June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017
Octagonal rifled barrel with a gold band and two platinum bands inlaid at breech and muzzle, top flat signed "Searles" in script. Small silver front sight and notched iron rear sight. Patent breech and tang engraved with deeply chiseled scrolls and acanthus leaf patterns. Back-action percussion lockplate has fancy "Searles" inscription and is decorated with chiseled and engraved designs, rounded hammer engraved with dolphin on top and scrolls on face. Fine engraved silver furniture including delicate pierced four-piece patchbox with finely-executed scrolls and detailed borders. Buttplate engraved around screws, on top of tang, and on tang extension with a patriotic shield motif. Full toeplate engraved en suite, triggerguard bow and pineapple-shaped finial also engraved. Double set triggers. Steel sideplate mirrors shape of back-action lockplate and is inscribed "R. Anderson U.S. ARMY". Figured walnut half-stock with engraved silver end cap. Checkered wrist and carved cheekpiece with relief scrolls on each side. The quality of this rifle rivals the finest English rifles. The rifle was most certainly made by Daniel Searles in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Searles was probably the finest southern gunsmith and was one of the earliest makers of Bowie knives. Robert Anderson, the original owner, was the Commanding Officer at Fort Sumter. He lived from June 14, 1805 until October 26, 1871 and was the son of the first Ohio Governor, Richard Clough Anderson, Sr. Complete with notarized letter of provenance from Louise McLaughlin, descendant of Robert Anderson, outlining how the rifle was passed through the family, eventually to her. The letter is dated 1975. She then sold the rifle to Bob Olds, who then sold it to Norman Flayderman. Also includes an archive of provenance and correspondence between Norm Flayderman, Bob Olds, Louise McLaughlin and Bill Williamson. Many original letters and copies of letters pertaining to the history of the rifle, Daniel Searles, and Robert Anderson. Includes many original negatives and professional black and white photographs of the rifle. PROVENANCE: Norman Flayderman, Bob Olds, and Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collections. This rifle is pictured on page 76 of "Steel Canvas: The Art of American Arms" by R.L. Wilson. Excellent condition, showing little use. Barrel, lock, and sideplate retain a dark grey patina with some scattered areas of minor freckling. Silver is excellent, showing nearly no wear and retaining an unpolished soft patina. Stock very good with a few minor storage marks, a hairline crack across the top of the wrist, between the rear lockplate screw and rear sideplate screw, and a small crack above barrel key escutcheon on right side. Mechanically strong.