May 13-15, 2025 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2025
During the 1940s-50s, James J. Grant published a series of five books all dealing exclusively with the single shot rifle. In his fourth volume entitled "STILL MORE SINGLE SHOT RIFLES", Grant makes the only mention of Chas C Coleman this writer could find, the following note; "I saw a Chas C. Coleman Patented May 13, 1902 (this is an error as it should read 1862), a single shot rifle at the Ohio Gun Show. A ring trigger, by means of a forward motion, releases a falling block. This specimen, apparently in .38 rimfire, is the only one I have ever observed to date" on page 68. The left side of the frame is engraved, not stamped "Chas C Coleman Patented May 13, 1862. A patent office search may reveal more information. The rifle closely resembles a Ballard style rifle. It sports an octagon to round barrel, a globe front sight, a sporting rear sight, a trigger and ring within the guard, an exposed hammer, a walnut stock with metal butt plate and a matching forearm that has a metal tip. The rifle is loaded by pushing the ring which drops the entire block, trigger and all, exposing an extractor and allowing loading. CONDITION: Fine. Barrel retains the majority of blue but patina is bleeding through. The frame retains about 40% bright blue drifting grey. The stock is solid but there is a hairline crack at both sides of wrist and two missing pieces at top of wrist at frame. The forearm is fine. The bore is sharp and action works but spring is light. Further digging may unveil more facts as to the when, where and who made this weapon as it never went into production and is most likely the very same example mentioned by Grant. It is interesting to note that hundreds of patents were submitted for rifle designs during the Civil War, each one seeking a lucrative government war contract which was most likely the purpose of patenting this rifle. This is a chance to own a one of a kind Civil War era prototype.