Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
RARELY SEEN REGIMENTALLY MARKED AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR OFFICER’S FUSIL, 1ST CONNECTICUT REGT.
01-24155
Cal. 76
S# 14
54” overall, 38.25” round American made barrel, makers cartouche on bottom “LL”, known Connecticut Revolutionary War era iron monger. This well preserved and beautifully marked short musket/fusil is signed “M. HILLS”, Medad Hills of Goshen, CT was the most famous member of a large family of gun makers in colonial America. Medad delivered 40 muskets to the state of Connecticut in 1776. Trigger bow is engraved “1ST / CONN / 3RD“, buttplate tang & sideplate both marked “14”. Lock is also engraved “C / 1co”.
Rarely are American Revolutionary War era arms found in such exemplary condition. The reason for such fine condition is that this long arm was purchased from an Irish estate in 2006 where it had been maintained since it was thought taken home as a souvenir in the Revolutionary War. The 1st Connecticut regiment was involved in the disastrous 1777-1778 campaign to control New York City, where this souvenir was possibly taken. Regardless, this is among the finest regimental marked Revolutionary War American made longarms extant. Steve Hench treasured this gun in his exceptional collection of Revolutionary War long arms collected over 60 years that were sold in 2019. Speaking with Mr. Hench, who is noted expert on American Revolutionary War & Kentucky rifles, he stated he had no doubt that this was among the very few totally American made regimentally marked Revolutionary War longarms surviving today. He pointed out that the barrel was crudely made with numerous forging flaws and would probably not have survived long service. Luckily this exemplary arm was taken home by British soldier to be preserved like other fine important Revolutionary War American objects that have been returned to the US. He also pointed out the gun was stocked in American White Walnut (Butternut) which is rare feature.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: laboratory report identifying genus species of wood in stock. Letter from Al Para to Steve Hench, detailing the history of gun coming from Irish estate. File of research on Medad Hills and the other Hills family gun makers. History of 1st Connecticut in the Revolutionary War.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
