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LOT 3258
S. Hawken St. Louis Half-Stock Percussion
“Squirrel Rifle” - NSN, 32 cal., 39 3/4 inch octagon bbl.,
brown/brass finish, walnut stock. The famous Hawken shop in St. Louis,
Missouri, opened by Jacob (1786-1849) and Samuel Hawken (1792-1884) is
legendary. They are best remembered for their powerful half-stock “plains
rifles” which averaged around
.54 caliber and were popular
in the Old West; however,
they also produced a fair
number of these smaller bore
“squirrel rifles” for hunting
small game. This rifle has
an original “S. HAWKEN
ST. LOUIS” signed barrel with a fixed sliver blade front sight and a
dovetailed notch rear sight. The correct pattern lock is unmarked. It is fitted with
adjustable double set triggers, somewhat crude buttplate, a pewter forend cap, and
brass mounts, including the antique hand fabricated spurred brass trigger guard.
CONDITION: Good with varnish over dark applied antiqued brown patina, moderate
oxidation/pitting, and an area at the signature rubbed back revealing the
markings. The wedge is a well made hand fabricated replacement, absent
heel screw, and moderate wear. The stock shows an old applied oil finish and is
also good and has some cracks, chips, and moderate wear. The trigger group is
loose in the stock, and the lock and triggers do not function. Any Hawken rifle is
highly desirable with few collector’s fortunate enough to have one!
Estimate: 9,500 - 15,000
LOT 3259
Scarce Illinois Half-Stock Percussion Rifle by Henry Brunker of Ottawa - NSN, 45 cal., 34 inch
octagon bbl., blue/brass finish, walnut stock. Henry P. Brunker moved to Illinois from New York in
1848. B.C. Mitchell purchased his shop in 1856, but Brunker remained the foreman of the business
and died in Ottawa in 1872. The rifle features blade and adjustable notch sights, “BRUNKER. OTTAWA/
ILL./WARRANTED.” maker’s mark on the “REMINGTON” marked barrel, “PATRIDGE/WARRANTED” marked
lock with scrollwork and a game scene, single trigger, pewter forend cap, nickel-silver escutcheons,
and brass trigger guard and buttplate.
CONDITION: Good overall with a blend of period refinished blue and dark brown patina on the lock and barrel, moderate pitting
and flash wear at the breech, dented section on the under rib, aged patina on the mounts, small chips and cracks in the stock, and
mild wear. Mechanically functions.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3260
A. R. Byrkit Iowa Half-Stock
Percussion Rifle - NSN, 44
cal., 34 inch octagon bbl., bright/brass finish, hardwood stock. Archibald Reed Byrkit (1836-1917) was listed as a gunsmith in
Fairfield, Iowa, in Census records from 1860 to 1900 and by 1910 moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was recorded as a machinist. The rifle is stamped with “A. R.
BYRKIT/FAIRFIELD/IOWA” on the top of the barrel between the breech and the notch rear sight and has a nickel silver blade front sight, “DAYTON” marked lock with a
dog scene and scrollwork, adjustable double set triggers, brass mounts, and pewter forend cap.
CONDITION: Very good with gray and brown patina on the lock and barrel, moderate pitting concentrated on the lock and breech,
attractively aged patina on the brass mounts, and mild overall wear. The stock is fine and has most of the varnish remaining, minor
scratches and dings, and hairline cracks at the breech and toe. Mechanically functions.
Provenance: The Collection of Jim Box.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,250