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LOT 3262
Exceptional I. Hollis & Sons Percussion Northwest Trade Gun - Serial no. 01956, 26 gauge, 36 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hardwood
stock. Manufactured in 1861-1900. The famous Northwest Trade Gun was the primary firearm of the fur trade and continued to be supplied to Native Americans until
the end of the 19th century and saw use in various battles, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn alongside more modern firearms. This late period example has a
Enfield style percussion lock and bolster but otherwise remains mostly like the trade guns built for decades. It has a small blade front sight, smoothbore barrel with
incised transition bands and Birmingham proof marks flanking the 26 bore mark, “I. HOLLIS & SONS” on the lock and “MAKERS TO HER MAJESTY’S/
WAR DEPARTMENT” around the “IHS” monogram logo on the tail of the lock, tear drop flats, large iron trigger guard, classic Northwest gun serpent
side plate, and wire banding towards the forend tip, and four brass tacks.
CONDITION: Very fine and well above average for a Northwest Trade Gun with 40% original blue and casehardened finish, gray and brown patina
on the balance of the steel, minor oxidation, aged patina on the brass, and mostly only age and storage related wear. The stock is also very fine
and retains most of the original finish and has minor scratches and dings. Mechanically functions.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3261
Desirable Engraved “J. Dickert Gill” Signed Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 45 cal., 43 inch
octagon bbl., unknown/bright finish, curly maple stock. Jacob Dickert (1740-1822) is among the most famous of all
American longrifle makers. He was a well-respected Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
gunmaker with a career spanning from the 1760s to 1820s. He produced rifles
under contract for the U.S. government in the early national period. He also briefly
partnered with his son-in-law James Gill in a store in the mid-1790s, and it has often
been said that Dickert & Gill made contract rifles. However, these “J. Dickert Gill” rifles
appear to have actually been the work of his grandson Jacob Dickert Gill (b. 1788).
A “J. Dickert Gill” rifle was sent to J.J. Henry by the American Fur Company to base
their trade rifles on in 1831. This rifle features a lightly swamped octagonal barrel
with seven-groove rifling, blade and notch sights, and “J: Dickert [tomahawk and
pipe cartouche] Gill” signed on top. The lock is marked “NOCK/WARRANTED”
and has light engraving and a roller on the frizzen spring. The rifle is equipped
with a plain trigger and has lightly engraved brass mounts, three small silver crescent moon inlays, an inlet for an oval wrist escutcheon
(absent), and a later brass inlay added to the cheekpiece. The nicely figured curly maple stock has a checkered wrist.
CONDITION: Good with dark brown patina and oxidation on the lock and barrel, moderate pitting concentrated at the breech, replacement
top jaw and jaw screw, re-faced frizzen, attractively aged patina on the brass mounts and silver inlays, the noted absent wrist escutcheon, and general moderate
wear. The stock is fair and has worn but visible checkering, some chips and cracks, loosely fitting barrel wedges, attractive flame figure, mild scrapes and dings,
small hole on the underside of the butt, and general mild wear. The lock needs work as it does not hold in half or full cock. The distinctive signature is crisp, and the
maker’s marks is faint but legible.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3263
Documented H. Gibbs Engraved Percussion Lancaster American Long Rifle - NSN, 36 cal., 41 1/2 inch octagon
bbl., brown/casehardened/silver finish, maple stock. This rifle is featured on page 104 of “Arms Makers of Lancaster
County” by Wood and Whisker and is marked “H GIBBS” on the top barrel flat behind the rear sight for Henry Gibbs
Jr. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who the book indicates worked for his father and became a freeman gunsmith in 1844
following his father’s death. Advertisements from the period also indicate he was working for S. A. Danner in 1858 as
a gunsmith and bell hanger. The swamped octagonal barrel has circular designs on the muzzle face, a German silver
blade front sight followed by wavy line engraving, a dovetailed iron notch rear sight flanked by additional wavy line
and cross designs, a drum bolster, and a hooked breech plug. The lock has some simple scroll and game scene designs. The mounts are primarily
German silver aside from the silver plated and engraved patch box. The lid release button is in the toe plate. The stock has artificial flame figure, a
checkered wrist, and a rectangular cheekpiece with an incised line at the edge.
CONDITION: Very good. The barrel, lock, and standing breech have a mix of gray and dark brown patina with some oxidation and pitting
concentrated at the breech, a chip on the hammer, a tiny crack at the front lock screw, older replacement bolster and nipple, and tool marks. Most
of the silver plating remains on the patchbox with some of the brass showing, and the German silver components have an attractively aged
patina. The stock is also very good showing some moderate wear, scattered dings and dents, distinct flame pattern finish with some areas of
discoloration, a small crack on the left at the breech, and crisp checkering. Mechanically functions.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
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