American & Southern | March 26, 2026
Thu, Mar 26, 2026 10:00AM EDT
Lot 175
William Dettmar North Carolina Salem School Longrifle
Estimate: $800 - $1,200
Sold for
$2,200
Sold Price excludes BP
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $100 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
(Hamburg, Germany b. 1832, Forsyth County, Salem, NC, 1849-1909) late Salem period, percussion halfstock, 40-5/8 in. octagonal barrel, worn "W. DETTMAR / SALEM N.C." stamp on top of barrel, dovetail blade front sight, split rear sight, 4-1/4 in. pointed two screw tang, back action lock, walnut stock with carved cheek rest, double set triggers, brass trigger guard, decorative cap box, and butt plate, iron thimbles and forend cap, ramrod, overall 56-1/2 in.
Provenance: From The Collections of Dr. George Waynick and Dr. Edward G. Hill Jr., Old Salem, North Carolina
Note: Considered one of the last of the Salem gunsmiths, William Dettmar was born in Germany where he began to apprentice in the trade, after arriving in Salem he apprenticed with Timothy Vogler then later opened his own shop in Salem, the majority of his rifles are percussion with back action locks which was a common practice among the later gunsmiths, various examples of Dettmar signed rifles and locks are known, The Longrifle Makers of the Salem School, pg. 44, C. Michael Briggs, and North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765 - 1865, pg. 153, William Ivey and Kenneth Orr.
Available payment options
Purchased items will be available for pick up or shipping from our Asheville, North Carolina auction facility within ten business days of the auction, or will be assessed a storage fee of $5.00 per day, per item. Purchaser agrees that packing and shipping is done at the purchaser's risk and that the purchaser will pay in advance all packing expenses, materials, carrier fees and insurance charges. At our discretion, items will either be packed by an agent such as a packaging store or Brunk Auctions. Please allow two weeks for shipping after payment is received. Shipment of large items is the responsibility of the purchaser. We are happy to provide names of carriers and shippers if a purchaser so requests. Brunk Auctions will have no liability for any loss or damage to shipped items.
From The Collections of Dr. George Waynick and Dr. Edward G. Hill Jr., Old Salem, North Carolina
handling wear consistent with age and use, oxidation to exterior of barrel, pitting around cock, oxidation to other metal components, movement of iron ramrod mount at forend cap, heavy abrasions to left side of buttstock, stains from use to wood on stock, other abrasions to stock, cock and set triggers function, good condition Note - Brunk Auctions makes every effort to offer accurate and thorough information, but encourages prospective bidders to inspect items in person whenever possible. Condition statements are provided as a courtesy for general guidance and should not be considered complete or definitive. They do not represent a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions. Certain condition issues may not be specifically noted in the report but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which are considered part of the overall condition report. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for complete information and contact us for additional photos or information as needed.
