3417

SAMUEL NOCK PATENT EARLY PERCUSSION RIFLE WITH

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
SAMUEL NOCK PATENT EARLY PERCUSSION RIFLE WITH
GOLD INLAID MOORISH BARREL EX. W. KEITH NEAL COLLECTON. Cal. 60. 7 groove rifling. S# 7726. Through the 18th and early 19th centuries in England there was a quest for fine barrel making materials; ultimately ending with true Damascus barrels as first made by John Rigby around 1818. Until that time "Best" barrels were often sourced from Spain and the Middle East, where true "Damascus" originated. These barrels were often taken as found and adapted to rifles and shotguns by many of the best makers including Manton, Egg, Henry Nock and Twigg. The barrel on this rifle measures 34" and has gold inlaid scrolls on round breech section which transitions to 12 sided and then through a gold inlaid wedding band to ovate with top line remaining as a ridge. Barrel is fitted with one standing one folding leaf rear and bead front sights. Case hardened percussion patent breech has vented platinum blow out and is engraved "Saml.Nock" "London" on top. Breech iron is engraved with well cut shaded scroll. Back spring lock with rebated tail is fitted with flat faced percussion hammer with stylized dolphin head which has large removable nose cap. Lock is fitted with back sliding safety that engages at half cock and is engraved with 60% coverage open scroll. Bottom of lock is engraved "Samuel Nock, Invenit". Trigger plate has shell engraved pineapple type finial and trigger guard with scroll on bow has spur at rear forming pistol grip. Steel buttplate has scroll engraving on long top tang along with S#. Stock of somewhat marbled and figured European walnut has closely spaced square checkering at grip. There is a fancy shaped vacant silver crest plate at top of grip. Stock has horn forend tip and attaches to barrel with two captive sidebolts through oval silver escutcheons. Ebony ramrod with brass tail mounts through single beaded pipe and matching thimble. A W. Keith Neal Collection medal number "G640" is attached to trigger guard bow. CONDITION: very fine original "as found". Barrel retaining most of its original brown under its etched Damascus pattern. It was not refinished at the time this gun was made. Patent breech, breech iron and lock retain about 80% original dark case hardening color. Trigger guard and buttplate retain over 60% original blue. Stock retains nearly all its original oil finish with a good number of marks both light and fairly heavy. Bore, most likely re-rifled at time of remaking is sharp and shiny throughout. Lock is crisp. (01-21901/MGM). ANTIQUE. $3,500-5,500.