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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$2,000 – $3,000
.50 caliber. 41" wedge-retained octagonal barrel. SN: NSN. Browned finish, brass furniture, full-length stock with checkered wrist. Single screw commercial percussion lock is unmarked with some light engraving. Barrel with drum bolster signed "A+Gumpf" on top flat. Engraved Lancaster style four-piece brass patchbox with release in toe plate which is engraved en-suite, extended finger spur triggerguard, buttplate with faceted tang. Plain brass thimbles with baluster turned rings and entry pipe secure a wood ramrod with an iron button head tip. Mr. Ness' tag on the rifle notes that this is likely a US government contract trade gun and further notes that is a "fancy gun" and a "chief's grade" rifle that is "scarce". Andrew Gumpf worked in Lancaster, PA circa 1829-1848 and was one of nine Gumpfs that worked in the gunmaking trade for nearly 100 years in the region, from the late 1770s through the late 1870s.
The Collection of Larry Ness
Very good. Metal with a pleasingly oxidized plum patina showing some scattered surface roughness and some light pitting at the breech and bolster area. Functional lock, good bore with strong rifling is moderately oxidized with some pitting. Stock with scattered bumps, dings and mars, with some minor wood loss around the wedges in the forend and scuffs and mars.
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Tim Carey
Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria
