September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/6/2023
For a nearly identical example with this hardware, see pages 44 and 45 of "The Fur Trade - Arms, Artifacts & History" by Milton von Damm. The book states: "Examples of this distinctive sideplate have been found in Indian graves and it is believed that this type of Fusil was sold in Hudson's Bay Company posts". In a letter dated September 17, 1991, Charles Hansen of the Museum of the Fur Trade wrote that guns of this type were imported by the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs as Chief's guns for their factories. He went on to say that, during the War of 1812, many of them were sold to the Osage Indians as substitutes for the unavailable Indian trade gun." The Fusil has a tapered round barrel with applied silver teardrop silver front sight. Dovetail is present from rear sight, but sight is absent. The convex lockplate has an engraved wild boar at the tail and partially visible maker's mark in the center. Distinctive brass trade furniture. Walnut stock of early English form. Period replaced blacksmith-made iron ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown surface. Lock retains a brown patina and is in its original flintlock configuration but is a possible replacement as the touchhole does not match up and minor wooden restoration is present. Lock functions well, frizzen screw and frizzen spring screw are replaced, as well as top jaw and screw. Brass retains a pleasing mustard patin, sideplate shows period repair using pins. Stock has about 6" restored at forend. A very important Indian trade piece.