This example is chambered in .35 caliber, of which it is known that Massachusetts Arms Company sold some of these early Maynard carbines and rifles in this caliber, mixed with .50 caliber examples, to individuals and units in the South in the immediate months prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, including orders by the states of Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi, and various militia outfits in South Carolina and Louisiana. Throughout the Civil War, the Maynard remained a well received firearm with southern troops, particularly the famous Confederate cavalry. It has a rounded nickel silver blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, peep sight with integral base on the upper tang, no markings on the frame, “3500” marked on the underside of the primer door, a small “J” behind the barrel hook , no provisions for a sling, two boxed script “TWR” (Thomas W. Russell) inspection cartouches stamped on the
Important Historic Note
Approximately 5,000 First Model Maynard carbines were manufactured prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Massachusetts Arms Co. sold some of the early Maynard carbines to Southern states in the months just prior to the Civil War.
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left wrist of the stock, the four-line patent marking on the patch box door, and still retains its original Maynard six-line patent sticker inside the patch box and an extra nipple. CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original blue finish on the barrel with smooth brown patina on the balance and a few scattered patches of light pitting. Strong patterns of muted original case colors remain on the frame with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance. Patch box and buttplate turned to a mottled brown patina. Stock is very good with scattered dents and scratches and crisp cartouches. The hammer only remains in half cock, will not remain in full cock. Absent primer worm gear. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 89
Scarce Confederate Virginia Manufactory Second Model Percussion Conversion Musket - NSN, 70 cal., 40 3/4 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. The conversion on this musket is very similar to the example on page 149 of “Arming the Glorious Cause: Weapons of the Second War for Independence” by Whisker, Hartzler and Yantz (a book about Confederate arms, not the War of 1812). That First Model Virginia Manufactory musket is identified as a Henry Leman conversion. Other muskets with the same patent breech are also identified as Leman conversions, for example see pages 81 and 82 of “American Military Shoulder Arms, Vol. 3” by George Moller for a Harpers Ferry Model 1803 rifle and a Model 1816 musket converted by Leman. These Virginia Manufactory muskets would have seen service in the Civil War, especially in the early years when the Confederacy was desperately short
of rifle-muskets. It has a bayonet lug/front sight, iron furniture, “VIRGINIA/Manufactory” and “RICHMOND/1818” on the lock, and “88” on several components. CONDITION: Good with brown and gray patina overall, moderate oxidation and pitting, and moderate overall wear. The stock is also good and has a repaired crack in the wrist and breech section, some chips at the edges, several dings and dents, a few cracks, and moderate overall wear consistent with a Confederate used weapon. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500