Loading Spinner
Don’t miss out on items like this!

Sign up to get notified when similar items are available.

Lot 194: very rare Confederate marked British Enfield Pattern 1858 Naval Short Rifle

Est: $5,000 USD - $7,000 USDSold:
Amoskeag Auction CoManchester, NH, USMarch 24, 2012

Item Overview

Description

.577 cal. percussion, 33" barrel with a very good bore with sharp evident rifling but with minor oxidation and light pitting. The iron surfaces are a pewter and speckled brown patina with numerous minor handling marks and oxidation spots and pitting in the area of the bolster, the left side of the barrel shows appropriate firing proofs. The lockplate and hammer are pewter and speckled brown patina and show light borderline engraving with the lockplate being marked "1861/Tower" with a royal crown to the rear of the hammer. The split bands no longer have their captive washers and the brass nosecap, buttplate and triggerguard are a warm goldenrod patina. The wood rates about very good overall with minor dings and handling marks with slightly softened edges and some raised grain from exposure to the elements. There is a very light "JS/(anchor)" and what appears to be a very light "(crown)/SH/C" marking ahead of this, both to the rear of the triggerguard tang. The buttplate is blockade numbered "1516" neatly engraved on the buttplate tang. These very rare short rifles featured stouter, thicker barrels and five-groove rifling with a 1 in 48" twist making them a favorite of Confederate sharpshooters and snipers. In addition to being very accurate arms they were also slightly shorter and easier to carry through thick brush or haul up a tree. This interesting example shows starburst marks in three places on the left stock flat, atop the wrist and on the right stock flat ahead of and behind the lock. The right side of the butt and it's rearmost portion shows a very light period incise carving of the initials "RHJ" with the wider center sections of the letters showing the rudimentary crosshatching we often see on antique powderhorns. Additionally, ahead of this there is a much later antique carving "CWT/1882". There is an additional starburst ahead of the triggerguard and the toeline shows the contractor's name which appears to be Swinburn. The lock is crisp and mechanically functional, what appears to be original ramrod is present and there is an original nipple protector chained to the swivel, the leather is no longer present. It is thought that only the first thousand of these were naval arms, Army-requisitioned arms were reportedly blockade-numbered up to the 4000 range. Included is an original tompion, bullet puller and worm. A very nice example, with very nice Confederate markings, of these very rare naval pattern short rifles which were very sought-after by the troops who used them. It is highly possible further research could prove the identity of "RHJ". (34962-15) {ANTIQUE} [Frank Burg Collection]

Artist or Maker

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Auction Details

Auction No. 88 Featuring Fine Collectible Arms

by
Amoskeag Auction Co
March 24, 2012, 10:00 AM EST

250 Commercial Street #3011, Manchester, NH, 03101, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

20.5%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$99$10
$100$499$25
$500$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$250
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$19,999$1,000
$20,000$49,999$2,500
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000+$10,000

Terms and Conditions

GENERAL STATEMENTS
• All bidders who attend the sale must register and obtain a bidders card in order to participate in the auction. Absentee/Telephone
bidders must register by filling out and signing an absentee bid sheet.
• The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall become the owner upon the fall of the hammer. The auctioneer has sole
discretion in the case of a dispute among bidders.
• Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe
everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the
items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all
requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them.
• All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their
items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered.
• Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignors interests.
• Reserves: A very few lots will be offered with reserve. In cases where items are reserved, a bid of the low estimate will always exceed
the reserve. Reserves will be bid by the auctioneer as an opening bid so any bid taken from the floor or the phone is a live bid above
the reserve amount.
• Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder's full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale.
PAYMENT POLICY
• Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa and American Express as payment for items purchased by
those customers who attend the sale [WE NO LONGER ACCEPT DISCOVER]. Credit card purchases are limited to $50,000.00 per customer,
per auction. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to demand cash or hold merchandise until funds are collected
in full. There will be a $35.00 charge for all returned checks.
• Items that have not been viewed in person may not be paid for by credit card.
• There will be a Buyer's Premium of 17.5% added to all purchases. A discounted Buyers Premium of 15% will apply to all purchases
paid by cash or check.
• Customers without prior credit approval who intend on making purchases in excess of $10,000 must provide credit information such
as a bank letter of credit prior to bidding.
• There will be a $35 bank service fee charged to all international payments made by wire transfer.
GUIDELINES FOR FIREARMPURCHASES
• All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be observed. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale when they
present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any
firearm on day of sale providing the proper paperwork is filled out and the transfer has been approved either through the NH State
Police or the FBI NICS System. While most NICS and State approvals are immediate, approvals could take up to 3 days. Most non-residents
may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check;
modern handguns will need to be shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer's home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping
charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction
Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped, to their state of residence.
CLASS IIIWEAPONS
• Transactions are handled through Mr. James McLoud at Manchester Firing Line - 603/668-9015.

Shipping Terms

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense