Lot 71
Liddle Marked San Francisco Heavy Barrel Percussion "Bear Rifle"
Sale 2030 - Arms, Armor and Militaria
Oct 23, 2024 10:00AM ET
Live / Cincinnati

Estimate
$2,000 - $4,000
Lot Description
Liddle Marked San Francisco Heavy Barrel Percussion "Bear Rifle"
.56 caliber. 31.375" wedge-retained octagonal barrel with break off breech and muzzle turned for a bullet starter. NSN. Blued finish, iron furniture, brass patchbox, checkered walnut half-stock with pewter nose cap. Unmarked single-screw percussion lock with double set triggers. Barrel marked somewhat weakly LIDDLE SAN FRANCISCO on the top flat. Rifle equipped with a replaced elevation adjustable leaf rear sight, a dovetailed brass Rocky Mountain front sight blade, a finger extension scroll shaped iron triggerguard, a brass commercial patchbox in the obverse butt and an old wooden ramrod secured by two iron thimbles. From the Collection of Charles Worman, co-author of the two volume set Firearms of the American West.

Robert Liddle (1824-1812) was born in England and emigrated to America in 1829 as a child with his parents. He was working in Baltimore as early as 1836 as an apprentice gunsmith 1840s and early 1850s who moved to San Francisco circa 1854, establishing Liddle & Co, which was a gunmaking and gun retailing company. Sometime in the latter part of the 1860s he partnered with Charles V. Kaeding establishing what would become the largest sporting goods retailer in the region and their advertising claimed that they offered "the largest and best assortment of guns, fishing tackle and sporting articles on the Pacific Coast." Liddle and Kaeding operated until 1889, when Liddle returned to working independently until circa 1898.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.
From the Collection of Charles Worman
Condition Report
Good to very good. Bore dark, heavily oxidized and evenly pitted with good rifling. Barrel moderately oxidized with rich brown patina mixed with traces of old blue and some scattered surface roughness and pitting, most notably around the breech and bolster area. Lock mechanically functional, nipple replaced, rear sight replaced, front sight blade appears to be a period of use replacement. Wood with scattered bumps, dings and mars and a small crack at the lock screw escutcheon on the reverse.

The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Hindman staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.

The absence of a posted condition report on the Hindman website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Hindman.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
Search