GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
RARE 1864 CONFEDERATE DICKSON NELSON RIFLE. DICKSON-NELSON 1841 NSN 58 Cal. 58. Dickson Nelson in Dawson, GA made a majority of their guns for the State of Alabama. These guns are rarely encountered and this is an honest example from direct family descent in Trussville, AL. 32-1/2" bbl marked on breech "ALA. 1864" and lock marked "DICKSON / NELSON & CO / C.S." forward of hammer and rear of hammer "ALA. / 1864". This gun is in the typical configuration of other guns of this type with brass nosecap, bbl bands, trigger guard, and buttplate. John Murphy & Howard Madaus in their definitive text Confederate Rifles and Muskets 1996 describes these rare guns at length and the probable delivery of only 645 rifles delivered before Union Army totally disrupted their operations. PROVENANCE: Family descent. CONDITION: Good to very good overall for a well used long arm utilized after war as a hunting gun, now about 64 Cal. smooth bore, instead of orig 58 Cal. rifled bore which is also been trimmed about 1/2". Lock & bbl markings all discernible as can be seen in photos. Missing sling swivels and rear band, otherwise orig. Dovetailed rear sight is missing, exposing Roman numeral "VII" in mortise. Stock is sound, heavily sanded and refinished with several hairlines. Brass has been cleaned and varnished overall like the wood. Brass has light mustard patina under varnish. There is wood burned and reduced around bolster. Nipple is smashed from lots of use, just like you would expect to see on an old military rifle taking on a new role of shooting game and protecting the homestead. Lock & bbl are brown/plum overall with iron patina and heavy pitting at breech. The wooden ramrod which was added after the war shows lots of age and hand worn patina. Mechanically gun is functional but will not hold half-cock. Smooth bore is clear with pitting. 52271-1 JS (6,000-8,000)