Rare Spang & Wallace Percussion large Bore Rifle

Rare Spang & Wallace Percussion large Bore Rifle.  A handsome and rare example from the shop of Spang & Wallace, gunmakers from Philadelphia. They worked approximately from 1830 to 1856, with Samuel Spang listed from 1857 to 1867. A fairly lengthy search has shown virtually no percussion rifles from this era, with many examples of shotguns, and pistols. That begs the question, just how much involved was this gun business in producing long rifles?

I purchased this gun from another well know dealer / collector, who purchased it from the well known Native American /historical memorabilia dealer Jim Hart years ago.  The price on the gun at that time was $6500.00. I was told that Jim Hart had found information that Spang & Wallace most likely provide parts to Philadelphia gun makers who had contracts with the Government to produce Indian trade, or annuity guns in the pre-Civil War years, and through the war. Also, it is highly likely that Spang & Wallace had produced rifles to help fill the contract with Henry Leman, who’s gun shop for a time was under water, preventing him from filling his contract with the Government for a time. I only received verbal information on this.

Not knowing for sure how much of this rifle was made by Spang and Wallace, there being characteristics seen in this rifle compared to that of Henry Leman and George Krider’s work. The side plate on this rifle is identical to the Leman rifle in the Museum of the Fur Trade (Chadron, Nebr.), and the “Philadelphia Christmas Tree” pattern patch box seen on several examples of Krider’s rifles. There are initials stamped behind the trigger guard, “JD” most likely the stock maker. In a list of gunsmiths, the only “JD” is an unidentified maker from Philadelphia, having made a fancy Kentucky rifle (no date given).  The trigger guard is similar to that of Tryon’s type seen on several examples of his.  So to sum it up, who is suppling who, and is this a rifle made to meet another smiths contract.

The lock plate may be an import with factory engraving, and the name Spang & Wallace Philadelphia in three lines, much weakens with light pitting but visible. Their name appears on the top barrel flat behind the rear sight in a single line, and again weak but visible. Front sight is silver.

The full walnut stock is in fine condition, having a raised cheek piece, and all brass furniture use throughout including the barrel wedges. The patch box is plain, and the toe plate is 6.5 inches. The original ramrod has a brass tip, and the bottom has mounted an iron tip measuring 8.5 inches with a slight taper at the end. Two tiny holes are drill opposite from each other about 4 inches from the tip.  Single trigger.

A most intriguing percussion rifle, with a story yet to be determined. Certainly a rare rifle from a firm that did little work in long gun production, probably to fill a void in a very busy Philadelphia gun making region, concentrating on shotguns, and handguns instead.