GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
SUPERIOR CASED INSCRIBED VL&D MAUSER 1896 FLATSIDE AUTOMATIC PISTOL OF CIVIL WAR GENERAL JAMES H. WILSON CLASSMATE OF GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER. MAUSER SYSTEM 96 21158 7.63 MODERN; C&R Cal. 7.63. 5-1/2" bbl. Blue finish, walnut stock, walnut grips, Early Mauser Model 1896 "Flatside" Automatic pistol with leather case, holster-stock, ammunition cases and cleaning rod, The right side of the pistol is engraved in script "General J.H. Wilson / U,S,A,". James H. Wilson was a famous Federal Civil War General whose military career spanned the 19th Century. A graduate of the West Point class of 1860. Wilson was a classmate of George Armstrong Custer. In 1864, Wilson was selected for a Division in Gen. Phillip Sheridan's Cavalry corps, Army of the Potonac. In the west, Wilson transferred to the Union cavalry and eventually defeated the Confederate cavalry Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. Wilson ended the Civil War as a brevet major-general Wilson resigned from the army in 1870. In 1898 he volunteered for the Spanish-American War, during the war he served as military governor of Puerto Rico and participated in the occupation of Cuba. In 1900, Wilson was the second in command of the American troops sent China to assist European and Japanese forces in suppression of the Boxer Rebellion. In recognition of his distinguished service, Wilson was promoted to Brigadier-General in the regular Army by a special act of Congress. In 1915, Wilson was advanced to Major-General in the regular Army: a rank he held twice as a volunteer (1865 and 1898). James H. Wilson died in 1925, the last survivor of the West Point Class of 1860 and one of the most respected Union Civil War General officers. This early pattern, "Flatside" pistol has a standard 5-1/2 inch bbl, rear sight with ten adjustment notches and walnut, 23 groove grips. The pistol features a "Large Ring" hammer and early style safety, The left side of the receiver has retailer markings (VON LENGERKE/& DETMOLD/NEW-YORK) in three lines, The top of the chamber is marked "WAFFENFABRIK/MAUSER/OBERNDORF A/N," in three lines. A Crown / U commercial proof mark is stamped on the left side of the bbl below the SN. The pistol has a polished, rust blue finish. The extractor, rear sight slide, bolt stop, and safety have a niter blue finish. The black pebble grained leather display case is lined with chamois leather. A similar case is illustrated in Fig, 228 on page .188 of THE MAUSER SELF-LOADING PISTOL by Belford and Dunlap. The case has a double key latch. The interior has a filled compartment for the pistol and stock, the cleaning rod, and a spare parts container with a lid. ln addition, the case has an additional compartment for five individual pebble-grained black leather containers each holding two, ten-round stripper clips of 7,63 mm cartridges and a single container for one ten-round cartridge stripper. The case is complete with the original key. CONDITION: Extremely fine, retaining virtually all its rust blue finish on bbl, upper and lower receivers. Loss of finish is noted on grip straps and leading edge of mag faceplate. Well over 80% of its bright nitre blue finish remain on the early long narrow extractor and sight elevator slide and bolt lock. Hammer, bolt, sight, and trigger pack remain in their white finish with slight tarnish from use and storage. Bore is bright with sharp rifling. All visible numbers are matching including stock iron on shoulder stock. Grips retain most of their varnish finish, however are slightly soiled in the grasping grooves, screw and escutcheons are slightly tarnished and soiled. Left side of receiver has several small areas of distress and very light finish loss. Shoulder stock/holster is very fine with two small shrinkage cracks emanating from hinge. Hinge and stock iron have turned an even patina. Interior of case has slight soiling and several spots of staining from years of storage. An outstanding and most historic pistol carbine in fabulous condition and a treasure trove of history. 52700-18 TDW (30,000-50,000)