October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
A pewter Kentucky Rifle Association medallion accompanies this rifle, as it was in the 2016 President's display. George Wiker was a Bucks County, Pennsylvania gunsmith. The rifle has a full length octagonal barrel with a dovetailed silver front sight, and an iron rear sight centered on block. The underside of the barrel is stamped "CHRIST". The handmade flat lockplate is decorated with springs of engraving at the tail and in the center. The rifle has a classic Bucks County trigger with rearward facing curl. The brass furniture includes the classic one piece Bucks County patchbox with hinge horizontally on the bottom. The lid is decorated with fine foliate borders and is inscribed "G Wiker gun Smith / Price $18" along with a small flower with propeller, typically associated with Shuler. Classic Bucks County trigger guard with large lug at the front of the bow. Toeplate patchbox release. Elongated ramrod entry ferrule with integrated wearplate decorated with vine borders and floral engraving around the screws. The brass nosecap has an open face at the muzzle with the wood exposed, as typically found in Bucks County. Classic Bucks County sideplate with beveled edges and terminating with a ball in the back. Silver oval wrist escutcheon with rocker panel border and vacant inscription. Silver oval escutcheon above elongated relief cheekpiece, also engraved with rocker panel borders and fastened with brass pins. Full length figured maple stock of class Bucks County, Pennsylvania form showing clear Northampton County influence. Decorated with finely executed incised carved 'C' scrolls on both sides of the cheekpiece, as well as on the right side behind the wrist. There is a fine relief carved shell design around the barrel tang as well as incised panels around the lock and sideplate, both terminating with a Fleur-de-Lis type design at the rear. Both sides of forend carved with a deep flute as is common on Bucks County rifles. CONDITION: Barrel retains a dark brown patina with some edge wear and scattered denting. Lock retains an applied brown finish and is crudely reconverted to flintlock configuration. Brass retains a mustard patina with some scattered marks from use and light wear. Stock shows traces of original finish beneath a later coat of finish and shows some scattered marks and denting. There is some minor well done restoration to the last few inches of forend on both sides. Ramrod is a replacement. Signed Bucks County specimens are scarcely encountered. This example is especially scarce as the price is inscribed on the patchbox lid. DMG
Caliber/Bore
.50 Smoothbore