January 16, 2020 The Susquehanna Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/16/2020
This rifle is featured as number 149 on page 394 on "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age" by Joe Kindig, Jr. It is also featured on page 75 of "Steel Canvas" by R.L. Wilson. In addition, it is shown on page 127 of "Gunsmiths of York County" by James B. Whisker and was photographed in "Antiques Magazine" in the April 1981 edition. This rifle is also shown in the book "Tomahawks" by Baldwin, as number 275. It is documented that Kindig considered this gun his best Jacob Welshans, Jr. rifle. Jacob Welshans is listed in the York tax records as a gunsmith in 1779, 1780, 1783, 1793, 1799, and 1807. In 1783, his shop employed five workers. Welshans was so highly respected that president George Washington contracted him to build rifles for his elite battalion of riflemen in 1792. Jacob Welshans died in 1819. The octagon barrel has a brass front sight and iron rear sight. It is stamped "J. WELSHANS" on the top flat with 13 stars in the form of a cross on both sides. The flat lockplate is unmarked. The brass furniture includes buttplate and engraved toeplate, faceted trigger guard, ramrod ferrules, nosecap, York sideplate, and a four piece engraved patchbox. There is an eight point silver star above the cheekpiece engraved with simple borders, and an oval shaped silver wrist escutcheon. Full length figured maple stock in the classic York County form with shaped checkering around the wrist. There are incised scrolls in the typical Welshans form behind the cheekpiece. The rifle is complete with a period wooden ramrod which has been with the rifle for a very long time. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown patina, heavy in some areas. Signature is excellent. Some corrosion at breech. Bolster has been removed. Lock is a replacement but is in its original flintlock configuration and retains a brown patina, and functions well. Brass is somewhat polished and retains a mellowing patina. Stock has some age cracks along the forend, some scattered dings and marks from use, and wear to the checkering. The wrist was broken through at one time and has been restored with a couple minor pieces replaced. A very nice York example with a fantastic provenance. PROVENANCE: Ex William H. Guthman Collection. Ex Joe Kindig, Jr. Collection.
Caliber/Bore
.52 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Jacob Welshans
Model
Flintlock Kentucky Rifle