3493

INTERESTING BREECHLOADING RIFLE BY JOHN HARMAN OF

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD
INTERESTING BREECHLOADING RIFLE BY JOHN HARMAN OF

LONDON. Cal. 73. NSN. 35 3/4" Deeply swamped bbl. has ovate section towards rear engraved "JOHN HARMAN Strand London" (working dates 1740-1755). London Gunmaker's proofs are on left side of bbl. Rnd. bodied lock. w/ raised bead around perimeter fitted w/ serpentine cock, bridled friction frizzen & feather spring w/ intricately filed finial. This breech loading rifle pre dates Ferguson's patent, but is similar in operation in that the trigger guard rotates to expose loading port. Ferguson's patent allowed a turn & a half of a lever to expose the loading aperture on top of bbl.; in this adaptation, trigger guard & plug must be completely removed from the bottom & then screwed back into place. Each operation takes 8 turns. There is no provision for a ramrod. Handrail type walnut stock extends to muzzle & attaches to bbl. w/ side bolts. Rifle is iron mounted. Sideplate is beautifully sculpted & filed in the form of acanthus scroll w/ many piercings & floral highlights. Iron wrist escutcheon continues this theme. There is fine shell motif raised carving around bbl. tang & moldings around lockplate & sideplate. CONDITION: metal parts chemically cleaned to remove considerable rust w/ gray patina & lg. amount of pitting remaining. Stock has remnants of old, possibly original finish w/ many marks & knocks. Stock is basically sound, but there is some separation & cracking at bottom front of lockplate. Lock is operable. Bore is fair to good showing cleaning to bright w/ pitting. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Gary Parietti. (01-19776/MGM). ANTIQUE. $1,200-1,800.