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Item Number: 63387
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Best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal, this all original ‘J Brown’ branded pike measures 7 feet ½ inch in total length, is maker marked COLLINS CO HARTFORD and will be of particular interest to pre-Civil War, Harpers Ferry, John Brown Raid historians as the Bloody Kansas abolitionist was known to have met with the Collins Co. forge-master in1857 ultimately placing an order for 1,000 pikes at a cost of $1.00 a pike. Later as the economic distress of the panic of 1857 grew, Brown’s reduced fundraising ability resulted in an inability to pay for the order and production was ended after approximately 500 pikes were completed. Collins fully expecting this to be the end of their business with Brown, the pikes were undelivered however, the determined abolitionist reappeared in 1859 flush with cash from wealthy benefactors. Brown paid for the existing 500 pikes still in stores from the1857 production along with pikes from a second production run to complete the earlier order. Per Brown’s instruction the pikes were shipped to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania where supporters secretly forwarded them to rural Maryland near Harpers Ferry. Joined by an estimated 25 to 50 slaves, the Collins pikes were used in the Harper’s Ferry raid to guard hostages who were in some instances the masters of the same revolting slaves.
Quickly becoming prized relics of both the pro- and anti-slavery leaders, it is no surprise that examples might bare period markings as preservation. As this marked example is built on the early 1797 American ’leaf’ pattern rather than the classic John Brown Pike configuration we are most familiar with, we surmise that the variation may well emanate from the first production run of Brown’s order.
A remnant of our years of aggressively seeking out and acquiring historic Americana, we ’picked’ this fascinating old pike from a 1980s Brimfield sale where it was attributed to a Vermont GAR hall cleanout with no special significance attached to the J Brown brand. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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