RARE, EARLY AND FINE NEW ORLEANS PRODUCED CONFEDERATE COOK & BROTHER RIFLE.

RARE, EARLY AND FINE NEW ORLEANS PRODUCED CONFEDERATE COOK & BROTHER RIFLE. This example is, clearly, one of the earliest products of this notable Confederate arms manufacturer and one of the best surviving examples. Manufactured by this well known Confederate long gun manufacturer is this 1861 dated and New Orleans marked Cook & Brother rifle. Generally following the English Enfield style, this rifle is a .58 caliber percussion muzzleloader 2-band rifle with a 33” barrel having the distinctive “twist” in metal’s surface and having an attached lug for a sword bayonet. The barrel retains its original front sight and its long range rear sight. Lock, barrel and ramrod are of iron; all other furniture is of brass, including the sling swivels located at the top band and at the rear of the trigger guard. The barrel is marked “Proved” at the left breech and stamped “N.O. 1861” on the top of the barrel between with rear sight and the breech. The lock plate is marked “Cook & Brother, N.O. 1861” and has the distinctive Confederate 1st National flag stamped immediately before the hammer on the lock plate face. The stock is of walnut and the ramrod of the Enfield pattern with knurled and slotted head. The Cook and Brother firm was established in New Orleans at the outbreak of the Civil War. Threatened by the fall of that City early in the War, their manufacturing operation was moved to Athens, Georgia in 1862. Ferdinand W.C. and Francis L. Cook, recent English immigrants, were the principals in the firm. The former was a skilled engineer for the manufacture of Enfield rifles, bayonets and cavalry horse shoes. Said to be the largest and most efficient private armory in the Confederacy. It produced rifles, carbines and musketoons declared by an ordnance officer to be “superior to any that I have seen of Southern manufacture.” Under contract to supply 30,000 rifles to the Confederate Army the armory operated until its employees, organized as a reserve battalion under Major Ferdinand and Captain Francis Cook, were in 1864 called to active duty upon the approach of Sherman’s Army. The battalion took part in the battles of Griswoldville, Grahamville, Honey Hill and Savannah where Major. Cook was killed. After the Battle of Griswoldville Gen. P.J. Phillips reported that Maj. Cook and his men “participated fully in the action, deported themselves gallantly and . . . suffered much from wounds and death.” Leased by the Confederacy in 1865 the armory was operated until the close of the War. The old manufacturing property in Georgia was bought by the Athens Manufacturing Co. in 1870. Mr. Michel’s Notes State: “While all Confederate longarms, as well as the handguns, are relatively rare and the arms produced by Cook & Bro. no less so, there are only a very few surviving examples of the company’s initial production in New Orleans before being relocated to Athens, Georgia. This is a particularly fine example of that early production and is original throughout. The lockplate is well marked “Cook & Brother NO 1861” forward of the hammer with the Confederate national appearing at the tail. All parts bear the same serial number 41, on the nosecap, bands, barrel, lockplate, trigger guard, and buttplate.” CONDITION: Fine. These firearms were finished in the “white” and this example has aged to a pleasant grey color with its brass furniture having a medium yellow patina. This rifle has been lightly cleaned but it does not detract from its appearance. There is some medium to deep pitting on the barrel near the breech. The barrel “twist” is very visible, all markings are clear and most edges sharp. The stock is quite nice with only a small chip missing at the barrel tang. Ramrod appears to be original to the rifle. 4-31288 CW10 (20,000-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

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
	1015	$27,600.00	RARE, EARLY AND FINE NEW ORLEANS PRODUCED CONFEDERATE COOK & BROTHER RIFLE. This example is, clearly, one of the earliest products of this notable Confederate arms manufacturer and one of the best surviving examples. Manufactured by this well known Confederate long gun manufacturer is this 1861 dated and New Orleans marked Cook & Brother rifle. Generally following the English Enfield style, this rifle is a .58 caliber percussion muzzleloader 2-band rifle with a 33” barrel having the distinctive “twist” in metal’s surface and having an attached lug for a sword bayonet. The barrel retains its original front sight and its long range rear sight. Lock, barrel and ramrod are of iron; all other furniture is of brass, including the sling swivels located at the top band and at the rear of the trigger guard. The barrel is marked “Proved” at the left breech and stamped “N.O. 1861” on the top of the barrel between with rear sight and the breech. The lock plate is marked “Cook & Brother, N.O. 1861” and has the distinctive Confederate 1st National flag stamped immediately before the hammer on the lock plate face. The stock is of walnut and the ramrod of the Enfield pattern with knurled and slotted head. The Cook and Brother firm was established in New Orleans at the outbreak of the Civil War. Threatened by the fall of that City early in the War, their manufacturing operation was moved to Athens, Georgia in 1862. Ferdinand W.C. and Francis L. Cook, recent English immigrants, were the principals in the firm. The former was a skilled engineer for the manufacture of Enfield rifles, bayonets and cavalry horse shoes. Said to be the largest and most efficient private armory in the Confederacy. It produced rifles, carbines and musketoons declared by an ordnance officer to be “superior to any that I have seen of Southern manufacture.” Under contract to supply 30,000 rifles to the Confederate Army the armory operated until its employees, organized as a reserve battalion under Major Ferdinand and Captain Francis Cook, were in 1864 called to active duty upon the approach of Sherman’s Army. The battalion took part in the battles of Griswoldville, Grahamville, Honey Hill and Savannah where Major. Cook was killed. After the Battle of Griswoldville Gen. P.J. Phillips reported that Maj. Cook and his men “participated fully in the action, deported themselves gallantly and . . . suffered much from wounds and death.” Leased by the Confederacy in 1865 the armory was operated until the close of the War. The old manufacturing property in Georgia was bought by the Athens Manufacturing Co. in 1870. Mr. Michel’s Notes State: “While all Confederate longarms, as well as the handguns, are relatively rare and the arms produced by Cook & Bro. no less so, there are only a very few surviving examples of the company’s initial production in New Orleans before being relocated to Athens, Georgia. This is a particularly fine example of that early production and is original throughout. The lockplate is well marked “Cook & Brother NO 1861” forward of the hammer with the Confederate national appearing at the tail. All parts bear the same serial number 41, on the nosecap, bands, barrel, lockplate, trigger guard, and buttplate.” CONDITION: Fine. These firearms were finished in the “white” and this example has aged to a pleasant grey color with its brass furniture having a medium yellow patina. This rifle has been lightly cleaned but it does not detract from its appearance. There is some medium to deep pitting on the barrel near the breech. The barrel “twist” is very visible, all markings are clear and most edges sharp. The stock is quite nice with only a small chip missing at the barrel tang. Ramrod appears to be original to the rifle. 4-31288 CW10 (20,000-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 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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