3120

Spectacular Rare Confederate Dickson, Nelson & Co. Type II Percussion Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:16,000.00 USD Estimated At:40,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
Spectacular Rare Confederate Dickson, Nelson & Co. Type II Percussion Rifle
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.

Estimate: $40000 - 60000
Percussion rifle manufactured by Dickson, Nelson & Co., at their Dawson, Georgia factory in 1865. In 1861 William Dickson, Owen O. Nelson and Dr. Lewis H. Sadler started the Shakanoosa Arms Co. in Dickson, Alabama. The company received a contract from the State of Alabama for 5,000 Mississippi rifles (Model 1841), and only 645 rifles were delivered. These rifles were a close copy of the U.S. Model 1841 "Mississippi" percussion rifle and are considered to be among the best, if not the best Confederate made percussion rifles. This "Type II" rifle has a 33-inch round barrel with a block mounted front sight and fixed rear sight. The barrel has no provision for a bayonet lug. The black walnut stock is secured by two round screw-fastened barrel bands. Sling swivels are mounted on the stock and upper barrel band. The stock has a brass forearm cap that is similar to the cap on the U.S. Model 1855 rifle, a brass trigger guard and flat brass buttplate. The barrel, stock and buttplate are not marked. The lock plate has beveled edges and is clearly stamped "ALA./1865" in two vertical lines behind the hammer. "DICKSON/NELSON & CO./C.S." is stamped in three lines ahead of the hammer. The rifle has a straight shank iron ramrod with cone-shaped head and flat face. A Model 1865 similar to this rifle is pictured in an article entitled "The Dickson - Nelson & Co. Rifle" by Jim Blackburn in the October 1961 edition of "The Gun Report", (copy included with the rifle). This rifle was also the topic of a segment from Season 10, 08/13/05, The "Antiques Road Show" and can be seen on line in the archives. In the segment the gun was discussed and appraised by Christopher Mitchell the owner of J. Christopher Mitchell American Antiques & Mititaria. A copy of the segment is included with this lot. The Dickson, Nelson rifle has been often referred to as "The Holy Grail" of Confederate arms. These rifles were manufactured in very limited numbers and relatively few known survivors exist today, with one known survivor is currently housed in the Smithsonian Museum. This Dickson, Nelson rifle has been in the possession of the same Philadelphia family for over 125 years. This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most desirable and scarcest Confederate long guns.
BBL: 33 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 58 percussion
Finish: brown
Grips:
Serial Number: nsn
Condition: Good. The bright finished barrel is absent of any markings and has a silver-brown patina. The bolster and surrounding portions of the barrel have dark age discoloration and moderate flash pitting but the remainder of the barrel surfaces are smooth. The lockplate and hammer have a mottled gray-brown patina. The lockplate markings are crisp and clear. The brass forearm cap, barrel bands, trigger guard and buttplate have an attractive patina. The stock is good with moderate wear. The stock has numerous small dents and scratches and a small chip just in front of the lockplate. The barrel channel, left stock flat and lockplate flat have sharp edges. The ramrod is not original to the rifle. This is an outstanding example of an extremely rare Confederate Dickson Nelson & Co. Percussion Rifle.