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6197
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outstanding 2nd quarter / 19th century - Hand Made BOWIE KNIFE
Unsigned yet clearly the work of a well-established craftsman, this attractive belt knife is a genuine classic of the late 1830s through early 1860s American Bowie Knife. All in pleasing as found condition with good evidence of age, originality and period use; the heavy, 7/16 of an inch thick at the back, 1 15/16 wide at the hilt by 10 ¼ inches long, blade has some period marking on the back yet remains in nice condition with no evidence of grinding or stoning with a keen nick free edge. Measuring 15 1/8 inches in overall leingth, the nicely shaped brass cross guard and furniture remain in excellent condition with a pleasing natural age coloration. The well fitted and shaped American walnut grip has a deep age crack on one side offering good age yet remaining solid without detracting from the charm of this desirable knife. A good honest example of a working knife clearly intended for use and carrying in the heyday of the classic American Bowie Knife, this piece will fit well in any quality Western Fronteer, Gold Rush, Civil War or period Americana setting. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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60120
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Civil War Veterinary- Codman & Shurtleff - Horse Tooth Extraction Forceps
Not to be confused with the post-Civil War vintage nickeled veterinary and general dentistry forceps of the same basic design (but considerably smaller) these earlier and seldom found, bare iron forceps measure a full 13 1/2 inches in length and are maker marked by Civil War dental and surgical instrument supplier Codman & Shurtleff of Boston, Massachusetts. Appropriately marked for the Civil War period, this scarce instrument will set well in any period medical instrument grouping. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6267
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Antique Boars Tusk – WALKING STICK
This desirable antique cane will best be described here by our photo illustrations except to advise that its head remains solid with a rich age patina that comes only with lots of period handling and decades in time. The figured and monogramed cap is of sterling silver and is so marked with a tiny stylized eagle and 1825 F. While its ferrule tip has been lost the period classic natural malacca shaft remains in beautiful original condition again with that appealing age patina that early cane enthusiasts appreciate. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6092
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pre-Civil War 4 place setting - knife & fork CUTLERY SET by U. S. MILITARY SUPPLIER - J. ASHMORE PHI
All original and in excellent condition yet with good evidence of age to include a pleasing natural patina with the expected short single age crack along the grain of each natural bovine horn grip; this rarely surviving matching set offers the strong cutler markings J. ASHMORE PHILADELPHIA with an American Eagle and U. S. on each knife blade. Listed in Houston’s knife collectors guide as being in operation 1832 – 1858, John Ashmore crafted cutting implements to include razors, utility items such as axes and hatchets and all manner of cutlery to include bowie knives. (They give Ashmore’s work their highest collectability rating.) Of most interest to American military historians will be that per Bazelon & McGuinn’s Directory of American Military Goods Dealers & Makers , delivery receipts for the Schuylkill Arsenal record numerous receipt of Ashmore’s goods to the well-known Army Quarter Master Depot. Best known today as suppliers to the Lewis & Clark Expedition the Schuylkill Arsenal was built in 1800 to function as a quartermaster facility in support of the U.S. military. The depot at Schuylkill Arsenal became a primary provider of military goods for the Civil War. Seldom surviving in any condition, even as single knife and fork pair, a complete setting of four matching pairs is worthy of special notice and we hope to place this setting as such. With this maker and US marking this set will be of special interest to enthusiasts of the Mexican War through Civil War use eras.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6283
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rarely seen antique candle lantern – PIKE CANDLE HOLDER
Fashioned from sheet iron with pierced sides and iron riveted conical pike this early candleholder is specifically designed to be utilized with the 18th early 19th century style wooden framed or pierced sheet iron candle lantern. This holder is approximately 3 7/8 inches in diameter with a folding wire handle, not for carrying but for insertion and retrieval of a heavy tallow candle from such a lantern. Completely original with no condition issues and a rich age patina with good evidence of natural age, an old painted inventory number remains on the underside as evidence of earlier unknown collection inclusion. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6277
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Civil War Veteran - Stetson SLOUCH HAT of - Lt. Col. Charles S. Emerson – 1st / 10th / 29th Maine
Those who know us and those familiar with our MaineLegacy.com museum site will be surprised to see us offer such a Maine related item here but as we dig through our 50 plus year accumulation we find we must necessarily accommodate dwindling space and father time. Accordingly we have decided to offer this fine condition old John Stetson Co. / Lt. Col Charles S. Emerson slouch hat to a deserving new home. Best described here as to eye appeal and condition by our photo illustrations, suffice it to say this wonderful old Civil War veteran’s slouch hat remains in fine condition in all respects while offering good evidence of age and careful period wearing. Constructed of the finest soft wool felt the hat retains its nicely embossed Pat. 1878 sweat band logo identifying the maker as James Stetson Co. Phila. and turn of the century Maine hatter as T. J. Murphy – Lewiston. (see: turn of the century publication Leading Business Men of Lewiston, Augusta and Vicinity A period glazed gauze label on the sweat band bears identity to Charles S. Emerson. The hat sports a 19th Corps 1st Division corps device on the side of its crown. Interestingly, the crimson Civil War corps device is held in place by a narrow silk ribbon so as to be removable or applied in accordance with the occasion and desire of the wearer. (We have seen this feature before but applied to display of the usual GAR device at the front of the crown.)
Well documented by frequent reference in John Mead Gould’s period history of the 1st 10th and 29th Maine Volunteer Infantry, the text of which is available on the internet, suffice it to say here that Col. Emerson entered the service on May 3 1861 giving his residence as from the Auburn side of the Androscoggin River of the twin cities of Lewiston / Auburn where he would return and live out his life. Commissioned as Captain of Co. H of the 1st Maine Infantry Emmerson would retain command of that Co. in the 10th Maine and be promoted to Field & Staff of the 10th as Major in January 1863. Promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel in November 1863, Charles Emerson was transferred to the Field & Staff of the 29th Maine on May 31 1864 and would muster out on June 21, 1866. During service with the 19th Corps 1st Division’s 10th & 29th Maine, Colonel Emerson’s Regiments would be represented at such actions as at Culpeper, VA - Frederick, MD - Manassas, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Antietam and Chancellorsville.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
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6235
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ethnic Americana - Helena Montana Chinese Settlement - 1892 acquired - STAMP BOX
This neat little Chinese motif stamp box is fashioned from sheet brass with applied cast bronze embellishments and is offered here with two period penned notations each carefully trimmed to fit the delicate hinged container. The brown ink notations advise: This stamp box was bought in the Chinese settlement in Helena Mont. by Dorr F. Diefendorf. 1892 and This Penny traveled 7000 Miles through the West in the Pocket of Door F. Diefendorf. 1892 . Our initial research found that Door F. Diefendorf was born in 1875 in New York and became a prominent Methodist Pastor listed in Who Was Who in America as well as Who’s Who among North American Authors. Some additional research may shed light on Rev. Diefendorf’s travels in the American West, particularly what took him to the Chinese settlement in Helena, Montana. A neat piece of Americana with potential interest for the early Western Rail Road enthusiast. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6237
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outstanding! armed & well equipped - Identified 6th plate TINTYPE
Our well-equipped Union troop stands full length before a painted patriotic backdrop befitting the occasion after dawning what we suspect to be equipage provided for by the photographer for the purpose. Matted, framed and housed in its original case, the image retains its period penned notation found behind the photo: Ille Christus Cor Unum (That Christ is the one) Geo. R. Merrill Aug. 14th 1863. Though a bit of an enigma as our man appears in what is considered common foot soldier equipage, the excellent condition of which seems to support our inclination that Merrill’s knapsack, haversack, canteen and especially his choice of a Mod. 1842 musket are of photographer’s supply it seems that our man is indeed Pvt. (later Sgt.) George R. Merrill Co. I, 1st U. S. Sharp Shooters. Unlikely as it may be to find a Sharp Shooter attired as we see Merrill here, it should be said that extensive research of all State and Federal Union rosters (discounting those serving in the cavalry, mounted artillery or navy and those not in service on the date of the photo), produced but one George R. Merrill a.k.a **Merrell.
Research queries included potential spelling variations and utilized, but were not limited to, all Union State and Federal material offered by the Historical Data Systems, Ancestry.com, Fold 3 and National Park Service databases. **Geo. R. Merrill is listed in the HDS erroneously as Geo. R. Merrell (see: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65). Numerous period records (see Illustration) clearly show Merrill and Merrell are one and the same Geo. R Merrill serving in Co. I 1st U. S. Sharp Shooters.
George R. Merrill was 22 years of age when on February 15, 1862 he enlisted at Mooreville, Michigan as a Private of Co. I U. S. Volunteers 1st Sharp Shooters. He is listed as promoted to Sargent and killed in action at Wilderness, Virginia, May 7,1864. While this outstanding 6th plate tintype shows some light period creasing it displays well as will be seen in our photo illustrations and will make a pleasing addition to any quality Civil War image collection.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6292
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Lord’s ‘Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia’ published – excavated 3rd Corps 1st Division Badge
Best described here by our photo illustrations, we acquired this scarcely recovered, die struck 3rd Corps 1st Division device from the personal collection of Dr. Francis Lord, additionally this exact badge is illustrated in his Lord’s Civil War Collector’s Encyclopedia Vol. II page 43. It should be noted further that though not described in detail beyond the Vol. II inclusion of the corps badge group, this badge retains fragments of red enamel on the back identifying it as 1st Division. Lords personal collection notation on this device indicated that it was a Gettysburg recovery. Veteran collectors and those familiar with the authoritative publications of the pioneer Civil War collector / author will appreciate the fact that this item emanated from the collection of Dr. Francis Lord several years ago when we were fortunate enough to purchase several groupings from the personal collection of our longtime friend. A Civil War collector from a day when nearly no one else paid much attention to the details of many now valued Civil War collectible categories, Francis authored the widely known, multi volume, pioneer reference, Lord’s CIVIL WAR COLLECTORS ENCYCLOPEDIA. While a lot of detailed knowledge has been gained as the interest in Civil War collectibles increased so dramatically over the years, Dr. Lord’s encyclopedia volumes and his Civil War Sutlers & Their Wares continue to offer valuable and reliable reference to Civil War collectors. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6234
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Mid 1800s W & J FLETT Irish Malt Whiskey Quart Bottle with Label
All in nice condition with no chips, cracks or other condition issues this neat old Irish Malt Whiskey bottle will make a nice companion piece for the ethnic collector, 19th century saloon, gambling hall or Frontier West enthusiast. (see: 1860s 1870s Liverpool Directories ) Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6302
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Mary Lincoln in mourning – PERIOD CDV
No photographers back mark but a nice period example of from the well known Mathew Brady of Mary Lincoln in mourning attire. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
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60161
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Pat. 1896 SHIRT CUFF - PLAYING CARD ‘HOLD-OUT’ CLIP
A bit of an enigma upon referencing the U. S. Patent office description referring to the WASHBURN PAT. MAR. 27. 94 (1894) - FEB 4. 96.(1896) clip simply as a cuff holder with patent 517,084 issued 3/27/1894 as a clasp, playing card and gambling enthusiasts have long sought out these strange little clasps as a period card cheat, hold-out devise popularly utilized by unscrupulous gamblers. Capable of securing the proverbial ace up your sleeve with one end of the clip attached inside the sleeve-opening above the cuff and the other clipped to the card Washburn’s device would serve a slight of hand river boat slicky or gambling hall cheat well whatever the patent intent. The clip was invented by prolific inventor of clips, clasps and fasteners James V. Washburne of Morrison, Ill. A neat little piece of Americana, this hard to find relic of the late 1800s will lay well in any period playing card grouping. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6064
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S C marked - Civil War import Austrian Cavalry Pistol
This scarce import Austrian horse pistol has a 10 3/8 inch .665 smooth bore barrel with a period arsenal conversion from the European tubelock system to standard American percussion. The Model1851 pistol was not equipped with a ramrod channel or ramrod as, in use by Austrian Dragoons, the rammer was carried separately. In line with intended mounted use and carrying, the pistol’s design offers the unusual feature of attached sling swivels. The barrel and lock face do not show arsenal markings with the exception of reversed initials on the back side of the lock (see photo). Requiring some additional research and of potential significance to the Confederate collector will be the small SC (South Carolina ?) one piece stamp on the opposite side of the lock. This offering remains in pleasing condition with good evidence of contemporary use and carrying to include a clearly period crack repair to the wood adjacent to the barrel just forward of the lock. Despite good evidence of at least a small number of these Austrian conversion having found their way into the American Civil War, existing examples of such have been extremely elusive and are seldom found even in the older, advanced collections. A complete example has been preserved in the Smithsonian Institution collection as a specimen from Civil War purchases. (see:Civil War Guns by Wm. Bennett Edwards) Additionally a relic lock is known to exist having been recovered in 1924 at the Pea Ridge battlefield in Arkansas. Acquired some time ago and set aside per our personal fascination with the myriad of Civil War imports, this is the only example of such we have owned, in our fifty plus years of active search for such treasures.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
A note about firearms: WE EMPHASIZE HERE THAT THIS PIECE IS CONSIDERED AN ANTIQUE / COLLECTABLE. IT IS OFFERED AS A HISTORICAL COLLECTABLE ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED FIREABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. PURCHASE OF THIS ITEM WILL CONSTITUTE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF AND AGREEMENT WITH THE ABOVE.
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6274
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Massachusetts to California ‘49er’ - inscribed WALKING STICK
Measuring 36 inches in total length this all original 19th century walking stick offers a silver band inscribed Jera Mansfield and is topped by an age cracked and nicely age patinated ivory head. While missing its tapered ferrule tip, the rosewood shaft remains in pleasing to the eye condition with no cracks, repairs or major dings and retains its original finish while offering good evidence of age and originality with period use and carrying. Good fodder for additional research, this descendent acquired cane is attributed to Jera Mansfield who was born in Dudley, Massachusetts in 1825, immigrated to California in 1849 and passed away in Napa, California at age 71 in 1896. Upon his passing the Sacramento Daily Record-Union advised under the heading DEATH OF A PIONEER that ’Mr. Mansfield came to California in 1849, and was a member of the Society of Pioneers, was a director of the Bank of Napa and one of the wealthiest citizens of Napa County. The Napa Valley newspaper further advised that His estate is estimated to be worth several hundred thousand dollars. A tidy sum in 1896, our perusal of the years of U.S. censes material while Mansfield was a Californian simply show him as a ’farmer’. Good fodder for the collector / historian who enjoys research, one wonders how Jera Mansfield acquired his millions in today’s money? Known today for its expanse of fine vineyards which began producing wine in quantity a short time following his arrival in Napa one wonders if Mansfield’s amassing of wealth was in connection with the budding wine industry that began in the Napa Valley just a short time after the Massachusetts Yankee’s arrival or was he one of the fortunate gold rush immigrants to California who found wealth in the gold fields? Set aside for some years in our own early cane accumulation it is time to offer this historic 19th century stick to an appreciative new home. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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5995
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Rare! Civil War Production Ames - General Staff & Staff Corps grade – Mod.1860 Staff Sword
An outstanding example of a very scares Civil War sword, this quality, all original war time Ames Mod. 1860 General Staff and Staff Corps grade sword will please the most discriminating collector. Offering good evidence of age, originality and light period use, yet remaining in exceptional condition, this impressive sword exhibits all of the distinctive Civil War characteristics that set it apart from later commonly seen models: elliptical blade, functional folding counterguard; plain browned (not nickeled) scabbard, plain scabbard drag and eye catching exceptional quality, high-relief cast and chased hilt. The ray skin grip and wire remain in fine all original condition and the folding counter guard exhibits early, plain features and is locked in place by a spring-loaded button which still functions perfectly. All this and with strong blade etching of early quality, this Mod. 1860 exists as one of the rarest of Civil War swords. ( As demonstrated by the illustrative use of a post-Civil War version by Harold Peterson in his classic reference The American Sword 1775 – 1945.) Established by War Dept. General Order #21 on August 28, 1860, the Mod. 1860 S & F sword was prescribed for optional wearbuy General Staff and Staff Corps grade officers. (Optional being the operative word here and likely why the unpopular early issue Mod. 1860 Staff grade sword was produced in limited numbers.) On June 11, 1861 Ames received the first order from the Ordinance Department for the new Mod. 1860 General Officers sword. While the initial order was for 300 swords it was cancelled May 24, 1862 with only 55 swords having been completed and delivered. Ordinance Departments records show that Ames ultimately delivered only 249 swords of this model the last delivery dated July 27, 1865 was for 24 swords. While records indicate that contract arms were to be U. S. marked with date and inspector initials no so marked examples could be documented by the author who classified existence of marked Mod. 1860 S & F swords as speculative (see: Ron Hickox: Collectors Guide to Ames U. S. Contract Military Edged Weapons) While the long use of the Mod. 1860 S & F, (made mandatory for all officers except Medical, Pay Department and mounted officers in 1872) and popularly utilized general design features have made the type a most commonly encountered type, the rarely seen early Civil War sword of this model is coveted by knowledgeable collector / historians and is most easily distinguishable from the later example by the configuration of its straight blade which is elliptical in cross section () while the later version is diamond shaped <> in cross section. With all this said, our photo illustrations will provide the best physical description of this exceptional Civil War Mod. 1860 General Staff and Staff Corps grade sword. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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