George H. Ferriss was a gunmaker in Utica, New York, in the mid to late 19th century and worked at times with Morgan James. The installed barrel is 15 3/4 inches long and is turned round for the front 2 inches and is noted as .38 caliber and is equipped with a globe front sight and dovetailed U-notch rear sight and marked "G.H. FERRISS/UTICA/NY". The second barrel measures 26 inches from muzzle to the breech plug, has a short round section at the muzzle, and is noted as .36 caliber. It is equipped with a dovetailed blade front sight and an adjustable sporting rear sight and has the same marking along with a partially visible barrel maker's mark (likely Remington) that includes "CAST-STEEL". The back action lock and furniture are casehardened. A peep sight is fitted to the upper tang. The included 1994 dated letter from Norm Flayderman describes the set, and he notes "The interior of the case is quite remarkable; likely among the finest examples of American casing. The entire bottom, as well as the top, are each fully recessed lined to the exact contours of the rifle and the various accessories." The accessories included a brass bullet starter, iron .315 marked bullet mold, large powder flask, all powder flask, Hawksley powder measure, pin punch, wood container with a spare nipple and balls (container smaller than the compartment), U.M.C. Co. "UNITED STATES ARMY CAPS" tin, "38" marked punch, oiler, mallet, screwdriver, nipple wrenches, "lollipop" tang sight, German silver blade front sight, and rods (antique but not the originals). Provenance: N. Flayderman & Co., Inc.; Property of a Gentleman
Exceptionally fine with 80% original brown finish mixed with patina on the barrels, 75% plus original case colors, some flash pitting at the nipple, and generally light age and storage related wear. The stock is very fine and has minor edge wear, light scratches and dings, and the vast majority of the original varnish. Mechanically fine. The case is fine with moderate age related deterioration. The accessories are mostly very good with light age and storage related wear.
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