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Frontier Firearms from the Lifetime Collection of Larry Ness
|
- Sale 1987
Live
| Cincinnati
Jun 8 | 10:00 AM EDT
Live
| Cincinnati
Sale 1987
| Cincinnati
| Cincinnati
Estimate$4,000 – $5,000
.48 caliber. 41.5" pinned octagonal barrel. SN: NSN. Blued barrel, German silver and iron mountings, full-length hardwood stock. Single screw commercial percussion lock is lightly engraved and marked "JOSEPH GOULCHER" in a ribbon and equipped with double set triggers. Barrel measures 1" across the flats at the muzzle with a replaced drum bolster and nipple and is singed "B.D. Gill" in script. Rifle mounted with a nicely engraved open work German silver four-piece patchbox with an urn finial and nicely engraved toe plate with patchbox release. Period of use added German silver saddle plate is engraved by a lesser hand and shows moderate wear. Crescent iron buttplate, scroll style iron triggerguard, iron nose cap. Rifle with dovetailed fixed notch rear sight and German silver dovetailed blade front sight. Iron thimbles retain an old wood ramrod. An old note in the patchbox says that the rifle is named "Big Bertha" and was the favorite rifle of Charles M Borger. It was purchased from a Joe Bucheit of Old Appleton, MO around 1957. B.D. Gill was a Pennsylvania gunmaker who worked at the end of the flintlock era and into the percussion period circa the 1840s. He is best known for making a rifle that was decorated with crossed arrows and a tomahawk that was given by Kit Carson to a Taos Indian in 1848. A very nicely made heavier barrel full stock rifle with lovely German silver furniture.
The Collection of Larry Ness
Good. Metal with a lightly oxidized brown and gray patina with some traces of blue on the barrel. Markings remain clear and legible. Lock needs mechanical attention. Bore good with strong rifling and moderate oxidation with some pitting. Furniture very nice with a yellowish tone and crisp engraving. Stock good with some minor repairs to the forend, a couple of replaced pins, one missing, with some minor wood loss around the pin holes. Otherwise with scattered bumps, dings and mars.
The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.
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Tim Carey
Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria
