GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
EXTREMELY RARE AND UNEQUALED EXQUISITE BOYS RIFLE BY SOMERSET GUNSMITH ELIAS CRISSEY II, WHO SERVED IN THE CIVIL WAR. CRISSEY KENTUCKY NSN .32 C&R Cal. .32. Overall length 48", 3-1/2" x 5/8" buttplate. 33-5/8" full oct unmarked rifled bbl. This remarkable rifle is an absolutely beautiful example of a Somerset/Bedford rifle. The rifle has a 4-pc brass engraved patchbox with 4 piercings and a finial similar to the Dunmyer rifle on pg 88 of Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon & Somerset Counties. The rifle has 27 attractive silver inlays, a 4" engraved brass toe plate with 4 bone filled piercings and a striking 6-1/2" engraved brass wear plate with 3 piercings one of which is bone filled. The outstanding brass engraved side plate features 3 bone filled piercings and the cheek piece has a silver running fox inlay. The percussion Bedford-style lock is initialed "E.C." in script forward of the percussion nipple for "Elias Crissey" (Crissy). Crissey was born Feb 26th, 1835, and died July 18th, 1925. He lived in Hooversville, Shade Township, Somerset County all of his life. It is recorded that he served in the Civil War. Elias is buried in the Hooversville Reformed Church cemetery. It is believed by some that Crissey was apprenticed to Benjamin Franklin Vore (1814 - 1886) whose shop was located on the Bedford-Stoystown turnpike. Vore''s earlier guns have Bedford County lines and patchboxes and large hand forged locks. His later guns had his initials "B.V." on the locks. One of Crissey''s rifles was exhibited at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition where it was awarded a prize for craftsmanship. This is by far the finest boys Kentucky rifle we have ever encountered. PROVENANCE: Peter Tillou Collection. CONDITION: Clean and orig. The lock on this magnificent rifle needs internal adjustment but the entire gun is in wonderful condition. 49612-1 RGG (12,000-25,000)