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Lot 4322¢
An interesting American half-stock percussion buck and ball gun made for the celebrated Siamese twins Chang and Engdated 1837
17 November 2008, 10:00 PST
San FranciscoSold for US$9,945 inc. premium
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Find your local specialistAn interesting American half-stock percussion buck and ball gun made for the celebrated Siamese twins Chang and Eng
dated 1837
dated 1837
The 36 inch two-stage barrel in .58 caliber smoothbore. German silver fore-sight and open rear sight, the top flat signed J. Kunz Philad. Engraved lock signed G. Goulcher. Brass furniture, the patchbox with vasiform finial, cover hinged on lower side and inscribed 1837/Chang & Eng/Philad. Walnut half-stock with checkered wrist and low cheekpiece. Brass-tipped ramrod. With letter stating provenance, see Note.
Condition: Very good. Barrel with dark brown patina with some pitting at breech. Lock with grey metal showing some wear to markings. Patchbox missing cover latch. Stock showing crack at front of comb and with cracks and losses around lockplate.
See Illustration
Condition: Very good. Barrel with dark brown patina with some pitting at breech. Lock with grey metal showing some wear to markings. Patchbox missing cover latch. Stock showing crack at front of comb and with cracks and losses around lockplate.
See Illustration
Footnotes
Note: Chang and Eng Bunker, the celebrated Siamese twins, 1811-74, were born in Siam and were brought to the U.S. in 1817 by the showman Abel Coffman. They toured with the P.T. Barnum show until 1839. They then retired to their farm in North Carolina where they spent the rest of their lives.
This gun was left in their will to a member of the Haynes family, who owned a farm adjacent to theirs. The gun has remained in the possession of the Haynes family until the present and is being offered by a direct descendant.
Jacob Kunz (Kuntz), Philadelphia, 1814-55.




