A very unique child's percussion rifle with a safety

[Rebel McQueen]

I have a Unique Child's Rifle that is very well made for the wealthy. It was made in Herzberg, Germany, by G.A. Stormer. It has a safety on the lock, which I have never come across. It is expertly Master engraved, which again is not common on a "Child's percussion rifle". Only about one in 1000 rifles were made for children. Does anyone know about what something like this is worth?? It is, I believe for a patched .36 cal ball, and the rifling is octagon. I think it was made sometime circa 1840-1860.

 

[Rebel McQueen]

Here's a few more pics

Some pics of this Child's percussion rifle

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

That looks beautiful!

 

[Jim Watson]

I can't guess a dollar value, but it is a very nice little rifle.

A friend had a .410 shotgun about that size. He was able to trace it to a special order for the young son of the governor of one of the Caribbean island colonies.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Can't give you value
But several Prussian guns of the percussion era had safeties. The 1842 Hanoverian cavalry horse pistol had a cross bolt safety that came through the breech and popped out in front of the hammer. The 1861 lorenz horse pistol used a safety like yours.

 

[Patocazador]

Those Germans don't mess around with junk. It's just gorgeous, perfect for my granddaughter if I were rich.

 

[Rebel McQueen]

It is a beautiful rifle, I saw it at an auction, and I new right then, it was coming home with me, however, I recently purchased a Toyota mini motor home, that I need to put some money into, so reluctantly I'll have to part with the rifle.

 

[AJumbo]

Reb, what a beautiful piece! The lock and nipple bolster makes it look like the rifle may have started life with a "pill fire" ignition. Basically the same concept as a percussion cap, but the fulminate was compressed into a pill that was set into the recess where the nipple is now, and would ignite when the hammer whacked it. Caps were far more secure, so pill fire went by the wayside. I've owned a rifle that was very like this one, had been a pill fire conversion, and looked like a rifle that was stocked by a cuckooo clock maker. I sold it because the bore was awful, and I wasn't going to dump a lot of money into freshening the bore or replacing the barrel.

 

[Patocazador]

It is a beautiful rifle, I saw it at an auction, and I new right then, it was coming home with me, however, I recently purchased a Toyota mini motor home, that I need to put some money into, so reluctantly I'll have to part with the rifle.

What are going to ask for it if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Rebel McQueen]

I've seen other child's size sell for a lot of money, so I think if I start at around $3k even the next owner can make some on it, if I don't sell it soon, I've got a lot of other one of a kind weapons that will sell quickly. I might send it to James D. Julia Auctions, as they get buyers that are collectors that also pay very good prices.

 

[Rebel McQueen]

Thanks AJumbo for the info about the "Pill Fire" possibility as I've not heard of those. I'm stopping in to show it to Jim Fleming in the morning, he knows his stuff when it comes to "smoke poles", you probably shoot with him, as he shoots all over in matches, not to mention he's usually the one winning.

 

[Rebel McQueen]

Found out a little more today

It was a "Pill Fire Ignition" conversion as pointed out, making it a bit rarer. I buddy Jim has to get some surgery done, so I'll be praying for him. He really thought it (the little rifle) was something special.

 

[bannockburn]

A beautiful rifle to be sure. I especially like the fine engraving on the lockwork and the trigger guard. Hope it does very well for you if you decide to go the auction route.

 

[Rebel McQueen]

Thanks Bannockburn, I hope it does well if I do send it to Julia's to auction.

I have a very close connection to that "Battle"--My family tree goes back to "Robert The Bruce", and when doing a Civil War reenactment while in Anthem, AZ I met some Brits, and his ancestor was "Sir Henry de Bohun". Was it just "Fate" that we would meet? Who knows, but I told him it was better off for Scotland, that his died. de Bohun attacked The Bruce and the King had no armour on, but The Bruce split de Bohun head and doing so, broke his "favorite battle axe". Small World

 

[4v50 Gary]

Beautiful rifle and great story about de Bohun.