April 9th & 10th Premier Firearms Sale (MFIRE)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/9/2016
36” barrel, .52bore-percussion Samuel Shuler was the oldest of the Shuler gun making brothers and trained under John Shuler senior. They were the most prolific gun making family in the Perry County Penn. area throughout the first half of the 19th century. Samuel made guns full time until 1834 there after he concentrated on his store and his gun making became sporadic. The barrel is stamped S. Shuler Liverpool. PA, lock is stamped S. Moore. Gun features full octagon barrel with a set rear sight and small set in front blade. The gun sports a full maple stock with a striped pattern, 3 brass thimble rod retainers with brass nose cap and features double set triggers with a brass trigger guard, butt plate and toe plate. It is unadorned with the exception of a small brass left side plate and a nickel silver thumb plate. There is a picture of a Sam Shuler patch box, image 710, in the Kentucky Rifle Patch Boxes Vol. 1 by Chandler. It is interesting to note that Sam, after 1834, sent a lot of his customers to John Shuler and if one were to examine the patch box manufactured by John Shuler, item 707, in the same book previously referenced you will find it is more along the lines of John’s design, which may show a collaboration of work between the two. The patch box has been secured shut with a copper rivet and exhibits light tasteful engraving and all brass is a deep mustard patina. The stock is excellent, albeit there is some light edge chipping along front barrel channel, approximately 2”. The wrist exhibits the checkering pattern favored by John as well. There is a small repaired chip at toe but the wood retains nearly all of its hand rubbed finish. An extremely fine early 19th century Perry County PA rifle.