2581

RARE ATTIC FOUND CONFEDERATE MILES VIRGINIA CONTRACT HORSE PISTOL.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
RARE ATTIC FOUND CONFEDERATE MILES VIRGINIA CONTRACT HORSE PISTOL.
NSN. Cal .68 with 10" long rnd bbl very clearly marked on top near breech “MILES” and visibly much less readable are the unit markings “1 REG” and “VIRGINIA CAVALRY” which in the bbls present state is difficult to read due to corrosion. A proper conservation should make the markings more legible. The lock is five" long and is completely orig flintlock. The brass side plate, nose band, trigger guard, ramrod pipe and butt cap are all orig and carry a beautiful dark patina that should remain untouched. The unmarked Black Walnut stock is all orig and has suffered more over the years than the iron work. The ramrod appears orig, at least to the age of the gun's working life and possibly as it came from the Miles Factory having a pinned tubular tip probably made of horn that in condition to the balance of the gun, appears orig. At the opposite end is a brass ferrule also pinned to the ramrod with a broken cleaning worm. Prior to the Virginia Manufactory being able to produce pistols on its own, John Miles Sr. delivered approx. 250 pairs of pistols to Virginia to arm their cavalry during 1802-04. CONDITION: The iron work is 100% orig except the bbl tang screw and overall carries medium to heavy oxidation in spots as noted above, and needs a careful cleaning to very good condition.   The orig top jaw and screw are frozen and should be worked free.   All of the brass has a beautiful aged patina that should stay exactly as it is. The stock has a three" long x ¼" wide piece of wood opposite and above the lock screws that is loose and can be taken off when the lock screws are removed. This general area around the side plate as well as the fore stock along the side of the bbl on both sides shows medium wood erosion and loosening. Additionally, there is a two" long by ¼" wide piece of wood missing at the front top of the lock, quite common in flintlock pistols of this style.   The balance of the stock including the butt area is in very good condition having a few nicks and short stress cracks but nothing that detracts from its overall appearance.  This is a very desirable example of a rare militia cavalry pistol made by one of the premiere early Philadelphia Gun makers. The successful bidder of this item is buying a pistol right out of the woodwork, so to speak, and will have the satisfaction of preserving a piece of U.S. history by having it properly restored by a conservation specialist. There is believed to be less than ten of these Miles Virginia Contract pistols known to exist today and this is probably the only John Miles pistol in existence marked "Virginia Cavalry". Worthy of the most advanced martial pistol collection. 4-49688 PS99