Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

An American half-stock percussion rifle by Joseph Tonks image 1
An American half-stock percussion rifle by Joseph Tonks image 2
Lot 5284ANTIQUE

An American half-stock percussion rifle by Joseph Tonks
Boston, 3rd quarter 19th century

8 June 2015, 10:00 PDT
San Francisco

Sold for US$2,340 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Arms and Armour specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

An American half-stock percussion rifle by Joseph Tonks
Boston, 3rd quarter 19th century

The 29 inch browned, two-stage ribbed barrel with eight groove rifling in .45 caliber; German silver fore-sight; adjustable rear sight. Casehardened patent breech. Tang drilled for peep sight, now missing. Casehardened sidelock signed Joseph Tonks, Maker/Boston. Double triggers. German silver furniture including lower ramrod thimble, fore-end cap, wedge escutcheons, pierced sideplate, scrolling triggerguard, buttplate, patchbox and cruciform panel inlaid in cheekpiece. Half-stock of dark, partly figured walnut. Brass-tipped ramrod.
Condition: Very good to fine. Barrel retains much original browned finish showing even thinning. Breech and lock with smooth mottled metal showing some silvered casehardening. Sound wood with scattered light marks.
See Illustration

Footnotes

Note: Joseph Tonks, 1858-80, Boston, Mass.; 1880-90, Malden, Mass. Owner of five patents for breechloading rifles, worked in the 1880s with the Whitmore Gun Company.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century

The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century

A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English Late 16th Century Or Later

FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.late 20th century.

A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION POWDER FLASKS AND RELATED SPORTING ITEMS.

THREE VICTORIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS.