United States - Forgotten Weapons

Nichols & Childs Revolving Rifle

September 2, 2019 Ian McCollum 4

Lot 3077 in the September 2019 RIA auction. Rufus Nichols and Edward Childs had a partnership in Conway MA making revolving firearms in the late 1830s. Their patent was granted in 1838, for an indexing […]

Cummings Dot Rifle: Indoor Marksmanship Training

August 27, 2019 Ian McCollum 12

Lot 1451 in the September 2019 RIA auction. Made by the Cummings Gun Works of Boston late in World War One, this is a pseudo-firearm training device for teaching some aspects of marksmanship without the […]

Lindsay’s Two-Shot US Army Musket

August 26, 2019 Ian McCollum 12

Lot 1197 in the September 2019 RIA auction. John Parker Lindsay patented a superposed, 2-shot muzzleloading rifle action in 1860, and remarkably, was able to get a contract to sell them to the US Federal […]

P. Percy’s Prototype Patent Model Rifle

August 25, 2019 Ian McCollum 14

Lot 3074 in the September 2019 RIA auction. This appears to be a handmade prototype form one P. (or J. P.) Percy of Albany, NY, although I don’t have any information about who he was […]

Big Iron: Development of the Colt 1848 Dragoon Revolver

August 23, 2019 Ian McCollum 6

Selling in the September 2019 RIA auction. Walker, first variation, second variation, third variation, long barrel 3rd variation, and stocked 3rd variation. Sam Colt’s first foray into firearms manufacturing did not end well – after […]

6mm Navy Straight Pull: The 1895 Lee Navy Rifle

August 22, 2019 Ian McCollum 36

Lot 3311 in the September 2019 RIA auction. The US Navy held a trial in 1894 to adopt a new rifle, one to finally replace the .45-70 black powder Trapdoor Springfield. The rifle was to […]

Barnekov Greene Prototype 1870 Open-Bolt Army Rifle

August 21, 2019 Ian McCollum 16

Lot 3293 in the September RIA auction. Patented by Kiel V. Barnekov of New York in 1870, this is a toggle-locked, single shot, open bolt rifle. It was entered into the US 1872 rifle trials […]

Marston 3-Barrel Selectable Pocket Derringer

August 18, 2019 Ian McCollum 10

Lot 1173 in the September 2019 RIA auction. William Marston was born in the UK in 1822 and emigrated to the US in the 1830s with his father, who was a gun smith. William became […]

Spencer 1871 Conversion: From Carbine to Infantry Rifle

August 17, 2019 Ian McCollum 16

Lot 237 in the September 2019 RIA auction. During the Civil War, the Union purchased about 12,000 Spencer rifles and many tens of thousands of carbines, and the weapon became a standard arm for the […]

Freeman’s Patent Revolver

August 13, 2019 Ian McCollum 8

Lot 259 in the September 2019 RIA auction. Patented by Austin H. Freeman in 1862, 2000 of these revolvers were manufactured by Hoard’s Armory in Watertown New York in 1863 and 1864. None were purchased […]