3396

HENRY MAUGER SIGNED FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY PISTOL,

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
HENRY MAUGER SIGNED FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY PISTOL,

ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE, SAM DYKE COLLECTION.
Cal. 38. NSN. 14" Overall, 8 3/8" oct. to rnd heavy brass bbl. signed in script “H*MAUGER” w/ silver blade on heart shaped front sight. Frank Klay, who sold this pistol in 1964, describes quite accurately: This Revolutionary [War] pistol is signed, “H. Mauger”. Unusually heavy & only .39 caliber smoothbore. The lock is original flint w/ no restoration of any kind. There is a double line engraved border on the brass mountings & the trigger guard has the seldom seen sheet brass construction. This type of construction [nailed & pinned, no screws] is most often seen on silver guards & is absolutely original to this pistol. The lock is very good quality marked “T. KETLAND & CO”. Especially nice is the stock work in this piece. It has seen very little wear showing much of the original varnish over a reddish orange colored curly maple. Henry Mauger is from Douglass Township in Berks County. A research paper has been written by Mr. Dyke titled “HENRY MAUGER—GUNSMITH OF DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP, 1750-1826” a copy of which accompanies this pistol. The signature on the brass bbl. matches a signed mauger Kentucky rifle also in the Dyke collection. This pistol has an extremely rugged appearance & has early characteristics such as, large heavy buttplate & flared butt, curled trigger & oct. to rnd. bbl. w/ the added nicety of a silver “pinched” sight found only on the best Kentucky pistols. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: file of correspondence concerning this pistol, including letters from: Sam Dyke, Frank Klay, Joe Kindig, several letters concerning the theft & recovery of this pistol, & 2 different Sam Dyke research papers on the maker. CONDITION: very good to fine overall, brass cleaned toning to a yellow patina, lock, bbl. tang & trigger have smooth dark iron patina. Stock is sound & solid w/ old contemporary repair of the cracked wrist utilizing a countersunk screw w/ putty over screw hole which does not detract. This type of repair done during time of use is vastly superior to a modern repair. There is well patinated chip at top & rear of lock. Mechanically fine, clear smooth bore. PROVENANCE: Dr. Thomas B. Snyder collection: Joe Kindig Jr collection: Sam Dyke collection; Dr. Howard A. Engle collection 1964; pictured in 1959 Sam Dyke ASAC article, reprinted in Dillon “The Kentucky Rifle” 4th edition 1959. (01-19978/JS). ANTIQUE. $6,000-8,000.