GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
EXTREMELY RARE & UNIQUE IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE BLOCKADE RUN PATTERN 1856 IRON MOUNTED 2-BAND RIFLE.TOWERM 1856 RIFLE963577Cal. 577. Not only is this gun beautifully carved with soldier's name in the 9th Louisiana infantry, it is also one of only 5 specimens known of this rare pattern blockade run rifle. This pattern is described in the text The English Connection by Pritchard & Huey. This gun is SN'd in the wood "963" and has a matching number cut into the ramrod. James H. Whitlock was mustered into Company A 9th Louisiana infantry July 6, 1861. The regiment was known as "Lee's Tigers". Whitlock stayed in this unit the entire war until his capture the week before Appomattox at the Battle of Saylor's Creek. The 9th Louisiana fought on Culp's Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg suffering 73 casualties on that first day's fight. Whitlock's service records accompany the rifle. The "JS/anchor" marking is not easily discerned, but noted in Huey's original notes on this gun. Regardless, this is among the rarest and most aesthetically pleasing of all Confederate blockade run rifles. PROVENANCE: C.A. Huey collection; Danny Lee collection, Lakeland, Florida. CONDITION: Very good overall with some stock repair while camouflaged forward of wrist. Metal overall is dark brown with pitting. There are no external bbl proofs, but internal markings of both lock and bbl are show in provenance from Mr. Huey's notes. External lock markings of crown and "1859" are crisp. Mechanically gun is fine with smooth 61 cal. bore which originally was rifled. Carving in stock has nice hand worn patina. 52043-2 JS (8,000-12,000)