December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
An early volunteer’s rifle modeled on the British Pattern 1776 Rifle, with rear sight (one fixed and two hinged leaves), 28-inch, key-fastened, octagonal barrel of 0.68 caliber bore, key-fastened and with false- or hook-breech, with vacant holes near muzzle that once supported ramrod swivel, rifled with seven grooves, sighted fore-end, and tang bearing an engraved, stringed bugle horn, with Tower private proof marks near breech on left side. Flat beveled border, engraved lock with crowned GR before the cock and 'MORRIS' across the tail, flat, goose-neck cock with edging, double-fence (water-less), teaspoon-shaped pan, and feather-spring with roller. Figured walnut, full stock with brass mounts near-identical to those found on the Pattern 1776 rifle, including spur trigger-guard with acorn finial, three wide ramrod pipes (a steel ramrod spring between the fore-pipe and middle pipe), flat “tailed” sideplate, and nose-cap indented at top edges for missing swivel; and heavy, original iron ramrod pierced for swivel. The butt has a hinged patch-box cover similar to that found on the Pattern 1805 Baker. Overall length: 44 inches. Henry Morris was a Birmingham gunmaker who worked between 1802 and his death on 28 December 1809.