Catalog Auction info Auction #137 - Two-Day Sale, March 25th & 26th (#137) 03/25/2023 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/25/2023 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #370 Highly Desirable British Model 1853 Kerr’s Patent Sharpshooter Rifle Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$7,800 Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000 Description Description: Description Update 03/22/2023: Serial # is 338 and the rear sight slider and ramrod brass tip are more modern replacements serial #358, .451 Caliber, 37” barrel with a very good bore, lightly pitted in the grooves with softer rifling still evident. The barrel, bands, and lock are an overall mottled brown patina that is thinning to gray with mostly crisp markings and some areas of light pitting and light tool marks. The brass buttplate, forend tip, and triggerguard boast a rich ochre patina and have some light to minor handling marks and are brighter around their edges. The lockplate is marked “1862 / L.A.Co” in center an bears the “(crown) / V.R” towards the rear. These are known to be accepted as Confederate despite the “VR” marking. The barrel is correctly engraved with the serial number “358” just behind the rear sight, and has “Kerrs Patent” stamped over the breech and the smaller “A” inspection marking, oval shaped two-line patent date reading “REGIS*P / 10th MAY ‘61”, and appropriate British proofs on the left side. The lock function is crisp and appears to operate correctly. The checkered walnut stock rates very good and has the usual dings and marks expected to be seen on service rifle from this vintage. The wood has a few small, hairline cracks and small impact marks. The left side of the butt bears the round London Armoury cartouche which is dated “1862” in center and is mostly still visible. The original sights with the adjustable front and rear remain intact and included are the correct cup-tipped brass tipped ramrod, a correct style leather sling and a nipple protector that is chain affixed to the rear swivel. Kerr rifles were more expensive than the standard issue P-1853 Enfields, they were substantially less cost than the prized Whitworth target rifles yet were praised by the men who carried them. The benefit of the Kerr design was that the small-bore barrels could easily be swapped out for the larger .577 caliber chambered standard issue rifled musket barrels. While very few of the roughly 800 Kerr rifles made were actually used in military service a handful of the iron-mounted Kerr Patent examples such as this were used by known Confederate units, including Colonel Breckenridge’s Kentucky “Orphan Brigade” in 1864 and Cleburne’s division also had a small number of these small-bore target rifles during his campaign through northern Georgia in 1864. Some were reported to be captured from the blockade runner “Elizabeth” which was sunk of the shores of Holden Beach, NC in 1863. Most reported to have been used were dated “1861” or “1862” with some being as late as “1863”. Because there are no definitive records showing which rifles were issued, tracing the lineage of such a rifle with ties to the Confederacy can be speculative at best. Despite this, it is highly probable that this rifle could have seen use in the hands of a Confederate sharpshooter. An additional dossier of informational documents regarding the history of the Kerr rifles, the London Armoury, some collector’s correspondence are also included. This a very good example of these highly sought after Sharpshooter rifles with possible Confederate ties. (4D10575-1) {ANTIQUE} (6000/8000) Categories: firearm Terms and conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignor’s interests. PAYMENT POLICY All invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, wire transfer, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. Online payment is available for buyers directly through the online invoicing process. Bidders who fail to pay their invoices in full by the 25th day following the sale agree to have their total invoice amount charged to the credit card listed on file. Credit card purchases are limited to $50,000.00 per customer, per auction. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to demand cash or hold merchandise until funds are collected in full. There will be a $35.00 charge for all returned checks. A 17.5% Buyer’s Premium will be added to all purchases regardless of price with a 2.5% discount when paid with check, cash or wire transfer. This premium is to be paid as part of the purchase price. Additionally, the 2.5% cash discount will only apply to invoices paid promptly, within 14 calendar days of the auction. Buyers should be aware of common delays in the mail and if that is a concern they are welcome to call our office to receive wire transfer information. No items are to be removed from our facility until paid for in full by the purchaser. GUIDELINES FOR FIREARM DELIVERIES All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be strictly adhered to. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale (excluding Class III) when they present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. If an FFL dealer is sending an “agent” to pick up items, that person must be a bona fide, paid employee of the company with a W4 on file. Outside contractors cannot be used as pickup agents. A SIGNED LETTER FROM THE FFL STATING THIS FACT MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF PICK UP. The FFL Dealer will in turn be notified that a transfer was made to you as their agent. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm, on day of sale, provided the proper paperwork is completed and the transfer has been approved either through the N.H. State Police or the FBI NICS System, whichever is appropriate based upon the type of firearm(s) purchased. Non-resident individuals from states without waiting periods may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check. If you reside in a state with a waiting period, your items will need to be shipped to a dealer in your state. No modern handguns will be delivered to non-resident individuals. All modern handguns purchased by non-resident individuals will need to be delivered to or shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped to their state of residence. Some states have restrictions on transfers to C&R License holders, study your state and local laws before bidding. If you are the winning bidder of an item that you find does not comply with your state’s laws, you will still be required to pay your invoice, Amoskeag Auction Co. will then re-offer the arm on your behalf. FIREARM CLASSIFICATION: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required MODERN - Post-1898 firearm which requires an FFL or 4473 with corresponding successful background check in order to be delivered. C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE/ON-LINE BIDDING • As a service to our buyers, Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept absentee bids from bidders who cannot attend the sale. Bidders without prior credit approval are required to submit a 20% deposit prior to bids being accepted (credit cards may be used for absentee deposits). Absentee bids will be bid in a competitive manner and an absentee bidder needs only to outbid another buyer i.e. bidding will not be opened at the maximum bid unless that is the next competitive bid. Because we do not open at the absentee bidder's top bid (unless that is the next competitive bid) there is a chance that the absentee bidder's bid may tie with a bidder using a different bidding method (live, Proxibid or telephone bidder). If an absentee bidder wishes to guard against this occurring, they may complete an absentee bid form with a "+" after the bid amount and forward that bid sheet to our office to be entered by Amoskeag. When a "+" is added after the bid amount, the bidder authorizes Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. to make one additional bid in order the break the tie. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges. Properly registered Amoskeag On-line bidders may use this service free of additional charges as an alternative to telephone or absentee bidding, at their election. On-line bidders should be aware that the sale sometimes proceeds at a very rapid pace and should plan their bidding strategies accordingly. • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be held responsible for errors or omissions of any type that may occur during these services. • All absentee bids must be received by 8:00pm on the day prior to the auction. If you plan to attend the sale but will not be staying until the end and want to leave a bid on an item that will be sold after you leave, we must have those bids in by 8:00am on the morning of the sale. No bids will be accepted after that time. Please do not call the gallery once the auction has started (after 9:00am) as we will not be able to accept bids or make changes to bids. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will also accept telephone bids on a limited basis. Telephone bidding is reserved for seriously interested bidders. In order to bid by telephone, the bidder must be willing to pay at least the low estimate of the item being bid on. NOTE: Phone bids MUST be arranged by 5:00pm ON THURSDAY prior to the sale. • All absentee/telephone bidder invoices are issued by end of business on the Tuesday following the sale; all invoices are due upon receipt. Invoices are to be paid either by cash or check, or by credit cards listed above. All items not paid for within 20 business days from sale date shall be considered abandoned as well as any deposit that was made on those items and Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. shall have sole discretion as to their disposal. SAFETY WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, it is imperative that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use. SHIPPING • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will make every effort to ship items in a timely fashion. All items, with the exception of modern handguns, are shipped via UPS Ground unless other arrangements have been made. All merchandise is shipped Signature Required. • All modern handguns are shipped via UPS Next Day Air service. • Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and for insurance on the items being shipped. Purchasers who self-insure can forego insurance charges if Amoskeag Auction is notified of your intent to self-insure. PICKING UP MERCHANDISE • Pickup will be by appointment only. • No merchandise will be delivered Monday through Wednesday after the sale. We will start pickups on Thursday, March 30th. • Our office hours are Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
