RARE AND IMPORTANT HENRY TATHAM RIFLE MADE AS GIFT FOR AMERICAN INDIANS.

RARE AND IMPORTANT HENRY TATHAM RIFLE MADE AS GIFT FOR AMERICAN INDIANS. SN 1524. Cal. .590 Groove diameter. 10-Square groove rifling. One turn in approx. 30″. Capt. John Norton, a British officer of the Indian Dept. stationed in America, had “gone native” as early as 1800, and was adopted as a Mohawk chief. In 1816, on a visit back to England, he arranged for a series of rifles to be made as gifts for important members of the “Six Nations” in British Canada. Rifles were produced in three grades by Henry Tatham of Charing Cross, London. It is not known how many were made or issued, but it appears there were at least 76 of the middle grade produced, of which this rifle is an example. (There is a large unissued group of 26 rifles in the Royal Armories Museum, Leeds, leaving approximately 50 unaccounted for, and possibly issued, or sold.) This rifle is a very fine example of this historically important firearm. 30″ Browned octagon twist barrel has approx. 7/8″ x 5/8″ steel square with large inset gold poincon of British royal crest, dovetailed through rear portion, as is unique to this series of rifles. Rear sight has one standing, one folding leaf, and silver front sight is riveted into bbl. Gunmakers proofs are on bbl flats flanking the bottom, which is stamped with SN, and barrel makers mark “.S” (dot backward S). Patent breech plug is rebated on both sides with platinum touch hole, 2 gold lines at rear, and “Tatham London” inlaid in gold on top flat. Bottom is stamped with SN. Breech iron is engraved with flowing scroll and small stand of arms. Lock has waterproof gold-lined pan, bridled frizzen with roller frizzen spring that has no decorative termination, French cock, and rear mounted sliding safety. Lockplate, cock, and frizzen have stylized feather border engraving with some scroll. Lockplate is engraved “Tatham”. Top of lockplate behind fence is stamped with SN. Case hardened trigger plate terminates in stylized pineapple. Trigger guard has square shouldered front portion of bow. Closely looped tang forms semi-pistol grip. Bow has stand of arms engraving. Lightly streaked and somewhat stump figured European walnut stock measures 14″ over blued-steel long tang buttplate that has button release for patchbox on top of heel. Rectangular patchbox with rounded hinge plate is on right side of stock. Hinge plate has fairly deep scroll engraving with floral burst around mounting screw. Patchbox cover is engraved with a naive rendition of stag in woodlands, or more likely a moose as the antlers are quite broad. This patchbox treatment is found on most of the medium grade rifles in the Royal Armory Collection. There is a fairly large shadow line right hand cheekpiece on stock, and flat top square grip checkering is at about 16 LPI with mullered borders. Stock mounts to bbl with 2 keys through oval silver escutcheons. Blued-steel end cap/ thimble has feather engraving and transitions to under-rib of bbl. Original greenheart ramrod has brass tip and tail. Horn and brass cap covers steel worm. Ramrod is held in place by two plain pipes. Drop at heel: Approx 2-1/8″, drop at comb: Approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz, LOP 14″. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains approximately 30% original light brown, mostly thinned to silver with some darker staining. Pattern of bbl is fairly strong. Poincon housing retains most of its blue, and breech plug nearly all of its case color. Lockplate, cock, and frizzen retain most of their original case color, quite strong in protected areas. Frizzen spring retains 70% original bright blue. Trigger guard retains 30-40% original charcoal blue, silvered on bow. Buttplate retains 60% original charcoal blue, and patchbox nearly 90%. Stock retains most of its original rubbed oil finish, but with numerous marks, rubs, and compressions. Some are fairly deep. Bore is excellent with sharp strong rifling. Lock and frizzen are crisp. 4-40631 MGM87 (27,500-37,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1352	$27,600.00	RARE AND IMPORTANT HENRY TATHAM RIFLE MADE AS GIFT FOR AMERICAN INDIANS. SN 1524. Cal. .590 Groove diameter. 10-Square groove rifling. One turn in approx. 30″. Capt. John Norton, a British officer of the Indian Dept. stationed in America, had “gone native” as early as 1800, and was adopted as a Mohawk chief. In 1816, on a visit back to England, he arranged for a series of rifles to be made as gifts for important members of the “Six Nations” in British Canada. Rifles were produced in three grades by Henry Tatham of Charing Cross, London. It is not known how many were made or issued, but it appears there were at least 76 of the middle grade produced, of which this rifle is an example. (There is a large unissued group of 26 rifles in the Royal Armories Museum, Leeds, leaving approximately 50 unaccounted for, and possibly issued, or sold.) This rifle is a very fine example of this historically important firearm. 30″ Browned octagon twist barrel has approx. 7/8″ x 5/8″ steel square with large inset gold poincon of British royal crest, dovetailed through rear portion, as is unique to this series of rifles. Rear sight has one standing, one folding leaf, and silver front sight is riveted into bbl. Gunmakers proofs are on bbl flats flanking the bottom, which is stamped with SN, and barrel makers mark “.S” (dot backward S). Patent breech plug is rebated on both sides with platinum touch hole, 2 gold lines at rear, and “Tatham London” inlaid in gold on top flat. Bottom is stamped with SN. Breech iron is engraved with flowing scroll and small stand of arms. Lock has waterproof gold-lined pan, bridled frizzen with roller frizzen spring that has no decorative termination, French cock, and rear mounted sliding safety. Lockplate, cock, and frizzen have stylized feather border engraving with some scroll. Lockplate is engraved “Tatham”. Top of lockplate behind fence is stamped with SN. Case hardened trigger plate terminates in stylized pineapple. Trigger guard has square shouldered front portion of bow. Closely looped tang forms semi-pistol grip. Bow has stand of arms engraving. Lightly streaked and somewhat stump figured European walnut stock measures 14″ over blued-steel long tang buttplate that has button release for patchbox on top of heel. Rectangular patchbox with rounded hinge plate is on right side of stock. Hinge plate has fairly deep scroll engraving with floral burst around mounting screw. Patchbox cover is engraved with a naive rendition of stag in woodlands, or more likely a moose as the antlers are quite broad. This patchbox treatment is found on most of the medium grade rifles in the Royal Armory Collection. There is a fairly large shadow line right hand cheekpiece on stock, and flat top square grip checkering is at about 16 LPI with mullered borders. Stock mounts to bbl with 2 keys through oval silver escutcheons. Blued-steel end cap/ thimble has feather engraving and transitions to under-rib of bbl. Original greenheart ramrod has brass tip and tail. Horn and brass cap covers steel worm. Ramrod is held in place by two plain pipes. Drop at heel: Approx 2-1/8″, drop at comb: Approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz, LOP 14″. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains approximately 30% original light brown, mostly thinned to silver with some darker staining. Pattern of bbl is fairly strong. Poincon housing retains most of its blue, and breech plug nearly all of its case color. Lockplate, cock, and frizzen retain most of their original case color, quite strong in protected areas. Frizzen spring retains 70% original bright blue. Trigger guard retains 30-40% original charcoal blue, silvered on bow. Buttplate retains 60% original charcoal blue, and patchbox nearly 90%. Stock retains most of its original rubbed oil finish, but with numerous marks, rubs, and compressions. Some are fairly deep. Bore is excellent with sharp strong rifling. Lock and frizzen are crisp. 4-40631 MGM87 (27,500-37,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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