3517

2 AMERICAN UNDERHAMMER PERCUSSION RIFLES.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD
2 AMERICAN UNDERHAMMER PERCUSSION RIFLES.
1) NEW YORK STYLE UNDERHAMMER RIFLE BY J CASWELL. Cal. 42. NSN. Bbl. 34" oct. Most likely Jedediah Caswell of Manlius, NY, who was issued a patent on a percussion lock in 1828 & was known for his O/U rifles & under hammer pistols. The more famous J. Caswell was John M. & son; who almost invariably signed their rifles "J.M. Caswell". This rifle has 34" oct. bbl. fitted w/ semi buckhorn rear & brass blade front sights. Top of bbl. stamped "J.CASWELL". Left flat stamped w/ owner's mark "H. CLARK". Underhammer lock w/ thumb piece for cocking on right side of hammer uses trigger guard as main spring. Walnut stock has crescent shaped brass buttplate w/ 3 1/2" return & cap box cover in return. Right side is fitted w/ rectangular patchbox. A silver star is inlet on swept shadowline cheekpiece. An old hickory ramrod is held by 4 brass pipes & ramrod channel is formed on bottom of bbl. w/ 2 soldered on iron rails. CONDITION: good. Bbl. is silver gray to dark brown patina. Evidence of cleaning at breech end. Stock w/ old oil refinish. Brass toned to mustard brown. Bore is fair to good. Rifling evident. Lock is operable. (01-19018/MGM). 2) KENTUCKY STYLE AMERICAN UNDER HAMMER RIFLE STAMPED "W.B." ( WILLIAM BRIGGS?). Cal. 32. NSN. Bbl. 33" oct. William Briggs patented an underhammer rifle that used a long trigger guard as a mainspring. This rifle has a different mechanism w/ an internal mainspring. Octagon bbl. fitted w/ semi buckhorn rear & brass blade front sight stamped "W.B." on left flat above nipple. Underhammer lock has cocking hook on hammer. Squared off trigger guard has some scroll engraving. Stock of fancy tiger maple has fluted Pennsylvania style cheekpiece & iron crescent buttplate w/ 3" return. CONDITION: good, original as found. Bbl. w/ dark brown to black patina. One iron ramrod pipe is missing. Stock retains most of what appears to be its original dark varnish finish, bright highlights worn through & w/ a lg. number of marks & dings. All other iron work is also brown patina, heavily rusted on buttplate. Fair to good bore, dark strong rifling. Lock is operable. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Gary Parietti. (01-19019/MGM). BOTH ANTIQUE. $1,200-1,800.