May 18, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2022
Exquisitely silver-mounted half stock Kentucky rifle made for Edward James Parrish by an unknown gunsmith; Parrish was a wealthy tobacco broker in Durham, North Carolina. Rifle has architecture similar to rifles made in the Guilford County area of North Carolina circa the 1850s. 35" octagon .40 caliber rifled barrel with silver blade front sight and rear dovetail notch sight with barrel signed in script in front of sight "J.H. Hampton" whose only location listed as a gunsmith is in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, which does not make any sense for style reasons and geography. Percussion lock with double set trigger control with engraved coin silver backplate. Curly maple half stock with engraved German silver hardware and 13 coin silver inlays including a cheekpiece inlay engraved in script "MADE EXPRESSLY FOR E.J. PARRISH" and a saddle plate with Masonic Compass engraved on it. Comes with letter of history on E.J. Parrish and original ramrod. CONDITION: Overall good with 2 missing diamond silver inlays on forestock with sliver of wood on left side. Dark bore with functioning mechanics. A very decorative and historic rifle with owner provenance. DLM
Paperwork
Background on Parrish