The wesson falling blocks rifles were all of very high quality and were highly. Gunmaker hughes was looking for a suitable sidelock barreled action around which to craft a superb duck gun for one of his clients. This has to be one of the most physically impressive set of gun books i have ever seen. Frank wesson gunmaker, worchester massachusetts by dan woods, dick littlefield, tom rowe, frank pellet and john hamilton whatsnew by. During this time he made about 100,000 firearms of various types including carbines, pocket rifles, derringers, revolvers, two trigger rifles and even some long range creedmoors. European crossbow has a 24 18 steel bow and measures 32 long from the front loop to back of the schuetzen buttplate. Wesson sold out his interest in 1874, to harrington, who taking william a. Frank wesson rifles were a series of singleshot rifles manufactured between 1859 and 1888 in worcester, massachusetts. Frank wesson gunmaker, 3 volume set in slip case frank wesson.
He helped develop several influential firearm designs over the course of his life. This is an 1898made rifle that has retained 5060% of the original blue finish that blends seamlessly into a plumbrown patina. Beginning at nebraska city near the missouri river one of the jumping off points for frontier emigrants leaving the. Frank wesson small frame superposed pistol in cal 22 short, with golden watchfob. Now in its 37th edition, the big book of gun values is the most used reference in the nra museums office. Frank wesson rifle service long gun cavalry carbine. Historian, competitive marksman john hamilton coauthors. Front sight is globe style with post,rear sight is folding leaf with v notch and marked 250 yards,crescent steel buttplate. During this time he made about 100,000 firearms of various types including carbines, pocket rifles, derringers, revolvers, two trigger rifles and. The rifle picture below is extensively photographed and discussed on pages 194 197 of frank wesson gunmaker volume 3.
They were purchased by many state governments during the american civil war, including illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, missouri, and ohio. The wesson falling blocks rifles were all of very high quality and were highly priced for their time, which probably contributed to their low production volumes and consequent extreme scarcity. Daniel baird wesson may 18, 1825 august 4, 1906 was an american inventor and firearms designer. Jan 01, 2009 frank wesson gunmaker 3 volume slipcased set woods on. Excellent photography and patrick sweeney knows whereof he speaks. Worcester, mass and is stamped on the bottom just behind the forend lug 1. Frank wesson was a rather obscure gunmaker, especially regarding single shots. Given the many variations of this pistol, characters wishing to equip a frank wesson singleshot pistol should specify the model and caliber. He certainly is not in the same class as the more popular makers such as winchester, ballard, remington, sharps, stevens or others. Frank wesson model 1859 medium frame tipup single shot. This, then, is the tale not only of gunsmiths frank and george freund, and their products, but of manifest destiny and the great postcivil war migration that created the west as we know it today. Black powder cartridge news spring 2017 black powder.
The rifle is extensively photographed and discussed on pages 194 197 of frank wesson gunmaker volume 3. Frank wesson gunmaker of worcester, massachusetts was recently published. Harrington, secured a patent for an improved breechloading firearm. He fitted the kepplinger trigger to the rifle and did all the metal polishing. Covers the history of frank wesson in detail in about 800 pages. Wesson apprenticed as a gunsmith under his elder brother, rufus, and later worked with another gunsmith brother, frank wesson, before partnering with horace smith in. He is coauthor of the book frank wesson gunmaker, a major contributor to flaydermans guide and the blue book of antique gun values. Popular gunsmithing books meet your next favorite book. Antique frank wesson small frame single shot tip up, manual extractor pistol, rare, worcester, massachusetts, circa 1856 to 1857, it is estimated that less than 200 were made, f828. Will have to look further for a book with models and serial numbers. Machine gun terminology lmg, mmg, saw, lsw, hmg, gpmg.
He has also written a number of articles for man at arms magazine. Daniel was franks brother, and they were both tutored in gun making by their older brother edwin wesson, who was a wellrespected gunmaker at the end of the percussion era. Although similar to the british alex henry rifles, there was apparently no business connection between them. Frank wessons rimfire carbine video forgotten weapons. Each of the three volumes represent a segment of the firearms related to frank wesson, his brother edwin and other worchester, massachusetts, gunmakers of that period. The set includes volume 1 gunmakers of worcester, volume 2 pistols and volume 3 rifles. Frank wesson gunmaker 3 volume slipcased set 9780967632438 by woods and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Frank wesson gunmaker 3 volume slipcased set hardcover january 1, 2009 by woods author 5. New years day, memorial day, independence day, labor day, thanksgiving and the day after, christmas eve open. Introduction general works individual gunmakers allen and wheelock bullard colt deringer parker remington ruger savage l. National book network 3 north cape publications 24 northern rivers 3. Edwin is covered in the first volume as well as some of the other interesting makers. Has a golden 10 k watchfob holding a world globe in pearl. Historian, competitive marksman john hamilton coauthors book. Frank wesson, gunmaker 3 volumes rowe, tom and wal winfer. Updated annually, this book is indispensible for the serious collector. Their headquarters are in springfield, massachusetts. This is a new old stock hardcover reference book by don zutz and published by wolfe publishing compa.
Now, these actions are being reproduced using the best of modern materials and cnc machining technology. If you are interested in this classic american submachine gun, this is hands down the best book ever written on the m76. The oldest of the three was edwin wesson who was a premier maker of accurate muzzle loaders and instrumental in the development of telescopic sights. Frank wesson rifles were a series of singleshot rifles manufactured between 1859 and 1888 in.
Frank wesson gunmaker 3 volume slipcased set hardcover january 1, 2009 by woods author. The freunds story is one of triumph and failure, of intriguing people and challenging timesthe story of pioneer gunmakers to the west. Set of 3 volumes about frank wessons gunmaking until approximately 1890. Good bore very cool rare gun for sale by the hunters shop on gunsamerica 938460545. Frank wessons rimfire carbine video february 14, 2017 ian mccollum antiques, single shot rifles, video 6 first patented in 1859 and sold as a sporting rifle before the civil war in calibers 32, 38, and 41 rimfire, frank wesson added a military model with a 24 inch barrel and chambered for. Historian, competitive marksman john hamilton coauthors book on local gun manufacturing industry. The business was established in 1871, by gilbert h.
See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Hamilton, dick littlefield, frank pellett and dan woods. Buffalo arms is closed on the following holidays so that our employees can spend time with their families. In the past twentyfive years that situation has changed and this book is now a historical artifact, but still of real usefulness if one. Early american firearms and their makers august 2016 table of contents. Frank wesson gunmaker, 3 volume set in slip case frank wesson, gunmaker. Tom oppel this has to be one of the most physically impressive set of gun books i have ever seen. Merz has taken part in the world of firearms and has been a contributor to many well known reference books. He found what he was looking for when a belgian exhibitor at the sci convention displayed an in. One of only 500 sets produced these books are a wealth of information and a work of art.
Leroy merz antique firearms the worlds largest antique. They were one of the first rifles to use rimfire metallic cartridges. At over 2,500 pages, it lists over 1,700 manufacturers, 22,700 models and over 500,000 individual values. Frank wesson two trigger rifle for sale gunsamerica. Books by asac members american society of arms collectors. Set of 3 volumes about frank wesson s gunmaking until approximately 1890. Black powder cartridge news spring 2017 black powder cartridge. Early american firearms and their makers business reference.