Sold for $2,160
.31 caliber. 3.125" six-barrel cluster. SN: 41. Blued finished, varnished two-piece walnut bag shaped grips. In-line concealed under hammer percussion ring trigger double action pepperbox with round barrel cluster with deeply fluted ribs. Pepperbox is unmarked with the exception of the assembly number 41 which is present on the left web of the ring trigger and on the lower edge of the left side of the grip frame, under the grip. Deeply grooved capping slot cut in right side of frame, typical of these guns. Frame and backstrap with simple open foliate scroll engraving, with feathery lined boarders around the recoil shield area. Grips with German silver escutcheons. No sights as it typical of pepperboxes. The partnership of Orison Blunt and John G. Syms operated in New York from the 1830s through the 1850s. While total production of their various pepperbox models is unknown, it is believed to be in the range of several thousand. This is a particularly fine condition example that is worthy of being cased. Rarely are pepperboxes found in this condition.
Very fine to near excellent. Smooth bores are fine, showing some light oxidation but otherwise crisp and partly bright. Barrel cluster with nearly all of the blued finish with some minor thinning and some wear and loss along the high edges of the flutes. Frame with strong traces of blue, apparently having flaked with time. Pepperbox remains mechanically functional with a crisp action, but shows a couple of chipped percussion cones, likely from being played with over the years. Grips very fine with most of their varnish and showing only some light handling marks and minor dings. A truly love pepperbox in wonderful condition.