Interesting gun

[jmforge]

Unfortunately, i am not sure how to post the link, but I saw a very interesting gun on the Julia (?) auction site today.   It was a slightly unusual looking percussion longrifle that was made by Daniel Searles of Baton Rouge at some point (listing didn't say when) for Robert Anderson, the defender of Ft. Sumter.  The gun sold for $115,000, which didn't surprise me because of its provenance.  I, like most knifemakers,  am very familar with Searles and his knives, but was unaware that he also made guns.  You learn something new every day.

[Dave R]

JM FORGE,

please post a picture on this messageboard!

Thanks!
Dave R

[jmforge]

I am completely computer illiterate. I can't even post pics of my own knives.
Here is the link.  You have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to see the real old guns.  The Searles rifle is a halfstock back action with a matching sideplate and a very long barrel.  Pretty funky looking.  The also sold a pair of Manton dueling pistols and the Shiloh Sharps that was made for Tom Selleck for "Quigley Down Under" along with a couple of cool longrifles, a cased Purdey percussion double rifle and shotgun, a Manton flintlock sporting rifle and some other cool stuff.  Genuwine antique gun porn!!

www.juliaauctions.com/auctions/div_catalog_264_sh.asp

[Chuck Burrows]

 Here's a link to the images...
http://www.juliaauctions.com/auctions/div_catalog_264_sh.asp

[oakridge]

I have seen percussion half-stock rifles and pistols made by Searles. I know of a Searles marked bowie knife and pistol, both with the same owners name on them. The rifle you are referring to is shown in the auction catalog, as well as being pictured in an arms book.

[jmforge]

I have seen percussion half-stock rifles and pistols made by Searles. I know of a Searles marked bowie knife and pistol, both with the same owners name on them. The rifle you are referring to is shown in the auction catalog, as well as being pictured in an arms book.

i am a neophyte and had never seen a Searles gun before.  As a matter of fact, I had never seen a rifle that had that unusual combination of features.  I would like to see that pistol/bowie combo.  A Searles bowie is on my short term to do list along with some kind of Bell knife and maybe a Butcher bowie.
I really like the selection of English guns they had listed and some of them actually sold for less than I paid for my current car, so I guess those were bargains.   I'm a more of a "London best" percussion gun fan and got all weak in the knees over those Purdey doubles, but that Manton rifle is sweet as is the other flint sporter!!!!!

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

I think this lock is sweet. Especially the cock design:

http://www.juliaauctions.com/auctions/264/images/org/37721x4.jpg

[Curt J]

The Searles rifle is a beauty, with or without the provenance.  Superb workmanship and in pristine condition. Still....$115,000 is a lot of money! Obviously quite a bit more than they expected.

[mr. no gold]

It is an expensive gun to be sure, but there are some offsets to that. The rifle is a New Orleans built gun by a noted maker and that is highly desirable; a prominant southerner once owned it, and the condition is very, very good. Taken all together, someone wanted it badly enough to pay dearly for it, and they got a gem. History can be important.
Still, have to wonder if there will be anyone standing in line when the time comes to sell it?
Fine southern guns are pretty rare and always seem to command a high price on sale. Guns from Natchez are a good example, and even the best of the Maryland guns (Hazlitt of Baltimore, and Armstrong, for example) bring huge prices when they sell, as we know.
Thank you for bringing this pretty rifle to our attention. Much appreciated!
Dick

[mr. no gold]

The flintcock on the flint gun show above has been referred to as a "French Cock" and was favored by good French gunmakers; most notably Nicholas Noel de Boutet. Some English makers thought that it was pretty fine and probably adopted the style.
Check out Boutet's work in the older fine gun books and you will see that virtually all of his guns have that hammer design.
Dick

[oakridge]

jmforge,
The D. Searles bowie knife I referred to is pictured and described on pages 116-117 of the Antique Bowie Knife Book. The Searles pistol, with the same original owners name engraved on it, is in a different private collection. Since it is close to me, and I have access to it, I will try to get some photos for you.

[Dphariss]

I'll be darned, a gun I built went for $69K.

Dan