Arts (125)
    Asian & African (8)
    Books (560)
    Boxes & Tea Caddies (85)
    Clocks (36)
    Decorative (398)
    Dolls & Bears (122)
    Figurines (530)
    Furniture (24)
    Glass (1736)
  ...
View All


Search our
Dealer/Mall
Stores!
 
 



Poodle, Spaghetti Trim, Ucagco




Collector Books

The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles





ANTIQUE FUNCTIONAL MINIATURE 12´´ COLT RIFLE MUSKET BOXED SCALE HANDMADE SIGNED For Sale


ANTIQUE FUNCTIONAL MINIATURE 12´´ COLT RIFLE MUSKET BOXED SCALE HANDMADE SIGNED
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.


Buy Now

ANTIQUE FUNCTIONAL MINIATURE 12´´ COLT RIFLE MUSKET BOXED SCALE HANDMADE SIGNED:
$269.00


SEE MORE COLLECTABLE GUN MINIATURES HERE:


ITEM DESCRIPTION IS AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE

Miniatures hold a fascination for everyone.Perhaps it is something rooted in the happy memories of our childhood toys. Aswe mature and grow in sophistication we begin to appreciate the huge amount ofskill required to make things small. The craftsmen who create miniaturefirearms and ammunition do it for the challenge and the artistic satisfaction.Only a handful of master miniature makers have ever been able to make a livingdoing it. For most hobby builders, there is virtually no financial incentive.This work is labor intensive and generally each piece is unique.

Since medieval times, journeyman artisans havemade miniature weapons as demonstrations of mastery in their trades. Miniatureswere also made as easily transportable sales samples. The majority, then asnow, were created as art objects for personal enjoyment and for wealthypatrons. In 1973 the Miniature Arms Society (MAS) was established to bringbuilders, collectors and enthusiasts together in the tiniest niche of the armscollecting hobby. Based in the United States, the club has about 300 membersworldwide. They share a common appreciation for artistry and finecraftsmanship. The art is not solely in the decoration of the miniatures,though some are magnificently embellished with engraving, stock carving andprecious metal inlays just like real firearms. A large part of the artisticachievement is in the technical mastery needed to recreate a full-sized objectin miniature. You don’t need to be an artist to join MAS; you just need to likeminiature arms. Neophyte collectors and builders will find wide andenthusiastic support from fellow members. Every year since its founding, clubmembers exhibit examples of their best pieces at the NRA Annual Meetings andExhibits.

The miniature arms hobby is as broad inhistorical scope and variety as the arms industry itself and includeseverything from bows and edged weapons to artillery. Firearms make up thelargest portion of the hobby and span muzzleloaders to machine guns, with Coltrevolvers and Winchester lever-action rifles being the most popular.

Some makers produce scale live ammunition withwhich to fire their tiny guns.Miniatures are not considered firearms unless they are chambered in acommonly available cartridge, like .22 Short, for example. Miniaturecartridge-powder charges and bullet weights are scaled back to match the sizeof the weapon, which sometimes results in velocities that are too low foraccurate fire despite the efforts of builders to cut precisely scaled riflinginto their barrels. Many miniatures are nonfiring.

Some makers work traditionally, you might sayeven primitively, measuring and scaling with mechanical instruments and usingtiny hand-made tools. Others use sophisticated computer numerically controlled(CNC) machines to cut each piece and 3D printers to make molds for castingparts. Between these two poles there are a lot of little manual lathes andtabletop milling machines tucked into garages and basements where talentedamateur and professional machinists test their skills making these littleweapons.

Each miniature gun project requires carefulhand finishing. The parts must be fitted and polished, and all the subtlesurface details recreated, including any markings and decoration if desired,before they are hardened and given their final surface touch. A great deal ofthe work needs to be done under magnification. Consider how small thedecorative engraving on a one-eighth scale pistol would be and you willunderstand why working under a microscope is necessary.

Scales vary widely. The most popular amongcollectors are those in one-third and one-fourth scale, which can retaincomplete functionality and sometimes even fire custom-made miniature liveammunition. Miniatures that fire conventional ammunition, usually half scale,are treated as pistols under federal and state law.

As the scale shrinks below one-quarter, itbecomes increasingly difficult to fashion moving parts and some function isoften lost. Certainly full functionality is possible in the smaller scales, butthat kind of tiny precision work can get as physically delicate as a watchmovement and very expensive. MAS member, director, and advanced collector TedCampbell Sr. explained, “The smaller the scale gets, the greater the skillrequired to build it.” That’s why one of the favorites in his collection, whichhovers around 60 pieces, is an amazing one-eighth scale brace of 1851 Colt Navyrevolvers in a fitted case with tools made by the late George Jones, a renownedminiature firearms maker. Each fully operable pistol measures only slightlymore than 1¾ inches.

Also among Campbell’s favorites are twomachine-gun miniatures. His tiny one-fifth scale MAC-10 machine pistol wassuperbly recreated by an unknown maker. It lacked only the logo and markings,which Campbell had engraved by Roger Sampson, a known master engraver. It isnot uncommon for builders to collaborate on projects.

Campbell’s miniature World War II British StenMK2 submachine gun made by Leon Crottet of Switzerland actually fires infull-auto mode. However, since it uses a completely unique and custom-mademiniature cartridge, it is not subject to the National Firearms Act (NFA)regulations that a genuine 9mm Sten would be.

One significant aspect of the miniature armshobby centers is on pinfire guns. These popular novelty pieces have been inproduction continuously since the late 19th century and include replicas ofperiod weapons, as well as unique designs. They were handmade as well asmass-produced examples. Unlike other miniatures, all pinfire guns are intendedto fire blanks, live ammunition or sometimes both. Their tiny cartridge casesare straight cylinders, sealed on one end, from which a miniscule pinprotrudes. When the miniature gun’s hammer strikes, it drives the pin into aprimer within the case to ignite the main powder charge. Loaded with a leadbullet about the size of a number 9 shotgun pellet, the popular 2mm pinfireround is about .078 inches wide and less than a quarter inch long. They areabout as loud as cap guns, and were never really considered serious defensiveweapons. A Victorian-era gentleman might use one as a fob at the end his watchchain to delight children.

Collecting miniatures rather than real gunswill not save you money in the long run, but it will at least save you space.Quality of workmanship is the single most important factor in establishingvalue, followed by relative rarity. The closest thing to production-mademiniatures are those produced by Miniart in Russia (now out of business) andAldo Uberti S.p.A., famous for their full-sized replicas of 18th century Colts,in Italy. Though they are of excellent quality and workmanship, they are alsoin relative abundance compared to the work of master craftsman David Kucer ofMontreal, Canada, Fred Crissman of Pennsylvania or the late Tom Weston ofMexico City, Mexico. For example, a one-third scale 1873 single-action ArmyColt revolver made by David Kucer will sell for $4,500 when one can be found.The same model in 47-percent scale made by Uberti retails for only around $650and can be bought just about any time.

The value of any miniature is enhanced by theappropriate accoutrements. Examples include fitted French cases with theirnumerous compartments, bullet molds, powder flasks, holsters, slings,silencers, cartridges and even manuals.

The making of a miniature gun requires broadtalents. Virtually every part of it must be fabricated from scratch. You don’tnecessarily need to be a gunsmith, but the gunsmith’s skilled hands andaffinity for the mechanical are prerequisites for making a gun of any kind.Many miniatures past and present have been created with just hand tools. Tosculpt, checker, decoratively carve grips and stocks and build fitted cases,woodworking is required. Those fitted cases were always equipped with locks soyou might find yourself becoming a locksmith along the way.

Many novice builders start with Derringersbecause of their mechanical simplicity. A Remington single-shot, vest-pocketDerringer was MAS member Bob McGinnis first successful project, and it took him100 hours of work to complete. Since then he’s made a literal handful ofDerringers and wants to move on to more advanced projects like a Remingtonrolling-block rifle. Though McGinnis started building the traditional way, heis not your typical miniature builder. He began working in the tool and dietrade in 1959 and spent 25 years in his own shop building precision-injectionmolds for the plastics industry before retiring and passing the business to hisson. He didn’t know there were miniature gun makers until 1989 when he read anarticle inGun Digest. He joined MAS in 1993, and through its members gainedaccess to a huge body of invaluable institutional knowledge and buildingexperience. Reflecting on his 22 years in MAS, he told me, “I had the pleasureand good fortune to learn from some of the finest craftsmen in the world, andhope someday I can pass on what I learned to younger craftsmen and artisans sothey can carry on this wonderful art and hobby.”

By contrast, 92-year-old David Kucer knew hewanted to make miniature guns since childhood. He first saw them as part of atraveling show while on a family trip to New York City in 1935. Coming from afamily of metal workers and having access to tools in his father’s shop, hemade his first admittedly primitive mini when he was 12, with a barrelfabricated from a piece of a quarter-inch bar stock he scrounged in a junkyard.That first project showed him that he lacked both the right tools andsufficient skill. By the early 1950s he had both. His interest in miniaturefirearms was forced to lie dormant while he finished high school, worked in thefamily business and served his country in the Canadian Army as an armamentartificer from 1942 to 1946.

His first satisfying miniature gun was aone-quarter scale M1911, like the one he carried throughout the war. During theprocess of building this first piece, he designed and built each tool, which hecontinues to use to this day. The bulk of the metal work is done on hisone-third scale custom vertical mill and a pantograph-engraving machine hemodified to cut parts into three dimensions. A pantograph is used to accuratelytrace the shapes of parts while simultaneously

scaling them.

In his 60-year career he’s made 80 differentminiature gun projects totaling over 400 pieces, most of them built after 1970when he went into business for himself. By 1975 he was building miniature gunsfull time and was eventually joined by his son, Zavie, who works by his sideevery day. Customers expect to wait a year between creations, as his work is ofsuch extraordinary excellence it has been exhibited in seven museums, includingthe Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Armouries of H.M. at the Tower of London,and most recently the Montreal Museum of Fine Art.

You can see some of the work of David and ZavieKucer and many other builders at the NRA Annual Meetings in Louisville, Ky.,next year or at the Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, Calif., where over 50pieces are on loan from various makers and MAS collectors. MAS publishes theMiniature Arms Journal quarterly for members and offers several publicationsfor sale, including two by MAS journal editor Bob Urso: The Tiniest Guns andThe Odd & Curious Guns, Knives and Drawings of Herschel Kopp. The former isa detailed catalog of historic pinfire guns and the latter is a wealth ofinformation for new builders. MAS American dues are $45 the first year and $35annually for renewal and include a subscription to the magazine, as well asaccess to the clubs extensive collection of plans for aspiring builders.

ITEM DESCRIPTION

This is a new old stock gun miniature. Signed into case: Inglaterra 1860.Unique. Handmade. Amazing masterpiece crafted y E Ruiz during in Spain during 1950s.Exactly miniature reproduction (12 inches long) with functional parts (you can eve put the trigger and move parts as the original gun - working mechanism - tube is open egde to edge, however i do not know if it really shot). It has a functional hidden box in butt !!! Amazing top collectable miniature. Very ornate & exquisitehigh detailed piece.Reproduction of a Colt pistol rifle from1860 . Amazing & intricate piece made with different metals, wood. Even decoration & filigree has been reproduced exactly as original !!! Superb condition.This artist only made 340 gun miniatures reproduction during is life and henever make the same model twice. Includesoriginal signed wooden box with virgin monogram on side. One of best miniature even made for E. Ruiz (seepictures). Shipping costs is free (worldwide – certified withtracking code - 3 to 6 weeks to arrive). If you have any question, do nothesitate to contact me. Thank you for your visit.



Buy Now








Related Items:

Antique Gramophone, Fully Functional Working Phonograph, win-up record player picture

Antique Gramophone, Fully Functional Working Phonograph, win-up record player

$312.90



Antique Pig Face Bascinet Armor Helmet Antique Medieval Functional Helmet Gift picture

Antique Pig Face Bascinet Armor Helmet Antique Medieval Functional Helmet Gift

$89.00



Antique Functional Medieval Helmet Bucket Barrel Steel & Brass Armor Helmet.. picture

Antique Functional Medieval Helmet Bucket Barrel Steel & Brass Armor Helmet..

$205.47






  Shopping Cart 
(Your shopping cart is empty)
Subtotal: $0.00
View Cart | Checkout


  Recently Viewed

1.  Lacquered Cedar Wood Box
2.  The White Horse Established 1742 Sign Signed
3.  Pewter Framed Tile, Plate. Ship, Sailing


  Latest Items

1.  Basket, Handpainted,
2.  Apricot Wildflower Pattern Bell
3.  Jade, Jadeite Glass Bell, Westmoreland
4.  Green Glass Strawberry Ptn. Bell
5.  Aladdin Lamp, Rose and White Moonstone


  Facebook



 


Secure Websites

Online Payments

 


| Search Items | Member Profile | My Favorites | Auto Notify | FAQ | Links | Sitemap |
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Tell Your Friends | Newsletters/Articles/Press Releases |


Antiques, collectibles, estate items, reproductions & art from dealers & collectors world wide at JosephMarc.
Copyright © 2004-2011 JosephMarc, Inc. All rights reserved.