LOT   /  Demo  / 

3236

UNIQUE & INCREDIBLE BRASS 5 BARREL RIFLE, BY

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:8,750.00 USD Estimated At:17,500.00 - 27,500.00 USD
UNIQUE & INCREDIBLE BRASS 5 BARREL RIFLE, BY
SMITH, RHODES & CO., MADE IN THE CONFEDERATE STRONGHOLD OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, CIRCA 1861. This unique & unusual firearm which dates to the early part of the Civil War was made by & signed “Smith, Rhodes, & Co.” on both the tear-drop shaped percussion locks. Bbl. rib is engraved in script, “Richmond, VA”. The gun is around 41” overall, the bbl. measures around 25”, top two bbls. are estimated to be approximately 50 cal. smooth bore & are fired conventionally w/ a sculptured & finely detailed serpentine sea serpent hammers. The bottom three bbls. consist of a central bbl. which measured approximately 38 cal. smooth bore bbl. w/ two approximate 31 cal. rifle bbls. on either side. These three bottom bbls are fired w/ unique “cocking trigger guard” which is rotated to line up w/ the nipple on the bbl. to be fired. The trigger guard is engraved en suite to hammer in “Sea Serpent” design. Other than the bbls, the gun is iron mounted w/ low sloping butt stock. To our knowledge, this is the only 5 bbl. brass American gun known to exist & thus, is unique among American firearms. The Smith & Rhodes hardware company was from Richmond, Virginia & was listed in a business directory in 1861. We assume that the gun was either an invention by Smith & Rhodes or it could have been special made for one of their patrons who asked for this unique design. It is truly an interesting & unusual firearm & the fact that it was likely made during the Rebellion in Confederate stronghold Richmond means that it was very possibly used by a Confederate during the war? This rare & unique multi-bbl. rifle was displayed at the NRA Museum in 1993 as part of the Exceptional Arms of the American Society of Arms Collectors & was illustrated in their publication, “Exceptional Arms, (Celebrating 50 Years of Arms Collection Excellence from the Private Collections of the Member of the American Society of Arms Collectors)” American Society of Arms Collectors. National Firearms Museum 2003. See Extraordinary Arms Chapter Page 12. CONDITION: very good overall, complete & original, metal smooth, iron patina, brass has light mustard color. Stock is sound w/ hand worn patina, long sliver missing along the right fore stock, one of two ramrods w/ broken tip. Mechanically functional, trigger guard handle will not lock into proper position to fire the three individual nipples. PROVENANCE: At one time in the collection of well-known firearms dealer & collector, Dick Littlefield. (01-17400/JS). ANTIQUE. $17,500-27,500.
Sign In to Bookmark Lot