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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$1,000 – $2,000
.44 caliber. Pinned 41.25" heavy octagonal barrel 1" across the flats at the muzzle. SN: NSN. Browned finish, brass furniture, full-length stock with raised cheek rest, German silver decoration and inlays. Unmarked, lightly engraved commercial single screw percussion lock may be an old replacement with thin hammer and long, curved spur reminiscent of Lehigh Valley guns. Barrel with long, screwed in drum bolster is signed in script "G*F+". Lock with double set triggers, dovetailed fixed notch rear sight, dovetailed German silver front sight blade in brass base. Obverse butt with lightly engraved open work four-piece brass patchbox. Two-screw flat side plate lightly engraved as well. Brass crescent buttplate, plain toe plate, finger extension triggerguard. Cheek rest with oval German silver plate engraved with a folk art American "spread-winged" Eagle. Stock with 21 additional German silver decorations, most with only light boarder line engravings. Forend decorations cover the pins and their holes. George Fay (1811-1890) was a Pennsylvania gunmaker who worked in Hopewell Township, Bedford County circa 1835-1844 and in Allegheny Township in Blair County circa 1848-1858. By 1862 Fay was working in Altoona, PA (also Blair County) where he remained through the rest of his life. This is a lovely rifle, with lots of applied embellishment that displays very nicely.
The Collection of Larry Ness
Very good. Metal moderately oxidized with scattered surface roughness and some pitting, particularly around the bolster. Lock functional, but needs mechanical attention, hammer loose on the tumbler and is possibly an old replacement. Bore about good with visible rifling and moderate oxidation and pitting. Brass with a nice, even golden patina. Stock with scattered bumps, dings and mars with some repairs to the forend, most notably a 10" sliver along the upper edge on the obverse. Wood loss to burn out at the bolster, some fitting issues with the lock with some chipped and cracks loss as well as some minor repairs around the mortise and at the lock screw.
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
