3466

VERY RARE PILL LOCK HALF STOCK NEW YORK STYLE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
VERY RARE PILL LOCK HALF STOCK NEW YORK STYLE
RIFLE BY JOSEPH MEDBERY OF ROCHESTER NEW YORK. Cal. 38. NSN. Joseph Medbery, working in Rochester between 1826-38, patented this rifle lock in 1826 along w/ S. Kellog. The pellet or pill lock was made for a very short time as an improvement(?) over the regular percussion system. This well made rifle has 32" oct. bbl. w/ steel under rib and is fitted w/ semi buckhorn rear sight. Rear of top flat is marked "I. MEDBERY" "ROCHESTER". Mule ear type lock has external mainspring & nicely shaped hammer w/ interesting bar sear mechanism which penetrates lockplate to engage trigger. Lockplate & breech plug are nicely feather engraved. Half stock of dense American walnut features deep crescent brass buttplate w/ 4" return. Scrolled trigger guard is also of brass, as is unusually shaped sideplate & thimble. Stock features nicely fluted cheekpieces on each side (ambidextrous) of butt w/ inlet silver stars. There is also a small rectangular silver plate inlet at top of grip. Plain hickory ramrod is held by 2 beaded pipes. CONDITION: fine. Bbl. retaining a considerable amount of what appears to be its original brown w/ highlights of silver w/ some scattered minor freckling. Stock retains well over 70% of its original oil finish w/ some wear through on high points. Furniture probably polished long ago is nicely toned. All silver mountings are tarnished to gray-black. Bright shiny bore. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Gary Parietti. (01-19078/MGM). ANTIQUE. $3,000-4,000.