Wesson and Prescott Target Rifle with Original Shooting Tools and Mold – Type Used by Civil War Sharpshooters

Wesson and Prescott Target Rifle with Original Shooting Tools and Mold  – Type Used by Civil War Sharpshooters– This heavy, .40 cal., octagonal barrel rifle was made by the partnership of Edwin Wesson and E.A. Prescot, pre-Civil War rifle manufacturers. This partnership dissolved around 1849, with the death of Edwin Wesson. EDWIN WESSON (1811 – 1849) was the older brother of Danial Wesson who together with Horace Smith founded the famous Smith & Wesson Company, in 1855. Daniel Wesson worked with his brother Edwin and partner E.A. Prescott, developing precision match rifles, during the 1840’s, also contracting with Samuel Colt to supply 1,000 Barrels for the Colt Walker Revolvers. Edwin Wesson died in 1849, leaving his younger brother Daniel to continue his firearm developments. Wesson and Prescott match or target rifles are quite rare. Many period, competitive target rifle shooters, as members of sharpshooter regiments, during the Civil War, would enter the army taking with them their extremely accurate match rifles, like this Wesson & Prescott rifle; some would be fitted with barrel length telescopic sights. An example of just such a match rifle, used by Edwin J. Stanclift of the 8th Company, 1st. Battalion of the New York Sharpshooters, during the Civil War, is in the collection of the National Museum of American History. (see image included here)

This match rifle remains in superior condition.  The metal “furniture” is silver, including the patch box, trigger guard, nose cap, butt plate and decorative escutcheons; floral motif engraving appears on the patch box, butt plate, trigger guard and hammer. There are double set triggers and a grip extension trigger guard. The lock plate bears the following stamping:

“WESSON & PRESCOTT”

On the flat side of the breech, opposite the lock plate is the following stamping:

“WESSON & PRESCOTT.     CAST STEEL

                                                                      NORTHBORO.                     362                                                              

                       MASS”

With a Northboro address, this rifle was definitely made between 1842 and 1848. The rifle is accompanied by a leather bound, small box that contains the needed shooting accessories for the gun, to include the following: an original false muzzle stamped with the following:

“CLARK’S

PATENT

273”

a brass, wood handled bullet mold also numbered “237”; the original bullet starter; a combination oiler and screwdriver; a capper for percussion caps; a polished steel bench rest; a nipple wrench; two period tins of percussion caps; several period bullet patches; several bullets – sugarloaf or picket style bullets and round balls; a tin container for powder. (Bullet starters and false muzzles were invented in 1840 by Alvan Clark of Boston, who assigned sole rights of its use to Edwin Wesson; he would ultimately license other makers, in 1848. Since the false muzzles were made integral with the barrel, false muzzles fit perfectly to only one barrel, and can therefore not be replaced if lost, because any replacement will always show tiny differences in the rifling. Both the false muzzles and bullet starters were designed to prevent wear and damage to the most important part of muzzleloaders on the field of accuracy: the very end of the muzzle; the majority of the wear would be taken by the false muzzle or the starter. Bullet starters help to place conical bullets properly and to introduce them into the barrel without inducing damage, prior to ramming home; they were utilized as a small rammer to push the ball into the barrel through the false muzzle. The false muzzle itself is the ring with four cast steel pins that fit into the corresponding holes at the end of the barrel; each false muzzle fit a specific rifle and could not be replaced if lost. The lateral pin on the upper side of the false muzzle was designed to remind the shooter not to forget to remove the device after loading, as this pin came in line with the sight or scope, thereby preventing the shooter from aiming until the false muzzle was removed.

This rifle, as mentioned, remains in superb condition; the figured, walnut, butt and half stocks are in great condition, as well, with a slight, almost insignificant crack on the left breech area. On the flat area, opposite the lock plate, beneath the Wesson & Prescott stamping, are two screws separated by a few inches, into the barrel; these small screws were probably to provide mounting for a telescopic sight. The rifle has a peep sight on a post, screwed into the breech plug tang. There is a front, hooded sight, for use with the peep sight, as well as a second, off-set, bladed sight for use with a telescopic sight.

WESSON, Edwin — Son of Rufus Wesson, a native of New Hampshire, who migrated to Massachusetts and established a plow manufactory. Edwin apprenticed himself to Silas Allen of Shrewsbury, and later set up for himself at Northboro, Massachusetts, where in association with Leavitt, he manufactured the Wesson and Leavitt revolver, until his death in 1850. See Massachusetts Arms Co. Edwin was an older brother of Daniel B. Wesson. This rifle is indeed one of the three major models of target rifles made by Edwin Wesson, who was the oldest of Rufus Wesson’s sons. Edwin Wesson opened his first shop in 1831 at Grafton, Mass, where he specialized in hunting, target and sporting percussion rifles. His rifles became soon renowned as the best quality target percussion rifles in the world, with a quality grade and finish that were far superior to any other competitive product. He moved his shop to Northboro, Mass. in 1842, where it stayed until 1848. That year it was moved to Hartford, Conn. Edwin Wesson died in January, 1849. Edwin Wesson’s target and sporting percussion rifles are now among the rarest and most desirable American-made percussion muzzleloaders.

Prescott, E. A.—Patentee and manufacturer of so-called Prescott “Navy” revolver. Patent of October 2, i860, 6 shot; .36 caliber, rim fire and one of the earliest metallic cartridge revolvers to be used in the service. There is no record of government purchase.
PRESCOTT, E. A.— Worcester, Mass., 1860-74. Ex-employee of Ethan Allen. Maker of a rim-fire cartridge revolver distributed by Merwin & Bray. The arm was an infringement on the Rollin White patent controlled by Smith & Wesson, and production was discontinued in 1863.