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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$6,000 – $10,000
.42 caliber. 34" double-key octagonal barrel with under rib. SN: NSN. Browned finish, iron, German silver and pewter mountings, walnut half-stock. Plain, single screw, externally unmarked commercial percussion lock is maker marked "T GIBBONS" on the interior. Top flat of barrel marked "H.E. DIMICK & CO/ST. LOUIS". Heavy barrel measures 1.08" across the flats at the muzzle with extended double screw iron tang. Double set triggers, dovetailed fixed leaf rear sight, dovetailed German silver Rocky Mountain front sight blade with steel base. Extended double finger spur triggerguard, steel buttplate, oval German silver escutcheons at barrel keys, pewter forend cap. Wooden ramrod secured by a plain steel pipe.
Horace E. Dimick (1809-1874) was probably the most prolific of the fames St. Louis makers of Plains Rifles. A direct competitor with the famous Hawken shop, Dimick produced his variation of their famous plains rifle, as well as smaller caliber sporting and hunting rifles, target rifles and even delivered a lot of roughly 1,000 rifles that were used to arm Birge's Western Sharpshooters (14th Missouri Volunteer Infantry) which was later redesignated as the 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Those Dimick rifles did yeoman's service during the first 12-18 months of the Civil War in the Western Theater, in particular at battles like Fort Donelson and Shiloh. Dimick also imported large numbers of guns from England and Belgium and offered these guns with his retailer mark on them along with American produced guns like Metropolitan Navy percussion revolvers. Next to the Hawkens, Dimick is probably the most famous of the St. Louis Gun makers.
The Collection of Larry Ness
Good. Barrel with a moderately oxidized plum brown patina with scattered pitting, primarily around the breech and bolster area with lock and hammer showing light pitting as well. Mechanically functional, but double-set triggers need adjustment to work correctly. Bore dark, dirty and pitted with strong rifling. Stock lightly sanded, showing scattered bumps, dings and mars as well as an old crack on the reverse through the rear wedge.
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
