GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
VERY RARE AND FINE BRAISED 1861 BOLSTER PERCUSSION CONVERSION OF 2ND MODEL VIRGINIA MANUFACTORY RIFLE BY MERRILL, 1861.VA MANF2ND MDL RIFLENSN50Cal. 50. 51-1/2" overall, 36" oct bbl. Bbl is unmarked externally with exception of "44" stamped on muzzle face which is the presumed alternation number. Murphy & Madaus in their definitive text Confederate Rifles & Muskets, state that the State of "Virginia paid Merrill, Thomas & Co. $345 for altering 172 flintlock rifles to percussion". This was paid just after secession to this Baltimore firm, April 20, 1861. Murphy & Madaus show an 1818 dated rifle with alteration number "46". A Roman numeral "VIII" is also found cut into breech and bottom of bbl. Note: the hammer and bolster are almost identical in form to Civil War rifles and carbines made by Merrill. After discussions with Giles Cromwell, author of The Virginia Manufactory of Arms who does not show an example in his text states that these are indeed a very rare alternation, "only a couple of examples known. Virginia Manufactory rifles are rare to begin with in any configuration. Only 2,000 rifles were made over a period of 18 years and few survive. This is a beautiful example of possibly the rarest of all Confederate used rifle percussion conversions. CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Gun appears orig, complete and unaltered with exception of restored nosecap and 1-1/2" inset of wood to hold nosecap in place. Markings are all discernible. Stock is sound and solid with a couple of hairlines and long sliver missing on left ramrod channel which does not affect overall aesthetics. There is an indiscernible name stamped rear of trigger guard. Mechanics are functional with strong discernible rifling in bore. 52577-1 JS (6,000-8,000)