May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2020
John Phillip Gemmer, an industrious gunsmith, purchased Samuel Hawken's workshop with all materials and trade name in 1862. Marking his "Plains Rifles" and later his sporter conversions of military sporting arms J.P. Gemmer. These unique Plains Rifles carried over many of the traditions of the earlier Hawken rifle. Barrels retained by wedges, Rocky Mountain sights, iron furniture and walnut stocks. Using Goulcher commercially available locks and St. Louis obtained materials he produced the highly desired rifles until the very early 1870's when breech loading rifles became the norm. This attic condition rifle is .40 caliber with a 41-3/4 inch octagon barrel Walnut half stock with pewter forend tip. Goulcher marker percussion lock with scrolls and typical engraving. Double set triggers, single stock retaining wedge, crescent butt with iron furniture and an ornate iron trigger guard with finger rest. The Gemmer family kept the business until 1915 when it was sold and closed. CONDITION: Good with the exterior having an untouched brown patina finish. The Hawken pattern percussion breech has moderate burn out from use. The stock has a period oil finish that has aged and mottled. Barrel is marked J.P. GEMMER ST. LOUIS on top flat. The lock and set triggers operate properly. These rifles were used extensively during the late Westward expansion period of our nation and finding an untouched or uncleaned example is a remarkable find. TDW
Caliber/Bore
.40 Percussion
Model
Half Stock Plains Rifle