October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
This elaborate and highly decorated rifle displays the high quality work that Tryon was capable of. The full length octagonal barrel is decorated with Damascus finish and a steel rib is mounted on the bottom with two German silver ramrod ferrules. The front sight is German silver and the rear sight is an adjustable ramp sight decorated with finely executed scrollwork. The hooked patent breech is decorated with four inlaid gold bands and a serial of foliate scrolls. The top flat has a gold inlaid banner neatly inscribed "Tryon" and the barrel itself is inscribed "Philadelphia" in decorative lettering. The back action percussion lockplate is profusely engraved with detailed scrollwork on a checkered ground and is inlaid with a gold oval, inscribed "TRYON". The percussion clean-out is also gold. The rifle features a single set trigger mounted on a German silver floorplate. The coin silver four piece patchbox has seven piercings and is profusely and professionally engraved with foliate scrollwork and borders. The lid features a floral cornucopia and all of the nine screw heads are decorated. Buttplate tang decorated en suite with an extension showing two dog's heads below a floral arrangement. The left side of the buttstock has a large silver inlay with four piercings and decorated with foliate scrollwork en suite. The floorplate is decorated with scrolls and has two piercings as well as a doe lying down engraved on the spare nipple reservoir. Forward the toeplate in a second inalid piece of silver with another lidded reservoir. The elaborate trigger guard is engraved with acanthus leaf and scroll designs and terminates in the front with an engraved urn finial. There is also a silver wearplate profusely engraved en suite. The silver end cap is engraved with floral decoration. Both shaped and engraved barrel key wedges are also of silver. On the left side of the wrist there is a gold escutcheon with vacant inscription. Along both edges of the forend there are strips of molded silver which are fastened by small silver pins. The full length figured walnut stock shows finely checkered shaped panels on each side of the wrist and a relief carved cheekpiece on the left side. CONDITION: Barrel retains much of its original brown Damascus finish. Edges are sharp and engraving is crisp. One minor loss to one of the gold bands at breech. Lock is crisp and functions well, showing generous traces of case hardened finish, with the remainder faded to grey. Silver shows a mellow patina with no wear to engraving. Stock is very good with one small crack on the left side, slightly in front of the lock retaining screw. A beautiful, extremely high quality Philadelphia percussion rifle. DMG