July 12-14, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2022
William Antes worked from 1735 to 1810 beginning in the Philadelphia Area from 1775 to 1780, then Northumberland County from 1781 to 1806 and finally moving to Canandaigua, New York from 1806 to 1810. This pistol features a 10 - 1/2" octagon .45 caliber smoothbore barrel with silver dovetail front sight and rear iron notch sight with barrel signed in script Wm ANTES. Signature matches other known examples of Antes signature. The barrel also features a long floral engraved tang and at the breech is engraved "LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA" in script, which could possibly be a customer's location or was put there by Antes when he was in Northumberland County, which was formed out of Lancaster County. The reason is lost to history. Gun has a reproduction "BLOUNT CO" marked flint lock, which is a Dixie Gun Works trade name and the lock a reconversion. Lock is controlled by a pierced trigger and held with a floral engraved iron backplate. Curly maple full stock with German and coin silver hardware including an engraved German silver trigger guard and grip cap with coin silver "Man in Moon" inlay behind the backplate. William Antes work is rare and highly prized among Kentucky Rifle Collectors, especially his early guns. This piece demonstrates that Antes continued to work throughout his movements and through a later style. CONDITION: Overall good with metal turning a silvery patina. Silver remains unpolished with an aged patina. Lock is modern reproduction and gun has been reconverted to flint. Wood has traces of original finish with no visible restoration or repairs. Pitted bore with sticky mechanics. DLM
Caliber/Bore
.45 smoothbore