Wednesday, September 20, 2017

"The Best from the Best" For Sale from the Bob Roughton Collection

J. Robert (Bob) Roughton has been a collector of many things, antique cars, antique guns, Colt pistols, and contemporary longrifles and pistols.  But, our focus here is on the latter.  Bob is a charter member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association and has been a huge supporter of the art and artists of the longrifle culture.  Over the years he has amassed a collection unlike any that has ever existed or will ever exist again.  Bob collected the best pieces from the best artists/builders.  Builders like Judd Brennan, Frank House, Allen Martin, Mark Wheland, Bob Harn, Jim Chambers, Mike Gahagan, Wallace Gusler, Mark Silver, and many others whom are still building.  In addition, he collected pieces from many of the early builders who are no longer with us like John Bivins, Carl Pippert, William Buchele, and Hacker Martin.  In all, there were over 100 pieces in the collection.  Again, the best of and from the best.

Bob has been battling health problems for several years, and mid July of this year I received a call from him saying his health was not good.  He ask if I would consider selling his collection for him.  Realizing this would be a huge undertaking I had to think about it for a week or more.  Finally, I called Bob and suggested he send the collection to an auction company to handle the sale.  His answer was an emphatic NO.  Again, Bob has been a huge supporter of the contemporary builders and feared that auctioning the whole collection at one time would seriously damage the market for contemporary work and lower the prices to the point of making it difficult for some of the builders to continue.  Rather, he prefers the collection to be sold a few pieces at a time over several years.  He has priced each piece at a fair market value, often less than he paid, but very fair for the secondary market.

Because Bob has been such a good personal friend and a good friend to all the contemporary builders I agreed to help him find new homes for as many pieces as possible and hopefully all of them.



Pair of Flintlock Pistols by Carl Pippert

Number
91
Name
Flintlock Pistol 1 of 2
Made by
Carl Pippert
Barrel Length

Caliber

Value

Purchased from

Private or Company
Private
Misc
Silver Hardware

Number
92
Name
Flintlock Pistol 2 of 2
Made by
Carl Pippert
Barrel Length

Caliber

Value

Purchased from

Private or Company
Private
Misc
Silver Hardware

Pair of Flintlock Pistols by Carl Pippert

Pair of Flintlock Pistols by Carl Pippert

Pair of Flintlock Pistols by Carl Pippert

Pair of Flintlock Pistols by Carl Pippert

PA style ("the famous Al Sullivan gun") by Carl Pippert (bottom)

Number
52
Name
PA style ("the famous Al Sullivan gun")
Made by
Carl Pippert, Feb 15, 1974
for Al Sullivan (president of KRA at the time)
Barrel Length
44"
Caliber
.42
Value
$17,000
Purchased from
Larry Forte
Private or Company 
Private
Misc
Three silver flowers on patchbook
Big silver inlay on cheek piece
AS engraved on wrist
"This gun is a piece of history"
* Cf. NRA (Private) #79 / Blue Book = $25,000

PA style ("the famous Al Sullivan gun") by Carl Pippert (bottom)

PA style ("the famous Al Sullivan gun") by Carl Pippert (bottom)

PA style rifle by Carl Pippert (2nd from bottom)

Number
34
Name
PA style rifle
Made by
Carl Pippert
Barrel Length
46"
Caliber
.45
Value
$15,000
Purchased from
Larry Forte, Maryland
Private or Company
Company
Misc
"One of the best guns in this room - considered to be one of the finest guns Carl Pippert made."
Side plate engraved:  Danville, Ky
Exotic, raised carve, silver inlay, inscription on the barrel:  Made by C. Pippert for... Clem Caldwell Feb. 1970
*Unable to find match on NRA Schedule of Firearms (Company)

PA style rifle by Carl Pippert (2nd from bottom)

Copy of a George or John Armstrong by William Buchele (center)

Number
74
Name
Copy of a George or John Armstrong
Made by
William Buchele, circa 1960
Barrel Length
42"
Caliber
.45
Value
$4,500
Purchased from
Baltimore Gun Show
Private or Company
Private
Misc
12 silver inlays
*Cf NRA Private #93 / Blue Book = $3,500

Copy of a George or John Armstrong by William Buchele (center)

Copy of a George or John Armstrong by William Buchele (center)

Copy of an original Isaac Haines rifle by George Stanford (center)

Number
41
Name
Copy of an original Isaac Haines rifle
Made by
George Stanford
Barrel Length
48"
Caliber
.50
Value
$8,500
Purchased from
Larry Forte
Private or Company
Private
Misc
The original rifle is famous, hardly any use to it, beautiful, etc.

Copy of an original Isaac Haines rifle by George Stanford (center)

petit PA style rifle by Rudy Bahr for M. Stevenson

Number
73
Name
Copy of petit PA style rifle
Made by
Rudy Bahr for M. Stevenson, 1971
Barrel Length
42 1/8"
Caliber
.34
Value
SOLD
Purchased from
maybe Jimmy Alexander
Private or Company
Private
Misc
Silver inlay on cheek piece
~13 Silver inlays
Lockplate signed WG Sutter, Ruffsdale, Pa
*Cf NRA Private #82 / Blue Book = $7,500

petit PA style rifle by Rudy Bahr for M. Stevenson


A Set: 1 Kentucky Rifle, 1 Kentucky Pistol by Jud Brennan


Number
2
Name
Kentucky Pistol
Made by
Jud Brennan
Barrel Length
13"
Caliber
.50
Serial number
115B  Done in the Winchester Virginia style
Valued at
SOLD

 Kentucky Pistol by Jud Brennan

A Set: 1 Kentucky Rifle, 1 Kentucky Pistol by Jud Brennan

Number
Name
Kentucky Rifle 
Made by
Jud Brennan
Barrel Length
44"
Caliber
.50
Misc
Serial #115A Lauck Winchester Virginia Style 
(a copy of a Lauck) 
Valued at
SOLD

Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan

Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan

Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (top)
Jerry W. Huddleston (bottom)

French or English High Art Smooth Bore by Jerry W. Huddleston

Number
72
Name
French or English High Art Smooth Bore
Made by
Jerry W. Huddleston
Barrel Length
42"
Caliber
.62 smooth
Value
$15,000
Purchased from
Jerry Huddleston
Private or Company
Private
Misc
All silver mounted
Gold roses
Tremendous amount of gold inlay work, incl gold roses

Jerry W. Huddleston

Jerry W. Huddleston

Jerry W. Huddleston

Winchester Style Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (center) Number 7

Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (bottom) Number 2
[Must be sold as a set with pistol]

Jerry W. Huddleston (bottom)

Winchester Style Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (center)

Number
7
Name
Winchester style Kentucky Rifle
Made by
Jud Brennan
Barrel Length
44"
Caliber
.45
Value
$20,000
Purchased from
Charlie Kaufman
Serial number
50
Private or Company
Company ("I think")
Misc
All silver mounted, a milestone production
*Unable to find match on NRA Schedule of Firearms (Company)

Winchester Style Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (center)

Winchester Style Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (center)

(This should be signature on Number 7 if my photos are in order. JR)

Winchester, VA style by Jud Brennan (top)

Number
61
Name
Winchester, VA style
Made by
Jud Brennan
Barrel Length
44"
Caliber
.45
Value
$20,000
Purchased from

Private or Company
Private
Misc
All silver mounted
signed Judson J. Brennan, no. 80

Winchester, VA style by Jud Brennan (top)

Winchester, VA style by Jud Brennan (top) Number 61

Winchester Style Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (center) Number 7

Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (bottom) Number 2
SOLD

 
Winchester, VA style by Jud Brennan (top) Number 61

Winchester Style Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (center) Number 7

Kentucky Rifle by Jud Brennan (bottom) Number 2
SOLD


Iron Mounted Rifle by Monte Mandarino (bottom)


Number
53
Name
Monte Mandarino Iron mounted rifle
Made by
Monte Mandarino in 1979
Barrel Length
38"
Caliber
.54
Value
SOLD
Purchased from

Private or Company
Private
Misc
Iron mounted
Banana lockplate
Silver wire inlay
Dated in patchbox 1979

Iron Mounted Rifle by Monte Mandarino (bottom)

Iron Mounted Rifle by Monte Mandarino (bottom)

Bench Copy of the Petite Lauck Rifle by Allen Martin (center with brass patchbox)

Number
11
Name
Winchester style Kentucky rifle, a bench copy of the petite Lauck rifle in collection of J.R. Roughton, Jr.
Made by
Allen Martin
Barrel Length
42 & 1/8"
Caliber
.50
Value
SOLD
Purchased from
Allen Martin
Private or Company
Private
Misc
Custom made for J.R. Roughton, Jr.

Bench Copy of the Petite Lauck Rifle by Allen Martin (center with brass patchbox)

Bench Copy of the Petite Lauck Rifle by Allen Martin (center with brass patchbox)

Little VA Gun by Robert Harn (center)


Number
49
Name
Little VA gun
Made by
Robert Harn
Barrel Length
42 1/8"
Caliber
.50
Value
SOLD
Purchased from

Private or Company
Private
Misc
All iron mounted


Little VA Gun by Robert Harn (center)

Little VA Gun by Robert Harn (center)

Christian Springs Style by Mark Wheland (top)


Number
67
Name
Christian Springs style
Made by
Mark Wheland
Barrel Length
43 3/4"
Caliber
.58
Value
SOLD
Purchased from
Mark Wheland
Private or Company
Private
Misc
Banana lock plate
Sliding wood patchbox
Probably one of Dad's "imaginary" guns - a custom copy requested of a short barrel only using full length barrel

Christian Springs Style by Mark Wheland (top)

Christian Springs Style by Mark Wheland (top)

Sliding Wood Patchbox, English Style by Monte Mandarino (bottom)

Number
24
Name
Sliding wood patchbox, English style
Made by
Monte Mandarino (actually signed, usually cartouche)
Barrel Length
44"
Caliber
.50
Value
$8,000
Purchased from

Serial number
18
Private or Company
Private


Sliding Wood Patchbox, English Style by Monte Mandarino (bottom)

Sliding Wood Patchbox, English Style by Monte Mandarino (bottom)

Sliding Wood Patchbox, English Style by Monte Mandarino (bottom)

Early PA Style, Sliding Wood Patchbox by Robert Harn (top)

Number
44
Name
Probably an early PA style, sliding wood patchbox
Made by
Robert Harn of Florida
Barrel Length
44"
Caliber
.54
Value
$12,000
Purchased from
Don Getz in 2011
Private or Company
Private
Misc
Sliding wood patchbox
Originally made for Don Getz (a famous barrel-maker himself)
Getz barrel
"The most beautiful Bob Harn rifle I've ever seen.  I think it's the best one he ever built."

Early PA Style, Sliding Wood Patchbox by Robert Harn (top)

Jim Chambers with part of the Roughton Collection.


Bob has made a list with the maker's name, the style of the piece, the barrel length and caliber, and a brief description.  I have that list available by email or hard copy, and I can email photos of any specific piece(s) that might be of interest to anyone.  I can be contacted by email at chambers@flintlocks.com, by phone at 828-667-8361.

Photographed at the 2017 CLA Show by Jan Riser with copy by Jim Chambers. Descriptions by Bob Roughton.

3 comments:

  1. They sure can make em look old. Lots of talent on display.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful collection of extraordinary art. I am proud to own a few pieces from it and will share it just like Mr Roughton did.

    ReplyDelete

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