December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
According to the typed letter accompanying this fowler, it was purchased from Perkins' descendants in his original 18th century home just outside New London, Connecticut in 1984. Ebenezer Perkins responded to the Lexington Alarm in April, 1775. He was militia sergeant for the Norwich, CT militia, then joined the 8th Continental Regiment appointed July 10, 1775. He was an ensign in the 8th Regiment between September 18 1775 through December 10, 1775. He spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, where he signed the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and became a Captain in the 1st Continental Regiment on January 1, 1778. He resigned July 1, 1780. The 4-stage barrel is unmarked with a silver half moon front sight and a deep groove cut into the breech and tang. The later lock is a replacement and dated "17--" on the tail and engraved "HIRST" in the center, dates to the late 18th century. Brass furniture includes Dutch-style brass trigger guard, buttplate, and pierced symmetrical wrist escutcheon engraved "EP". Sideplate is a modern replacement. Walnut stock of early from. Modern wooden ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown patina, bolster has been removed at breech and touch hole drilled. Lock shows scattered pitting and a brown surface. Front 30" of stock have been replaced and front two ramrod ferrules. Buttplate shows a break and some losses. An interesting fowler with interesting history. DMG