GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
FINE 1758 DATED FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR POWDER HORN OF JOHN DEEN.Rufus Grider, one of the early documentors of historic American powder horns, drew and described this horn on November 3, 1887. This horn which measures 15" long and 3-1/2" at base. It is pictured in Powder Horns; Documents of History by Tom Grinslade, pg 36. John Deen saw long service with the Colonial British forces in Connecticut against the French from 1755-1762 and was part of campaigns at Crown Point and Lake George among others. This horn has deep rich patina and is well preserved with honest wear. Grinslade in his book describes some of the details of the horn including the rhyme "March The made by NorWalk / John Deen His Horn 1758". "Carving on this horn includes pictures of the bar room at Half Moon Tavern containing a sugar bowl, a glass and a dark bottle, with a horse tied up at the front door and a sign containing the half moon crescent design. Also depicted are two men dueling, a flag, fortifications, two birds, a fish and a large vine. The extensive service record of John Deen includes his enlistment in 1755 in Eighth Company of Capt. Thomas Hobby in the 4th Regiment of Col. Elihu Chauncey. In the campaign of 1756, he was in the Eighth Company of Capt. John Jeffry in the 3rd Regiment. In 1757 he was in the 6th Company of Capt. David Waterbury in Col. Phineas Lyman's Regiment, followed in 1758 in the Eighth Company of Capt. Isaac Isaacs in the 4th Regiment of Col. David Wooster. Finally in 1762 he is listed in the Eighth Company of Capt. Samuel Elmore in the 2nd Regiment of Col. Nathan Whiting. An interesting statement by Rufus Grider on his roll out drawing of this powder horn says, "The HALF MOON TAVERN shown on this horn was a noted place in Colonial days, it was situated on the Hudson, N. of Troy, in Saratoga Co., N.Y. and was named after Henry Hudson's ship in which he first sailed up the Hudson River, the HALF MOON." Located where present-day Waterford in Saratoga County above Albany, where the portage to the Mohawk River began, a stockaded fort was started before 1692 and a palisaded stone redoubt was recommended in 1698. In 1703 the fort was rebuilt again for the French and Indian war, it was reconstructed." Accompanied by a copy of Grinslade's book where it pictured on full page in color. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Illustrated by Rufus Grider, November 3rd, 1887; Wayne McNeese Collection. CONDITION: Horn is very good to fine overall, good surface and patina with staining and wear at high areas where horn has sat. Plug well patinaed with original iron cleat. Accompanying custom wood stand is also fine. 50428-10 JS (8,000-12,000)