On Tuesday, May 18, Morphy Auctions will present a 161-lot selection of historical arms and militaria. Specialty categories include early flintlock muskets, rifles and pistols, antique handguns, powder horns, sabers, medals, maps, portraits of distinguished military figures, and more. All forms of bidding will be available, including live online through Morphy Live. The premier lot of the sale is a Kentucky long rifle presented by the Marquis de Lafayette to his trusted Tuscarora Iroquois Indian guide and friend Chief Tunis, who traveled with him during the American Revolution and led him on expeditions across 24 of the United States. Of the Europeans who held sympathetic views toward the breakaway colonists during the American Revolution, none was held in higher regard or proactively assisted their cause with greater fervor than Lafayette. He defiantly ignored the wishes of his family, who disowned him, and of King Louis the Sixteenth, and purchased a ship to travel to America. His military rank of major general was recognized by the Continental Army, and he immediately began an illustrious career in the colonies with the oversight of his closest friend, George Washington, said Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions. The wealthy marquis became known not only for his many acts of valor but also for his monetary contributions to the American cause at its darkest hour. In fact, it was due to Lafayettes lobbying efforts that France sent both economic aid and troops during the war. Lafayette saw more of the United States than most Americans, then or now. Right alongside him during his many expeditions was his faithful guide Chief Tunis. As an expression of gratitude, Lafayette gifted Chief Tunis with the Kentucky rifle, which is profusely engraved, decorated and inscribed: Presented to Chief Tunis by Lafayette at Kingston NY 1824. Its unbroken chain of provenance traces the rifles ownership back to Chief Tunis and his common-law wife Ruth Yaple. Former owners also include direct descendants of Chief Tunis, renowned antique arms dealer/collector Glode Requa (1918-2011), and Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon. The estimate will be $200,000-$500,000. A pre-Revolutionary War flintlock Kentucky rifle is attributed to Bucks County, Pa., during the regions formative years of gunsmithing. It has relatively high-relief carving as opposed to the later incised carving usually found with this school of rifles. Its silhouette shows characteristics of what would eventually become known as the Bucks County School profile, explained Morphy. The fleur-de-lis designs on either side of the wrist at the rear of the lock and sideplate moldings are evidence that this rifle was made in upper Bucks County. Also, the carving behind the barrel tang is seen on rifles made by John Shuler, Andrew Verner, and Herman Rupp, among others from the area. The estimate will be $50,000-$150,000. Another of the sales highlights, a well-known and documented Revolutionary War flintlock Kentucky rifle, is depicted in Joe Kindig Jr.s Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age, George Shumways Rifles of Colonial America, and Wood and Whiskers Gunsmiths of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Relief-carved, this iconic rifle of early Lancaster form is signed John Newcomer (d. 1782). Newcomer was listed as a gunsmith in Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, in 1771, 1772, 1779 and 1780, and will be estimated at $50,000-$100,000. Several significant cavalry swords will be auctioned, including a rare 42-inch American Loyalist cavalry saber made by James Potter in New York City during the period of 1779-81. Following the Battle of Long Island and other skirmishes, New York was under British control. At that time Potter produced his swords at Maiden Lane, Manhattan, for the British Inspector General of Provincial Forces. They were subsequently distributed to various Loyalist Dragoon troops. The Potter saber is expected to make $15,000-$30,000. A notable English-made sword, the only known complete survivor of the 280 originally sent to Sir William Pepperells regiment in 1754, is marked Sr. W.P. No. 2 below an impressed Hanoverian horse. It will be estimated at $10,000-$20,000. Twelve powder horns will be presented, including a group of four cased, engraved French and Indian War map powder horns, three belonging to Lt. Col. Archibald Montgomerie (1726-96) and acquired at the 1925 auction held at Eglinton Castle, Scotland. Two of the horns bear the Royal Arms, and one bears the Arms of the Earls of Eglinton. From 1757 to 1763, at the advent of the French and Indian War, Montgomerie commanded the 77th Regiment of Scottish troops. They fought with George Washington and Henry Bouquet in the Fort Duquesne Expedition before joining General Amhersts troops in 1759 to lay siege to Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Subsequently, they fought the Cherokee Indians at the Battle of Etchocy, with mixed results. After marching to the coast, Montgomerie returned to New York. It is at that time that he probably commissioned the powder horns as a souvenir of his adventures in America. The lot is estimated at $100,000-$300,000. The engraved horn of Captain Abraham Foot is dated 1762 and is a book example seen in American Engraved Powder Horns: The Golden Age 1755/1783 by John S. du Mont. Engravings include a heart with the high-relief phrase Capt Abraham Foots Horn Crown Point octr 5th, a reference to the officers extensive French and Indian War service. It is offered with copies of pages from the du Mont book plus a copy of its catalog description from Bourgeaults 2006 auction of the William Guthman Americana collection. It will be estimated at $12,000-$25,000. For additional information, call 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. Images courtesy of Morphy Auctions.