Product Details
A MOST RARE 6mm SIDE-COCKING AMERICAN 'NEW ENGLAND TYPE' GALLERY AIR-RIFLE, no visible serial number,
circa 1865, with large diameter 19 3/4in. iron barrel dropping forwards to load and fitted with a smoothbore brass liner, triple stage breech-end, bayonet barrel-lock, bead fore-sight, standing notch rear-sight near the rear-end of the plain air-chamber, articulated cocking handle to right hand side fitter with a turned mahogany ribbed grip-piece, walnut half-stock of shotgun style with brass furniture including heel-plate (small chip and bend at toe) and trigger guard bow with spurred tang, the right side of butt with nickel eagle-form escutcheon engraved 'J.M. WARREN', the left side with a plain cruciform nickel escutcheon.
Provenance: This gallery rifle is one of six major types of American Civil War period airguns, and were used extensively for cheap training and rifle practice, mostly in the towns and cities. This particular type, known by collector's as the 'New England Model' was known to have been produced by two makers, Eggers and Tonks, but others are possible as the pieces are rarely signed
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Estimate £800-1,200
Pre-1939