September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
41" barrel, .50 percussion/conversionSamuel Shillito was a well-known gun maker from Bedford County Pa. Beginning in 1819. Samuel was born 1794 and began his work in Franklin County, Pa. in 1819 and moved his shop Bedford in 1836 where he built his guns until 1852. This classic rifle was originally built as a flintlock rifle that was converted sometime after 1830. The top of the barrel flat is signed S M Shillito. It is full octagon with a set rear sight and a brass dove tail front. It sports a full stock with 3 brass rod retaining thimbles and brass forend. The lock was manufactured by Henry Parker, has double set triggers, striped stock, brass trigger guard and butt plate with border tooled toe plate. The brass patch box is very typical of his work and a nearly identical example can be found on plate 347 in the book Kentucky Rifle patch boxes Vol. 2 by Chandler and Whisker. The barrel is a mix of brown and gray patina with aged spotting. The barrel signature is strong, lock is brown patina, brass is a very dark rich mustard. The stock is very good, there is a retained crack in butt from plate to plate. The rod is a replacement. With the exception of the period conversion to a percussion, this is a classic Penn. full stock rifle.