December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
A light dragoon carbine for a volunteer troop or horse or yeomanry, patterned after the Elliot carbine, with pin-fastened, 28 in. L barrel of 0.65 caliber bearing Tower private proof marks on top of barrel near breech. Flat lock with edge engraving of double lines, flat goose-neck cock with similar edging, frizzen with teardrop finial and early style pan of teaspoon shape; lock stamped before cock: ‘MATHER / NEWCASTLE’. Figured walnut stock with handrail butt, with brass mountings of Elliot form, including buttplate, triggerguard, 3 ramrod pipes, flat ‘S’ sideplate and nose-cap, with sideplate being the flat ‘S’ form found on the P1770 sergeant’s carbine. Iron “swollen” ramrod with notch ring in center of swell, which allows it to be secured in the channel when this groove reaches the projecting lip on the underside of the nose-cap. Sling side-bar and ring of iron, attached to stock at the rear screw of the sideplate and another forward of it. Mather is not a known British gunsmith, but more likely a merchant factor. On the inside of the lock is stamped the touchmark of its maker, ‘T.A’, probably Thomas Archer (fl. 1776-1807), a Birmingham gunmaker and sword cutler supplier, who also enjoyed gun contracts with the Board of Ordnance in the first decade of the 19th century. A superior gun in both construction and finish, in very good, near unused condition, with crisp lock mechanism. Provenance: purchased by former owner from the Soldier Shop, Inc. (NYC) 1980 catalog as item AM-1616 for $1750.