DIMICK ST. LOUIS – PLAINS RIFLE

DIMICK ST. LOUIS – PLAINS RIFLE

01-24772
Cal. .50 caliber
NSN

Pictured and described on pages 158-159 in “The Fur Trade”, author Milton Von Damm: “This half stock percussion rifle is marked H.E. DIMICK St. LOUIS and was made by Horace E. Dimick who was a St. Louis gun dealer and gunsmith between 1851 and his death in 1873. Horace was in and out of partnerships between 1852 and 1864 and so some of his guns are marked H.E. Dimick & Co. He made good quality plains rifles and derringer type pistols. He also put his name on guns he purchased for resale from his dealership.

The style of this rifle is very similar to the famous Hawken plains rifles. It was a scroll trigger guard, the barrel is attached to the stock with two wedges, and it has a long six inch barrel tang to reinforce the grip of the stock. The short barrel of this gun suggests it was made later in his career, possibly after 1860. Western uses for plains rifles included buffalo hunting, wagon train protection, personal arms of scouts, explorers and the fur trade.”

PROVENANCE: from The Lifelong Collection of author Milton Von Damm.

STATUS: ANTIQUE