3545 1856 CONTRACT LEMAN PERCUSSION INDIAN TRADE GUN.

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,500.00 USD
Estimated at 3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Cal. .70 caliber. NSN. 57" overall. 42" octagonal to round barrel. Pictured and described on pages 120-121 "The Fur Trade", author Milton Von Damm: "This is an American manufactured Indian trade fusil that was modeled after the English and Belgian fusils that dominated the Indian fusil trade for 150 years from 1750 to 1900. These guns met Indian specifications for being light, durable, generally a caliber from .60 to .62, a deep trigger guard so the trigger could be pulled with two fingers like a bow, and a serpent sideplate. The English and Belgians made them in different quality levels and prices and American gunmakers struggled to compete with the low European prices. This specific gun is from the 1856 contract from the Indian Department for an annuity payment to the Blackfoot Agency. This gun was delivered with a shipment via steamboat to Fort Benton and arrived in September 1856. The clue that this gun was a part of the 1856 contract is the point tail on the lock plate in combination with the unusual .70 caliber. This was the first year Leman made .70 caliber Indian Trade Fusils and the only year he made them with pointed lock tails. In 1857 he changed to locks with round tails. The lock is marked with a tombstone fox and H.E.LEMAN/LANCASTER, PA. Verification that it was destined for the Blackfeet is based on the fact that the 1856 contract was for three agencies and a letter B stamped behind the trigger guard suggests that this gun was for the only agency starting with the letter B." CONDITION: very good, old break to trigger guard, indiscernible barrel markings. PROVENANCE: Lifelong Collection of author Milton Von Damm. (01-24770/JS). ANTIQUE. $3,000-4,000.