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LOT 247
Finely Engraved and Silver Inlaid William Kirchberg Philadelphia Marked Double Barrel Muzzleloading Needlefire Shotgun - NSN,
12 gauge, 32 3/8 inch solid rib bbl., blue/silver finish, walnut stock. William
Kirchberg of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, c. 1840s is recorded as a maker of muzzleloading,
needle-fire shotguns as well as more conventional percussion firearms. This shotgun or another of nearly
identical construction appears in Kimball Arms Company Catalogs (10th Edition as item BX18 and 11th and
12th Editions as item B45) from the 1940s where it is described as a “Rare American double barrel, muzzle-loading, hammerless detonator by William Kirchberg of Philadelphia...Gun is loaded with made-up charges with fulminate in base.” The Damascus barrels have alternating twist and banded patterns, “Wm KIRCHBERG IN PHILADELPHIA” in silver on the
rib along with floral scroll patterns in silver inlay on the breech section, side mounted cocking levers, and a single bead front sight. The furniture has scroll, floral, and twist patterns along with silver inlaid and bordered vignettes of a bird on
the upper tang, another bird at the heel of the buttplate, and a dog on the trigger guard bow. The stock has fine checkering with
incised borders.
CONDITION: Fine with mostly silver-gray patina on the metal, some areas of brown patina, dark aged patina on the silver inlays, distinct Damascus patterns along the barrels, and minor overall wear. The stock is very good and has some mild wear on the otherwise distinct checkering, general mild scratches and dings, some tiny slivers absent at the edges, and a repair by the breech to the left of the tang. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 248
Fine Engraved New York Retailed William Moore of London 8 Bore Double Barrel
Percussion Duck Shotgun - Serial no. 34, 8 Bore gauge, 36 3/8 inch bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in circa 1840 by the renowned London gunmaker William Moore who had been apprenticed to the great Joseph Manton, this gun was imported into New York by Henry Tomes before being retailed on Long Island by Stephen Taber. With browned twist barrels signed “STEPHEN TABER, ROSLYN L.I. BEST LAMINATED STEEL” on the concave rib and with silver front sight. Shaped casehardened border and scroll engraved patent breeches each with pierced platinum plug and inlaid with two gold lines on the rib section. Border engraved casehardened standing breech, side locks and furniture including buttplate and trigger guard. The locks are each signed “WILLIAM MOORE/MAKER. LONDON” and the trigger guard is engraved with the serial number on the trigger bow and “IMPORTED BY HENRY TOMES, NEW YORK” on the
rear tang. Well figured walnut straight hand half stock with checkered grip and forearm, the underside of the butt with blank gold oval initial escutcheon. The barrels are secured by two barrel keys and with brass mounted ramrod. Stephen Taber (1821-1886) was a Democrat state assemblyman in 1860 and 1861 and representative
from New York in the House of Representatives in 1865-1869. He was also the president of the Long Island North Shore Transportation Co. and the Roslyn Savings Bank. His father, Thomas Taber II (1785-1862) was also United States
Representative from New York. The schooner Stephen Taber launched in 1871 is the oldest documented sailing vessel that has remained in continuous service in the United States and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
CONDITION: Very good. The barrels retain nearly all of an older thinning rebrowned finish with clear signature. Breeches retaining 50% original casehardened finish. Locks retaining 75% original casehardened finish. Furniture with some traces of original finish in more sheltered areas. Stock with some handling marks, well-defined checkering, nice figuring. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
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