Page 70 - 86-Book1

LOT 51
Panel Scene Engraved and Silver Mounted Double Barrel
Percussion Cape Gun by Nelson Lewis of Troy, New York - NSN, 40
cal., 29 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/silver finish, walnut stock.
“N. LEWIS MAKER TROY N.Y” marked on top of the rib. Nelson Lewis’ (1811-1888) shop was located
at Congress and Church Street in Troy, New York, where he was an active gunmaker starting in 1843 and
continuing for more than forty years. The rifled left barrel measures at approximately .40 caliber with the smoothbore
right barrel measuring at approximately 20 gauge. The solid rib is fitted with a hooded silver blade front sight and an empty dovetailed slot for a rear sight, with a flip-up tang mounted peep sight. The rifle is mounted with a straight grip half stock with a
68
LOT 50
Extremely Rare Cased Engraved Massachusetts Arms Co. Maynard Primed Double Barrel
Percussion Shotgun - Serial no. 43, 12 gauge, 32 1/4 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Very little is known about these rare Mass. Arms Co.
Maynard muzzleloading double barrel shotguns. They were presumably made in the 1850s, but must have been manufactured in very limited numbers given the small number that have surfaced, and we have
seen less than a handful. They are discussed briefly in the article “The Design, Marketing and Production
of Maynard Rifles” by Max W. Goodwin in the American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin 88 from Fall 2003 and a similar example from the NRA National Firearms Museum is shown. The shotgun is currently improperly
listed on the NRA Museum website in case 11 as a converted musket and is very similar to the current shotgun but is in lower condition. The back
action locks have “MASS. ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS” behind the hammers, “MAYNARD’S PATENT/SEP. 22. 1845” on the primer doors, and scroll
engraving. The Damascus barrels have a bead front sight and “LONDON. FINE TWIST.” on the concave rib. The underside of the rib and the breech plug hooks are marked “43,” and the barrels have Birmingham proofs. The furniture has scroll, floral, and entwining pattern engraving. The stock has nickel-silver wedge escutcheons, a checkered wrist, a blank nickel-silver escutcheon on the bottom of the butt, and a 14 1/2 inch length of pull. The case contains several accessories, including leather shot and powder flasks.
CONDITION: Very fine with 85% plus of the brown, blue, and casehardened finishes overall displaying some minor fading from age and handling. The engraving and markings are crisp. The stock is also very fine and has a few dings, crisp checkering, and light scratches and marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good and has moderate wear and absent leather straps. The accessories are mostly fine with minor age and storage related wear. This is the nicest of these incredibly rare Mass. Arms Co. Maynard primed shotguns we have seen. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000
silver forend cap, eagle plaque and patchbox, and casehardened upper tang, locks, hammers, trigger guard with pineapple finial, and buttplate. Features fine floral scroll and border engraving on all of the fittings minus the barrels, with a finely detailed German silver patriotic eagle plaque on the left
side cheekpiece, and a bear scene on the patchbox door. Complete with a brass tipped double sided wooden ramrod for use with each barrel.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% attractive original brown twist finish on the barrels with some light wear at either end, and mostly clear markings on the rib. Mostly smooth
gray patina on the casehardened surfaces with strong patterns of vivid case colors in protected areas. Silver fittings remain bright. Crisp engraving overall. The rib is lightly separating at the muzzle end. Stock is fine as re-oiled, with a hairline crack visible between the front of the comb and upper tang, a two inch scratch visible on the right of the buttstock ahead of the patchbox,
some scattered light handling marks, and defined edges. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500