Lot 3213

Damien Connolly Cased 1/5 Scale Miniature Kentucky Rifle

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Damien Connolly Cased 1/5 Scale Miniature Kentucky Rifle

Estimate: $14,000 - $22,500

Starting Bid: $10,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Exquisite Damien Connolly Cased 1/5 Scale Miniature Engraved and Raised Relief Carved Golden Age Flintlock American Long Rifle This outstanding non-firing miniature Lancaster School American long rifle has been frequently cited when the excellence of Damien Connolly's craftsmanship is discussed and is discussed in detail at CraftsmanshipMuseum.com where it is noted that this "tiny project involved approximately 2,000 hours of work, and it was not done on commission. Damien simply wanted the challenge of working this small, and it serves as a fine showcase for his skills as a gunsmith and engraver." The work was conducted over five years, and most of the stainless steel parts were completed under a microscope. 600 hours were spent creating a drill in order to produce the project. Connolly has been a self-taught artist since he was a young boy and began making handmade muzzleloading rifles at the age of 21 and received his first engraving commission in 1979. After 1999, he began to focus solely on high end embellished firearms, and he moved from Australia to Vermont in 2011 to work with Winston Churchill on the Gray Ghost Colt Single Action Army project featured in our June 2026 The American Sale (lot 27, $646,250 realized price) and in 2023 was a Grand Masters instructor on sculpted steel engraving and 24k gold inlaying techniques. The overall length of this miniature is 12 1/4 inches from muzzle to heel and weighs approximately 1 oz. The barrel is noted as having a .098 inch bore with seven individually broached grooves. Some of the individual parts are shockingly minuscule such as the .4 mm set trigger adjustment screw, a tiny shaped flake of flint, and even a tiny touch hole. The intricate engraving was done using traditional engraver hand tools and a microscope. The 23 mm long lock is beautifully signed "Connolly", and photos taken by Connolly and shared at CraftsmanshipMuseum.com show that even the internal bridles are engraved. The ornate sideplate, cheekpiece inlay, patchbox, and toe plate feature intricate piercings and engraving. Note the extremely fine flame figure on both the rifle stock and case which are fine enough to replicate the figure of a full-scale rifle. The stock features highly detailed carving most would struggle to execute in full scale. The case is noted as taking 396 hours and was built from the same timber as the stock, pigskin suede lining, and custom made wood screws and hinges with an opening and closing detent. The case contains a delicate cleaning/"range" rod with a tiny removable jag and wool mop. "Connolly" is in 24k gold inside the lid. The overall project is certainly one of the finest miniature American long rifles ever created, if not the absolute finest.

Manufacturer: None

Model: None

BBL: 9 inch octagon

Stock: curly maple

Finish: bright

Serial NumberNSN

Class: Other

  • Provenance: The Frank Brownell Collection
  • Condition: Excellent overall with crisp engraving and carving, bright steel, minor handling marks, and detached tip section of the ramrod. The lock and set triggers are noted as mechanically functional but have not been tested. The case is also excellent and has stunning figure and finish and the slightest storage marks. Overall, a truly extraordinary work of art and craftsmanship and a technical marvel.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000