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LOT 52
Cased D.B. Wesson Takedown Percussion Target Rifle - NSN, 32 cal.,
25 1/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Daniel Baird Wesson (1825-1906) of Smith & Wesson fame began his firearms career by apprenticing to his brother Edwin Wesson in 1842. Edwin Wesson was one of the finest makers of target rifles in the 1830s and 1840s prior to his death in 1849. After his death, D.B. Wesson continued the business in Hartford, Connecticut, for a short while before his famous partnerships with Horace Smith.
The Wesson target rifles remained among the best in the country and are known to have been used by multiple Civil War sharpshooters. This rifle has a false muzzle,
a dovetailed silver coin blade front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, “D.B. WESSON” somewhat crudely stamped on top ahead of the rear sight, large breech plug with cleanout screw, boxlock style frame with back action lock,
threaded upper tang for a peep sight, German silver spurred trigger guard, lightly figured walnut buttstock, and German silver buttplate. The interesting later takedown case is fitted to the rifle and has a variety of loading tools. CONDITION: Very good with traces of original finish and otherwise dark brown and gray patina on the barrel and action, chipped replacement hammer, aged patina on the German silver, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has some thin cracks and chips in the wrist and mild dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are good with mild age and storage related wear and components of varying ages. Overall, a very attractive set. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 53
Scarce Engraved Jennings Muzzleloading Percussion Rifle -
Serial no. 530, 54 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Jennings rifle was manufactured in 1852 by Robbins and Lawrence in Windsor, Vermont, as a muzzleloader using modified components from the unsuccessful Jennings breechloading and repeating rifles. The rifled barrel has a small blade front sight, and a notch rear sight is fitted at the front of the frame. The frame and buttplate have scroll engraving. The left side of the frame has the Robbins & Lawrence and C.P. Dixon markings. The stock has a nickel-silver oval on the left side lightly inscribed with what a faint marking that appears to have “Keene MH” on the upper line. CONDITION: Good overall with mottled dark brown patina, mild oxidation, replacement rod tube, repaired break through the wrist, and general moderate wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 54
Scarce Perry Patent Arms Co. Breech Loading Percussion Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 534, 50 cal., 26 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Perry breech loaders were designed by Alonzo D. Perry and manufactured by the Perry Patent Arms Co. around the mid-1850s in limited numbers (estimated under 1,500) and multiple variations, including pistols, carbines, sporting rifles, and double rifles. The company was incorporated on July 15, 1853, and the rifles were still being advertised in Alabama by C. Suter at least as late as December of 1861. The barrels for the rifles have been seen with different barrel makers’’ marks. This one has a partial “HITCHCOCK & MUZZY/CAST-STEEL” stamp on the bottom. It has a primer tube inserted through the stock that feeds primers through the back of the frame. This classic sporting rifle also has a blade front sight, notch rear sight, German silver wedge escutcheons and pewter forend cap on the forend, the matching “A.D. PERRY/PATENTED/1855” and “PERRY PATENT ARN Co [sic]/NEWARK N.J.” on the breech block, and plain buttstock. The barrel and frame at the breech, left side of the lever, wedge (4 repeated), and forearm (pencil in channel and stamped on tail edge) are all marked with the matching serial number. CONDITION: Good with areas of original blue in the protected areas, dark brown and gray patina throughout, some minor oxidation and light pitting, and general mild wear. The wood is fair and has general minor scratches and dings, a smooth oiled finish, a few flecks of white paint, chips at the upper corners of the wrist, and a long sliver absent from the upper left edge of the forearm. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 55
Engraved H.V. Perry Heavy Barrel Percussion Bench Rest Target Rifle with False Muzzle and Accessories - NSN, 48 cal., 30 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. H.V. Perry was active from around 1840 into the 1880s. He first worked in Danville and then Fredonia before
moving to Jamestown, New York and specialized in heavy match rifles after circa 1875. “H.V. PERRY. JAMESTOWN/N.Y” above “CAST STEEL” marked on the upper left quarter of the barrel. Scroll engraving on the lock, breech area, trigger guard and buttplate. Globe front sight on
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a raised base, a provision for a rear sight is threaded into the upper tang, and a modern made scope base with blocks is mounted on top of the barrel. Includes false muzzle, bullet mold, tools, and leather cheek pad. CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% original brown finish, strong traces of original case colors visible with smooth brown patina and some scattered spotting and light pitting on the balance. Hammer is a refinished replacement. Stock is good as lightly sanded and re-oiled with various filled in cracks and repairs, and some scattered light pressure dents and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Gerard F. “Jerry” de Vaudreuil Collection. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
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