GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
J. HENRY NAVY BOARDING PISTOL, CIRCA 1814. JOSEPH HENRY NAVAL GUARDING NSN 54 Cal. 54. This very rare gun of which only 2 are thought to be known is described by Sam Smith & E. W. Bitter in Historic Pistols The American Marital Flintlock, 1760-1845 on pg 188 "During the Revolutionary War, the American Navy dwindled from thirteen warships in 1776 to none in 1780. Although the official Navy was next to nothing, the privateer navy was a great power. After the French and the British had begun to stop and search American ships on the high seas and to impress seamen, there was a great demand for arms. Privateers and ship's chandleries placed orders for pistols with the well-known gunsmiths of the day, such as Henry, Waters, North, French, and Miles, up and down the eastern coast and near the principal ports of Providence, Boston, New London, New York Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore". 9-3/4″ iron bbl marked with a "P" in a sunken oval at left breech as normally seen on contract arms of the 1808-1812 period. Lock is marked "J.HENRY" in one line under the integral iron pan and there is a "G" inside the lock plate with a "P" on the bridle. Balance of lock inside has not been cleaned showing its age and dirt so other markings are not visible. The bbl and lock are orig flint and there is no evidence that any parts have been replaced. The 6″ long belt hook appears to be orig and fits well. The brass buttcap, trigger guard, rammer pipe and side plate fit well to the unmarked walnut stock. PROVENANCE: Ex-Nick Penachio, Sr. Collection; Pictured on pg 344 of "Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms", 2007. CONDITION: Very good overall, brass mounts, iron and stock have all been cleaned which was typical among early collectors and varnished overall. The ramrod fits nicely, but is not orig. The stock fits to the metal well with only a 3/8 x 3/16″ chip at the rear bbl pin in front of the lock screw on off lock side and some very minor chipping at the front bbl pin. This is a very nice condition and very rare Naval Boarding pistol from the period of the War of 1812. 50731-7 JS (9,000-12,000)