New Acquisitions

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Rare First Model Porter Revolving Turret Rifle

Patented 1851 and marked as such, along with the name "P.W. Porter New York"

Nine shot .52 caliber percussion with a highly unusual firing system. Percussion caps are spring forced into alignment with the hammer while the turret is rotated by the lever located under the frame.

The snake-like piece on the top of the barrel is a tamper rod. The front and rear sights are on the side of the barrel instead of on its top as shown in the bottom photograph.

After production began these were not well received by the public or by the military. One chamber always pointed directly at the shooter. An accidental misfire could have been fatal.

Condition is average with no major issues.

Approximately 1250 of these Porters were made of which 300 were ‘first models.’ This is one of those 300.

There is a serial number of 250 on its hinged loading cover. The frame is numbered 50. The round rotating charging turret is numbered 25. Indicating those numbers that way was clearly intentional, possibly as part of the factory assembly process.

It is possible that this large caliber piece was used as part of a military trial.

$9,500

Superb French Model 1816 Cavalry Musketoon

Dated 1821

Single shot flintlock.

In our photograph taken from above the lock, both dates 1816 and 1821 are visible and quite prominent.

The 12 inch sling bar was designed to have two rings which are both in place.

A beautiful cartouche in the right stock recites the 1821 date and boasts a bold French Fleur de Lis.

The lock is well marked Manuf. Roy De Maubeuge.

Cheek rest on the left side of the stock.

A few minor marks and storage dents do little to harm its character.

$5,900

1858 Louisiana Tehuantepec Company $1,000 Bond

The 1850's plan was to create a railroad across the Mexican Isthmus of Tehuantepec. It would connect the Pacific Ocean with a deep water port on the Gulf of Mexico.

The project was to be partially funded by the sale of this bond issue.

It would have been a gold mine for international trade. But think about it..... a railroad from New Orleans to Pensacola, Florida in the 1850's would have been a monumental undertaking. But building a railroad of a similar length, in a relatively uncharted and untamed foreign country, hundreds of miles away, across the Gulf of Mexico......

Nineteen of the attached twenty interest coupons remain, with the one due to be paid in February, 1859 missing.

This is the first of these bonds we have seen in years.

$485