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NORTH WEST INDIAN "CHIEF'S GRADE" TRADE GUN.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
NORTH WEST INDIAN  CHIEF'S GRADE  TRADE GUN.

Cal. 60. NSN. Bbl. 37" multistage. 51" Overall. This is a special gun in very fine condition w/ inset silver thumb plate w/ Indian chief. Bbl. w/ Birmingham proofs at breech, "LONDON" & circle cartouche w/ sitting fox marked top of bbl. Lock marked "HAMPTON". There are stylized engraved decorations w/ hunting horns, horse heads w/ arrows, there are also military proofs: broad arrow on lock & broad arrow over "BO" (Board Ordnance) on stock. Single screw brass lock escutcheon. Jim Hansen in his text "Firearms Of The Fur Trade" discusses the special guns made by Thomas Hampton of which 415 of these chief's trade guns he mfg. Most of these guns were given to British North American Indian allies during the War of 1812. Most saw hard use & survival on the frontier provides few survivors. CONDITION: fine overall, it would be difficult to find a better, more complete original flint example of a Hampton British Board of Ordnance contracted Chief's grade trade gun. Smooth iron patina. Brass has unclean light patina. Stock is sound w/ original varnish. There is light burnout of wood behind frizzen pan. PROVENANCE: ex-Jim Gordon collection; Collection of James B. Taylor. (01-20483/JS). ANTIQUE. $6,000-8,000.