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3245

RARE CONFEDERATE READ & WATSON TYPE 1

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
RARE CONFEDERATE READ & WATSON TYPE 1
MUZZLELOADING RIFLE. Cal. 54. S# 76. This scarce gun is being offered in near “relic” condition. Metal surfaces are heavily pitted, eroded & stock has several putty repairs w/ wood insets. S# & cryptic number are only visible on bbl. channel of stock "H 76". Long assumed to have been made from parts captured at Harpers Ferry that were thereafter assembled by J. B. Barret in Wytheville, Virginia, it is now clear that these rifles were actually assembled by N. T. Read & John J. Watson of Danville from carbines & rifles the state had received prior to the outbreak of the Civil War under the Militia Act. In the process of altering the rifles, the original Hall breech block & frame were replaced by a brass breech piece w/ a centrally positioned iron breech plug for the bbl. into which a nipple was screwed. The new breech piece is a sm., narrow insert, only the rear tang of which extends part way back along the top of the wrist of the stock. Original Hall parts are used as are the bbls., bbl. bands, buttplates, triggers, & trigger guards. The buttstock was of new manufacture. The forestock is original Hall joined w/ a staple. Regardless of condition, this is still a complete & original example of a rare early Confederate rifle. CONDITION: fair overall. Metal is rusted, cleaned & pitted. All metal appears original. Stock has restoration & needs more. Break on left side of wrist. Putty repairs are found in eroded areas along butt, belly forward of trigger guard & 7" inset long section rear of rear band on right side. Mechanically fine w/ heavily pitted rifled bore. PROVENANCE: Atlanta History Center 2005. (01-17195/JS). ANTIQUE. $4,000-5,000.
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