RARE CONFEDERATE READ & WATSON RIFLE

RARE CONFEDERATE READ & WATSON RIFLE. Cal .52, 32-3/4″ bbl. These rare guns were made utilizing surplus Hall Rifle parts found in Virginia State Militia inventories. The bbl breech, trigger guard and buttplates are easily recognizable as Hall parts. There are two variations of this gun cited by Madaus and Dr. John Murphy in their text “Confederate Rifles and Muskets”. This particular type they call Type One, which has a small brass breech. These guns are serial numbered internally on this brass breech but we did not wish to disassemble this “as found” Confederate rifle. Based on known contracts and serial numbers of known guns, no more than 1,000 of these guns were made and the highest serial number known is 707. NT Read and John T. Watson of Danville, VA in 1862 & 1863 made these guns for the Virginia State Line (Floyd’s Command). The survival on these guns is not very high and nice examples like this are rarely offered. This gun exhibits a finely carved pair of initials in buttstock “LW”. Gun appears orig and complete in every regard. CONDITION: Gun overall is very good. Metal surfaces are dark, gray/black overall with numerous small nicks, dings & pitting. Brass breech has good yellow patina. There are some markings stamped on bottom comb of buttstock which may denote unit, however they are not discernible. Rear screw & trigger guard appears to be replaced. Ramrod is not the Hall type normally encountered but is properly threaded and does match in color to rest of metal surfaces and could easily be orig to its time of use. 4-45794 JS44 (8,000-12,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2392	$11,500.00	RARE CONFEDERATE READ & WATSON RIFLE. Cal .52, 32-3/4″ bbl. These rare guns were made utilizing surplus Hall Rifle parts found in Virginia State Militia inventories. The bbl breech, trigger guard and buttplates are easily recognizable as Hall parts. There are two variations of this gun cited by Madaus and Dr. John Murphy in their text “Confederate Rifles and Muskets”. This particular type they call Type One, which has a small brass breech. These guns are serial numbered internally on this brass breech but we did not wish to disassemble this “as found” Confederate rifle. Based on known contracts and serial numbers of known guns, no more than 1,000 of these guns were made and the highest serial number known is 707. NT Read and John T. Watson of Danville, VA in 1862 & 1863 made these guns for the Virginia State Line (Floyd’s Command). The survival on these guns is not very high and nice examples like this are rarely offered. This gun exhibits a finely carved pair of initials in buttstock “LW”. Gun appears orig and complete in every regard. CONDITION: Gun overall is very good. Metal surfaces are dark, gray/black overall with numerous small nicks, dings & pitting. Brass breech has good yellow patina. There are some markings stamped on bottom comb of buttstock which may denote unit, however they are not discernible. Rear screw & trigger guard appears to be replaced. Ramrod is not the Hall type normally encountered but is properly threaded and does match in color to rest of metal surfaces and could easily be orig to its time of use. 4-45794 JS44 (8,000-12,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}