UNIQUE 14 BORE BREECHLOADER BY SAMUEL HART OF MENASHA, WI & TOMBSTONE, AZ.

UNIQUE 14 BORE BREECHLOADER BY SAMUEL HART OF MENASHA, WI & TOMBSTONE, AZ. SN NSN. Cal. 14 ga. Chamber diameter: .770. Bore diameter .670. 29″ Damascus bbls converted from percussion by the addition of a heavy shoe lump and extractor system. Bbls still retain two plain ramrod pipes holding ebony ramrod with brass head and tail. Hand-filed top lever action with Purdey type dual under lugs incorporates orig muzzleloaders bar locks, fitted with high serpentine carved hammers with sculpted eagle heads marked “S.L.Hart” on right lockplate, and “Menasha” on left, both in scrolled ribands. Action is engraved with line and diamond borders with simple foliate flourishes. Orig muzzleloaders trigger guard has shore bird engraved in central oval flanked by acanthus. Lockplates have open scroll shaded engraving, possibly done by Mr. Hart. Water table is stamped w/ trademark “SL” over Hart logo on one side, and “Menasha” on the other. Dense, stump figured American walnut semi-pistol grip buttstock measures 14″ over steel buttplate with long top spur, engraved with open shaded scroll. Coarse flat top checkering extends past pistol grip and has broad mullered borders. Matching stubby splinter forend attaches to bbl with side nail through oval silver escutcheons and retains orig muzzleloading thimble. The work performed in the conversion of this muzzleloader shows a high degree of skill and workmanship. Bore diameter: left-.767, right -.768. Wall thickness: left -.021, right -.020. Drop at heel: 3-3/8″, drop at comb: 2-5/16″. Weight: 7 lbs. 11 oz. LOP 14″. Samuel Lombard Hart was born in 1830 in Solon, Ohio. At a young age he apprenticed to a local gunsmith and later opened his own gunsmith shop with his father in Menasha, Wisconsin. He continued in the trade until July 1861 when he enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company C Wisconsin 10th Infantry. He resigned on Sept. 14, 1862 and re-enlisted on June 9, 1864 as a Captain in Company D 41st Wisconsin Infantry and was mustered out in Sept. 1864. Family legend states that he also served as an Assistant Signal Officer for the 4th Division of the Army of the Tennessee seeing action in several battles including Pittsburgh Landing, The Siege of Corinth and Forest’s Raid into Memphis. At Pittsburgh Landing he was under heavy fire as a bearer of dispatches to Gen. Buell. Upon leaving the Army Mr. Hart resumed his gunsmith trade and with his brothers moved west, eventually settling in Tombstone in about 1880 opening his gunsmith shop on Fremont St. in Tombstone. He witnessed the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral and undoubtedly repaired and sold firearms to all the local residents. He remained in Tombstone until 1889, moving to Tucson, AZ, where he died in 1893. Mr. Hart is more famously known for his alteration of surplus Colt Cavalry single action revolvers, some of which have recently come to the market. They all show his fine gunsmithing skills which are certainly apparent in this shotgun. PROVENANCE: Letter of provenance from family member who inherited this fine shotgun, relating its history, and that it was Hart’s personal shotgun, regimental history of the 41st Infantry and Capt. Samuel L. Hart. “Find a Grave” documentation with history of finding tombstone for S. L. Hart in Tucson, AZ. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbls retain some of their orig Damascus brown with a number of areas of cleaning, and darker brown. Action is mostly silver to brown. Locks retain considerable amount of what appears to be orig case hardening color. Stocks retain most of their orig oil finish, some grain raised, checkering showing some slight wear. Bores are very good to fine with some slight pitting toward breech and numerous light longitudinal hairlines. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are good. 4-45025 MGM203 (6,000-10,000)

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
	2448	$8,050.00	UNIQUE 14 BORE BREECHLOADER BY SAMUEL HART OF MENASHA, WI & TOMBSTONE, AZ. SN NSN. Cal. 14 ga. Chamber diameter: .770. Bore diameter .670. 29″ Damascus bbls converted from percussion by the addition of a heavy shoe lump and extractor system. Bbls still retain two plain ramrod pipes holding ebony ramrod with brass head and tail. Hand-filed top lever action with Purdey type dual under lugs incorporates orig muzzleloaders bar locks, fitted with high serpentine carved hammers with sculpted eagle heads marked “S.L.Hart” on right lockplate, and “Menasha” on left, both in scrolled ribands. Action is engraved with line and diamond borders with simple foliate flourishes. Orig muzzleloaders trigger guard has shore bird engraved in central oval flanked by acanthus. Lockplates have open scroll shaded engraving, possibly done by Mr. Hart. Water table is stamped w/ trademark “SL” over Hart logo on one side, and “Menasha” on the other. Dense, stump figured American walnut semi-pistol grip buttstock measures 14″ over steel buttplate with long top spur, engraved with open shaded scroll. Coarse flat top checkering extends past pistol grip and has broad mullered borders. Matching stubby splinter forend attaches to bbl with side nail through oval silver escutcheons and retains orig muzzleloading thimble. The work performed in the conversion of this muzzleloader shows a high degree of skill and workmanship. Bore diameter: left-.767, right -.768. Wall thickness: left -.021, right -.020. Drop at heel: 3-3/8″, drop at comb: 2-5/16″. Weight: 7 lbs. 11 oz. LOP 14″. Samuel Lombard Hart was born in 1830 in Solon, Ohio. At a young age he apprenticed to a local gunsmith and later opened his own gunsmith shop with his father in Menasha, Wisconsin. He continued in the trade until July 1861 when he enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company C Wisconsin 10th Infantry. He resigned on Sept. 14, 1862 and re-enlisted on June 9, 1864 as a Captain in Company D 41st Wisconsin Infantry and was mustered out in Sept. 1864. Family legend states that he also served as an Assistant Signal Officer for the 4th Division of the Army of the Tennessee seeing action in several battles including Pittsburgh Landing, The Siege of Corinth and Forest’s Raid into Memphis. At Pittsburgh Landing he was under heavy fire as a bearer of dispatches to Gen. Buell. Upon leaving the Army Mr. Hart resumed his gunsmith trade and with his brothers moved west, eventually settling in Tombstone in about 1880 opening his gunsmith shop on Fremont St. in Tombstone. He witnessed the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral and undoubtedly repaired and sold firearms to all the local residents. He remained in Tombstone until 1889, moving to Tucson, AZ, where he died in 1893. Mr. Hart is more famously known for his alteration of surplus Colt Cavalry single action revolvers, some of which have recently come to the market. They all show his fine gunsmithing skills which are certainly apparent in this shotgun. PROVENANCE: Letter of provenance from family member who inherited this fine shotgun, relating its history, and that it was Hart’s personal shotgun, regimental history of the 41st Infantry and Capt. Samuel L. Hart. “Find a Grave” documentation with history of finding tombstone for S. L. Hart in Tucson, AZ. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbls retain some of their orig Damascus brown with a number of areas of cleaning, and darker brown. Action is mostly silver to brown. Locks retain considerable amount of what appears to be orig case hardening color. Stocks retain most of their orig oil finish, some grain raised, checkering showing some slight wear. Bores are very good to fine with some slight pitting toward breech and numerous light longitudinal hairlines. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are good. 4-45025 MGM203 (6,000-10,000) 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.

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