Catalog Auction info Auction #121 - Two-Day Sale, March 23 & 24 (#121) 03/23/2019 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/23/2019 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #266 Extremely Rare British Flintlock Over Under Combination Gun by Henry Tatham of London Made for Presentation To Mohawk Indians Click image to enlarge PreviousNext Lot closed - unsold Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000 Description Description: .54 caliber rifled bore over .64 caliber smoothbore, 29'' barrels show very good bores. The top of the barrel is engraved in a fancy inlaid gold riband ''TATHAM LONDON'' along with a 3/4'' x 5/8'' gold filled British coat of arms which appears to be dovetail mounted in top of barrel at breech. The locks feature waterproof pans with roller frizzens and externally mounted springs which act both as the frizzen springs and the main springs. The locks feature tasteful relief scroll and border engraving with sunbursts and are each marked ''Tatham''. There are rear mounted sliding half cock safeties and the toucholes are platinum lined. The left lock shows a repair to the frizzen and the protrusion that the frizzen mounts to just ahead of the waterproof pan, this looks like an old repair which could be restored in a much cleaner fashion. The barrels retain an even brown patina overall with some scattered areas of light oxidation staining and with some patches of light pitting mostly confined to the touchhole area. The locks are mostly a smooth gray patina with some faded original color case-hardening evident in protected areas. The rifle is stocked in a wonderful piece of English walnut with flattop checkering on wrist and with a graceful shadowline cheekpiece. The right side of the butt shows a rectangular patchbox with a pushbutton release mounted in the top tang of the buttplate. The patchbox is engraved with a buck in a forest scene with relief floral border decoration. The gun is sighted with a tiny blade front and single folding and single standing leaf rear. This is a very interesting and seemingly rather flawed system as when the waterproof pan is working properly, in wet conditions, the water is dispelled directly onto the spring that entire lock mechanism relies upon. The history of these rare guns is well documented in a Canadian Journal of Arms Collecting article from February of 1999 written by Robert W. Band. While it is well-known that Britain gave many gifts to North American indians in an attempt to foster loyalty and support, these particular guns are of much higher quality than the typical ''Indian Trade Gun''. After the War of 1812, the Indian Department felt that their need for Indian support had greatly diminished and their support for the Indians diminished proportionately. However, John Norton, the well-educated chief of the Mohawks felt his people did not receive adequate recognition for their support and loyalty during the recent war and felt that moving forward their support and loyalty would continue to be important for Britain. Norton traveled to England in 1815 where he was brevetted a Major in the British Army and used his influence to secure appropriate benefits for his people. He met personally with Henry Tatham and documents in letters, viewing three different patterns of rifles made by H. Tatham. ''The first two of a very superior quality as might be deemed a peculiar mark of distinction to a few leading chiefs and warriors, the other plain and complete in every part such as would be peculiarly esteemed by all the faithful warriors both in war and in hunting......''. There is also a letter from Henry Tatham to Norton requesting he write to Henry Goulburn, Under Secretary of War and the Colonies, to expedite approval to build these guns as ''His Royal Highness has designated Norton to give rifles to Indians on his behalf''. In the Royal Armouries Museum at Leeds there is a group of 29 of these Tatham flintlock rifles. There are examples of all three grades including a single over under comabination gun with ''locks of the pattern with external mainspring, the pans are lined in gold and the touch holes lined in platinum. The patchboxes of the two top grades are engraved with a standing stag surrounded by a border of trees,'' Approximately half of the guns in the museum bear a ''WF''?mark of William Fullard, a barrel and lock maker active from 1808 to 1835, this mark indeed appears on these barrels. Also, many of the guns in the museum are serial numbered all of which fall within the range of 1493 to 1533, the interior of each of the locks on this gun are numbered ''1510''. There are images of all three designs of these Tatham guns published in this article, the over under gun appears identical to this gun. The number of these guns originally built is not known but with 29 of them residing in the Royal Armoury Museum it would seem that they may not have been delivered. Several full and halfstock single flintlock rifles have been sold in recent years, including two in the William Keith Neal Collection. We can find no reference to any other over under Tatham flintlock Indian guns being offered for sale. How this gun came to America is unknown but one cannot help but wonder if it was brought here by or delivered to Norton as a ''sample'' piece or if it was an actual presentation to a high ranking Mohawk warrior. This extremely rare and historic arm was awarded the prestigeous NRA?Silver Medallion at the 3011 NRA?Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. This particular medallion was awarded by the American Society of Arms Collectors on behalf of the NRA. It is very likely that no more than a handful of these highest grade arms were ever produced making this opportunity to acquire one, exceptionally rare. A superb British Flintlock Indian Presentation gun worthy of the finest personal or institutional collection of historic arms. (18937-380) {ANTIQUE} [Cletus Klein Collection] Categories: Terms and conditions GENERAL STATEMENTS • All bidders must register and obtain a bidding number in order to participate in the auction; in so-doing they agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the sale. 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