October 30, 2019 The Collection of Steve & Marcy Hench
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2019
This beautiful rifle was exhibited in the 2013 Kentucky Rifle Association President's Display and is complete with its pewter KRA hang tag. It is evident that this rifle is closely associated with the Jacob Young Family and school of gunsmithing in the Cumberland settlements on the Tennessee Frontier. The similarities between this rifle and signed rifles by Jacob Young are made clear in an article on pages 81-88 of "Muzzleloader Magazine" from March/April 2015 in an article by Gil Sherrill. Jacob Young, as well as his brothers including John Young, his older brother David, and Samuel, migrated to Tennessee from Southwestern Virginia in the late 1700's. The William Young family settled on Indian Creek which runs into the Cumberland River; today, this is near Enigma, in Smith County, Tennessee. Several members of this family were known to have been master gunsmiths. Although this rifle is unsigned, clear similarities, including the form, the mounts, the integration of silver with brass, and the engraving are all attributes pointing to Young Family association. This rifle is pictured in "Longrifles of North Carolina" by John Bivins. The rifle has a full length, rifled octagonal barrel, which is unsigned and features a dovetailed brass front sight with silver blade, and an iron rear sight. The replaced lock is marked "J. MANN & SON" in the center and features a roller frizzen. The rifle has double set triggers. The rifle has a finely engraved iron toeplate and a total of 49 pieces of silver inlaid into the stock and brass furniture. The large brass patchbox consists of four pieces, finely engraved with detailed borders and inlaid with 12 pieces of silver, including a heart on the finial. The toeplate stretches all the way to the back of the trigger guard tang and is inlaid with six stylized silver hearts, engraved with broken line borders with stars around the screws. The round, ivory patchbox release is also located towards the back of the toeplate. The brass buttplate has a band of silver on the tang as well as a scroll engraved silver extension on the tang. The sideplate is pierced and engraved with broken line borders and rocker panel designs, it surrounds the single lock retaining screw. The trigger guard is inlaid with four pieces of unengraved silver and has a shaped silver extension just in front of the front trigger guard tang. The ramrod entry ferrule extension has a silver heart inlaid into it, as well as a brass band in the center of the ferrule. The remaining three ferrules have a silver overlay around the faceted portion with the rings remaining brass. The replaced nosecap shows a silver overlay with brass bands at the front and back. There is a large brass and silver inlay, which is shaped and engraved just below the cheekpiece, which also has a silver inlay over its face. There is a four point geometric design inlaid above the cheek piece, which is engraved with rocker panel designs with a star in the center. Behind the cheekpiece there is a large piece of silver engraved with 'C' scrolls and broken line borders. Hearts surround both sides of the lock, cavity, and sideplate carving. There are four engraved 'S' shaped inlays on each side of the forend and a uniquely shaped engraved silver wrist escutcheon. The full length high figured maple stock is of classic Tennessee form and is carved with two sets of incised double lines along both sides of the forend, both sides of the comb, and both sides of the bottom of the buttstock. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown patina with some scattered areas of minor pitting and dark spotting. The replaced lock retains a grey patina and is in its original flintlock configuration, some light scattered pitting. Brass and silver mounts and inlays are polished bright. Nosecap is a professional replacement. Stock retains an orange hue and shows some light wear and scattered light marks from use. Sections above the front of the lock tang and the barrel, as well as a section between the back of the lock tang and the barrel tang have been professionally replaced; a couple cracks along the forend have been professionally repaired. Ramrod is replaced. It would be hard to find a rifle more beautiful or highly decorated than this example. Tennessee rifles are very scarce and highly desirable. PROVENANCE: Purchased from Gerald Neaves.
Manufacturer
Young Family, Attributed
Paperwork
Article Copy, KRA CD