U.S. Model 1817 Common Rifle with Jennings Sliding Lock

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The Firearms Collection of Mark Aziz: Premier...

By Cowan's Auctions

Nov 28, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-11-28 10:00:00 2018-11-28 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Firearms Collection of Mark Aziz: Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/the-firearms-collection-of-mark-aziz-premier-auction-3636
This single-owner sale features the unparalleled firearms collection of Mark Aziz, featuring a lifetime's worth of high quality, historically important military and sporting firearms scholarship. The one-day sale will include dozens of scarce and unique examples of revolving firearms development, Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  .54 caliber, 35.8125" barrel retained by three flat bands, no S/N. Bright finish, walnut stock with oval iron patchbox, iron furniture. Unmarked sliding lock plate measures 3.875" in length with brass pan and rounded reinforced cock. Breech with correct US / JM inspection over a sunken P in a starburst. No visible inspection cartouche on counterpane. A small brass shield-shaped escutcheon has been added to the counterpane. Correct pattern fixed notch rear sight, barrel mounted blade front sight. Front strap of upper barrel band dovetail notched for another sight that is now missing. Original sling swivel on end of extended triggerguard tang, replaced upper swivel on middle band. Replaced trumpet head iron ramrod.
  
  The Jennings-Ellis contract multi shot rifle was based upon the repeating flintlock design of Joseph Belton (Moller Vol. II p162). The gun was intended to be loaded with four superposed loads, and the sliding lock would be moved backwards to access each of the flashholes for each subsequent shot. Small pivoting flash guards were secured to the flash plate to prevent the unfired rounds from being ignited through their touchholes. The lock included an automatic priming system which closed the frizzen steel and primed the pan when the hammer was cocked. A decidedly awkward and problematic design, the success of superposed loads in the two-shot Lindsay percussion musket of the Civil War period was mediocre at best, and the Jennings design only multiplied the potential for multiple discharges that would result in a catastrophic outcome for the shooter. However, in 1828, the Ordnance Department agreed to acquire from Reuben Ellis some 520 of these rifles for issue to the state of New York as part of their annual issue of arms due under the Militia Act of 1808. The guns were assembled by R & D Johnson of Middletown, CT. According to Moller's research the first 360 were inspected by Justin Murphy (JM) with the balance inspected by Asabel Hubbard (AH) and in the end a total of 521 were inspected and paid for. Considering the fact that the design was inherently dangerous and prone to self-destruction, surviving examples are extremely rare. This same sliding lock concept was also appleid to some sporting arms produced under Isaiah Jennings' patent during the period.
  
  This example appears to be a composite restoration of an original Ellis-Jennings contract stock, barrel and trigger mechanism, mated with newly produced flash plates, guards and slide mounts. The lock appears to be an original, although possibly restored, Jennings style pistol lock. It is roughly 1" shorter than the 4.437" lock that should be found on this model. Additionally, the frizzen does not close automatically upon cocking and it is not clear if the lock contains the priming mechanism. Further, if it is present, it is not clear if it functions. Removal of the lock necessitates the removal of several screws that attach the moutning plates to the rifle and these screws are frozen in place. Although a less than correct restoration, this rifle does provide a reasonable example of an extremely scare repeating US military firearm that is rarely found for sale and is typically priced out of reach of most collectors.

  Condition

  Good as restored. Metal with a mottled and evenly pitted brownish gray patina. Barrel markings remain clear, with no visible inspection on stock flat. Lock functions, cocking and firing as it should, but as noted the automatic closing and priming features do not. The lock can be made to slide in the mounts, although it is tight and the flash guards do not always open easily. Some of the work to attach the slide and flash plates to the gun is crude, with exposed welding material along the top edge of the upper plate and too many screws securing both plates. The plates also overlap incorrectly at the front of the lock mortise. Teh bore of the rifle is poor, heavily crusted and rusted with visible rifling. The stock shows scattered bumps and dings, as well as some minor impact marks. An original screw hole in the counter pane that was part of the original plate mounting system is filled with wood and there is a small hole in the wrist where an old collection tag was likely affixed. Despite all its faults, this is likely the only Ellis-Jennings rifle in "complete" displayable condition that will likely sell for less than five figures and it represents a great opportunity for the collector of firearms oddities who always felt one of these rifles was simply out their price range.
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