3546 RARE LACY & CO. CIRCA 1830 BOARD OF ORDNANCE

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,500.00 USD
Estimated at 3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
CONTRACT TRADE RIFLE. Cal. .52 cal. NSN. 47" overall; 31.5 octagonal rifled barrel. This rifle was purchased in 2015, too late for inclusion in "The Fur Trade", however author Milton von Damm was aware of this rare survivor by correspondence in 2005 detailing this rifle. "The London Lacy family gun makers included contracts with the British Board of Ordnance for Indian rifles and fusils for the War of 1812 and a Baker type rifle in the 1820's and 30's. They also made Indian trade fusils for the American Fur Company. They operated as Lacy and company and Lacy & Reynolds. This .52 caliber rifle was made under the contract with the Board of Ordnance for distribution to Canadian Indians as gifts and treaty payments from the late 1820's to 1832. There is no available information about how many of these rifles were made and distributed, but only a very few survivors have come to my attention; two in the Royal Armory in Leeds, England, two in Pennsylvania private collections, one in the Museum of the Fur Trade, and this one. Known distribution data is limited to the issuance of 310 rifles in 1830. Originally flintlock, this gun was converted to an early form of percussion. The lock has a pointed tail and is marked LACY & CO. over LONDON. The stock is marked BO under the broad arrow. The brass furniture is identical to the War of 1812 Board of Ordnance rifles. The barrel is marked with post 1814 proof marks. Wheeler & Co. also made this type of rifle. Robert Band speculated that perhaps some of these rifles were among the 295 rifles issued by the Canadian Indian Department to upper Canada militia during the 1837-38 rebellion". CONDITION: very good overall. PROVENANCE: Robert Band Collection; Hoare Auctions, 2015; Lifelong Collection of author Milton von Damm. ANTIQUE. (01-24794 /JS). $3,000-4,000.