GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTREMELY RARE "WAR OF 1812" CONGRESSIONAL PRESENTATION MODEL 1819 HALL BREECH LOADING FLINTLOCK RIFLE.HALLUS 1819NSN.54Cal. 54. This rifle presented to Smith Bateman was one of 17 presented to group of young boys who defended the bridge at Plattsburgh, NY September 11, 1814 during the Battle of Lake Champlain. These mid-teen schoolboys along with other militiamen showed phenomenal heroism in preventing the British from crossing over the Saranac River against a vastly superior British force of battle hardened veterans. These boys' exploits were well known in Upstate NY and were finally awarded the newest and finest guns in the American arsenal fully 14 years after the event though Congress had authorized fine rifles for presentation much earlier. The boys were originally armed with poor muskets loaned at the time of the fight, so the finest American military rifle of its day was apropos. This rifle is of the earliest configuration marked "JH HALL" on breech. Congressional presentation 4-1/2" silver kidney-shaped plaque inscribed "BY RESOLVE OF CONGRESS/Presented to/SMITH BATEMAN/For his GALLANTRY at the/SIEGE OF PLATTSBURGH". These are the only firearms ever awarded by Congress for gallantry. This is one of only 10 surviving examples, most in institutional homes. A most interesting entry found in the 1922 History of Oregon Illustrated, Vol. 3 cites a biography of Bateman's maternal grandson "Among the possessions which Mr. Clancey values most highly is a gun given to him by his maternal grandfather, Hiram Bateman. It is a very valuable relic, having been used in the War of 1812, and was presented by the United States government, through acts of congress, to Mr. Clancey's great uncle, Smith Bateman, in acknowledgment of his bravery. His father was shot down while defending the bridge at Plattsburg and the boy, who was then but sixteen years of age, at once picked up the gun and fearlessly took his father's place, thus performing a notable act of heroism. The gun is said by experts to be one of seven now in existence. It is a breech loader and bears a memorial inscription. Collectors have offered Mr. Clancey large sums for the gun, but he has refused to see as he contemplates giving the gun to the Smithsonian Institution for safe keeping." PROVENANCE: Hiram Bateman (brother of Smith Bateman); C. B. Clancey, Salem, OR (Grandson of Hiram Bateman); Norm Flayderman Collection; Everett G. Partridge Collection; David Kleiner; Stanley B. Smullen Collection, Worcester, PA. CONDITION: Very good overall. Metal retains much of its orig brown finish mixed with staining and pitting. Mechanically fine with crisp discernible Hall multi-groove rifling in bore. Stock is sound and solid with hairline along 2" of ramrod channel rear of breech locking arm. Scattered small hairlines and small cosmetic bruising with hand worn patina. Inspector initial "WB" on bottom of comb. The silver thumbplate is the only restoration on this gun, otherwise 100% orig and authentic. 51060-1 JS (30,000-50,000)