GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
RARE CONFEDERATE KEEN-WALKER CARBINE ATTRIBUTED TO RICHARD H. HARRIS, 1ST VA RESERVES.KEEN WALKERCARBINEUNK52Cal. 52. This is an "as found" example of a rare Confederate carbine. The Keen, Walker & Co. carbine long known as the Confederate "Perry" or "Tilting Breech" carbine was the subject of much speculation as to where it was manufactured in early texts, scholarly research identifies it definitively as the product of Keen, Walker & Co. in Danville, Virginia. John Murphy & Howard Madaus in their comprehensive 2002 text Confederate Carbines & Musketoons devote a chapter on this manufacturer. They note a receipt for 101 breech loading carbines delivered May 19, 1862 to the Confederate Ordnance Department. The frame is of brass and unmarked externally. Internally Roman numerals would be found, but this gun has not had a screw removed. The 22-1/2" bbl is rifled and marked only with a "P" proof on the left side. The stock is carved "R H HARRIS" though "HARRIS" is much lighter than the first 2 initials. Accompanying this gun is a large file of research telling provenance and history of this gun. Dr. Richard Herbert Harris (1847-1876) was a member of the 1st Virginia "Nottoway Reserves", he is buried in the town cemetery in Blackstone, VA. PROVENANCE: Outstanding estate collection of Confederate and historical arms of Morris Racker. CONDITION: Good overall, though iron is heavily pitted, brass frame has pleasing dark mustard colored patina. Gun is totally orig and complete. Stock is sound and solid with minor cosmetic blemishes and hand worn patina. The action is functional though slightly loose. Bore exhibits well-defined rifling though heavily pitted. 51957-26 JS (10,000-15,000)