I recently purchased an interesting pre-WWII custom rifle. It is a 1903 Springfield action, barreled by William Sukalle (renowned barrel-maker of Tucson, Arizona) in 7x57mm Mauser, with a stock by the legendary Adolph Minar of Fountain, Colorado.
Jack O’Connor once owned a Minar-Sukalle rifle in 7×57. The one I bought isn’t his, but there is a note signed by Jack O’Connor describing the rifle, tucked away in the trap under the pistol grip cap.
Minar died young in 1936 at the age of 56, and is believed to have stocked a total of 36 rifles. O’Connor owned more than one of them. Phil Shoemaker today has Jack O’Connor’s Minar .30-06. The Shoemaker rifle was previously given by O’Connor to Sports Afield Camping editor John Jobson, who wrote about it.
My rifle has some very distinctive engraving. I was wondering if there are any experts out there who would recognize the style of the engraver. Here is a photo of the floorplate:
This number sports no fewer than four lights, three optics, and four vertical front grips!
Gun collectors these days moan and groan all the time about Bubba-style American customizations of pre-WWII military longarms. Oh, those replaced stocks, the receivers drilled for scope mounts, the final horror of white plastic spacers on the pistol grip cap and buttplate!
Forgotten Weapons today did a very amusing post discussing what Ahab the Arab can do in the way of customizing his trusty AK-47.
WaPo says that Jeb’s roscoe is an FN .45 ACP which would make it an FNX-45 or an FNX-Tactical. But it hasn’t got a bright, stainless slide or a threaded barrel extension, so it must be an FNS-9 or an FNS-40.
The inscribed name suggests that it was a presentation piece from the company. I wonder if the Governor has ever fired it.
But they will certainly speak volumes, and what a display for a Texas oilman’s wall this collection of rare and rusty firearms would make!
James D. Julia Auction, Quality Firearms, March 14, 2016, Lot 1160
WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF TEXAS RELIC FIREARMS FOUND IN TEXAS AND ASSEMBLED OVER MANY YEARS BY BILL STEWART OF SONORA, TEXAS FEATURING A 9″ FLAT CYLINDER NO. 5 TEXAS PATERSON REVOLVER.
SN NSN. Cal. 34. 1) Texas Paterson revolver with 9″ bbl and flat cylinder. This revolver was found by a young boy near the Burgess Spring Waterhole on the outskirts of Alpine, Texas in 1962. This relic was displayed at the T.G.C.A. “Parade of Texas Patersons†in November of 1994 and also in early 2000’s at the T.G.C.A. show in San Antonio, Texas. The revolver has 3 loaded chambers. This revolver is accompanied by a letter from Bill Stewart telling the story of this wonderful relic and states that he believes this relic is one of the orig group purchased by Republic of Texas and issued to Texas Rangers. Also included is a letter form Victor Friedrichs to Mr. Stewart discussing this gun. Also included is a handwritten note from Paterson experts Linda Lassister and Steve Evans stating that they would “someday like to have a “Rusty†Paterson of their ownâ€. 2) Colt model 1839 Paterson carbine of type ordered by the Republic of Texas. 3) Cal. 44 revolver with flat-sided frame that appears to be a Dance. 4) Large-framed Dragoon revolver with rnd trigger guard and small loading cut. Appears to be Tucker, Clark, and Sherard. 5) Colt model 1848 “Baby Dragoon†with rammer. SN 7042 on backstrap and trigger guard. 3 cylinders capped and loaded. 6) Colt model 1860 Army Richard/Mason conversion no. 147249 on trigger guard. 7) Model 1855 Colt receiver and cylinder in 52 Cal.. Accompanied by orig cartridge for this model. 8) Colt model 1855 Root rifle. 9) Whitney-Kennedy lever action rifle. 10) Bbls from double-gauge percussion. PROVENANCE: The Estate of G. W. “Bill†Stewart of Sonora, Texas. CONDITION: 1) As found. 3 loaded chambers. Grips and straps are missing. 2) Bbl, cylinder and loading lever present. Buttstock is missing. 3) Bbl, cylinder and frame present. Grips and straps are missing. 4) Bbl, cylinder, frame and brass straps. Grips missing. 5) Bbl, cylinder, frame, backstrap and trigger guard. Grips are gone. SN visible on trigger guard and backstrap. 6) Bbl, cylinder, frame, and trigger guard. Hammer, backstrap and grips are gone. SN and some silver visible on trigger guard. 7) Frame, cylinder, and arbor. Clear Colt marking. Cleaned with naval jelly. 8) Bbl, frame, and cylinder. Stocks are gone. Frame cracked in front of cylinder. 9) Bbl, magazine, receiver, lever and hammer. Stocks are gone. Silver blade front sight on bbl. 10) Bbls only. A very unique opportunity to obtain a wonderful collection of relics that were all found in Texas by an old time collector featuring an award winning no. 5 Paterson revolver and a model 1839 Paterson carbine. 49973-162, 49973-159, 49973-160, 49973-161, 49973-163, 49973-250, 49973-251, 49973-252, 49973-389, 49973-390, TEP (10,000-20,000)
9″ Barrel Texas Patterson Revolver, one of original group purchased by the Republic of Texas and issued to Texas Rangers for use against the Comanches in the 1830s.
Flower Shell is a 12-gauge shotgun shell that is loaded with flower seeds instead of shot. When paired with a shotgun, Flower Shell can be used to forcefully scatter seeds or blast them into the ground. Flower Shell was designed by Per Cromwell of Studio Total, a Swedish innovation studio. Cromwell is raising funds for the project on Indiegogo.
Parmigiani Fleurier, watchmakers, undertake the restoration (restauration, as they put it) of a pistol automaton probably built circa 1815 by the Frères Rochat.
At their April 2-3 auction, Amoskeag will be selling seven more rifles previously owned the greatest gun writer of the first portion of the last century, Townsend Whelen. Full descriptions are not yet available.
The rumor on Internet gun discussion groups is that these rifles are part of the ongoing residue of Mark Benenson‘s astounding collection.
