^Lot 415 Civil War Era Perc. Two-Band Artillery Musketoon

Civil War Era Percussion Two-Band Artillery Musketoon, having characteristics of those made by Cook & Brother of New Orleans and Athens (GA), circa 1861-64, #3152, .58 cal., 28'' barrel, with small integral blade front and small notched rear sights, marked only ''3152'' ahead of rear sight; flat lockplate appears unmarked (or markings have eroded), has a high-spur hammer and percussion nipple bolster with integral flash-guard; iron triggerguard with long rear tang; iron buttplate with rounded edge at top tang; two screw-retained iron barrel bands (top band missing its sling swivel) retain the iron ramrod; walnut fullstock with characteristic ''step'' at bottom band and brass nosecap, has five brass tacks on right side and a vacant screw hole at bottom where perhaps a sling swivel was once fitted. Condition is good to very good. Iron surfaces have a dark brown (but mostly smooth) age patina; barrel appears to show occasional traces of twist pattern, with deep black powder pitting in the nipple area; lockplate may be a period replacement as it is ill-fitted at front (or it may be age erosion of the wood); triggerguard may likewise be a period replacement, as is the ramrod. Stock shows the expected marks of age and military use, but is sound with a later coat of varnish. Action is smooth and strong; smoothbore shows erosion but is clean. This musketoon, styled after the British Enfield P-1853 (Ferdinand and Francis Cook were Englishmen), presents an enigma: it is surely ''of the period,'' but is it Confederate? We leave it to the buyer to decide. Est.: $500-$650. (Antique)