GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
OUTSTANDING RELIEF CARVED JOHN BONEWITZ BERKS COUNTY RIFLE. JOHN BONEWITZ KENTUCKY NSN 58 Overall – 58". Butt Plate 1 3/4" Wide The 42 ¼" full octagon smooth bore barrel is unsigned. Bonewitz rarely signed his rifles. This rifle has a four piece nicely engraved brass patch box with typical Bonewitz engraving. The patch box catch is fastened with two rivets, typical of Bonewitz's work. The flint lock is hand forged German style. The rifle has the best relief carving we can recall having seen to date on the cheek side of the butt along with Bonewitz's "signature" serpentine chain carving under the cheek piece. The relief carving on the cheek side of the butt forward and rear of the cheek piece is very deep and extremely well executed. Carving under the cheek flows into the wrist carving, also characteristic of Bonewitz's design. The rifle is nicely relief carved around the barrel tang. The cheek piece inlay is an eight-pointed star held in place by a small wood screw. The rectangular toe plate is nicely engraved and there is attractive incised carving at the rear ramrod ferrule. The rifle has a single trigger and a curly maple stock. John Bonewitz is listed in the 1792 and 1800 tax lists of Heidelberg Township, Berks County. He worked in the town of Womelsdorf, a town in Heidelberg Township, originally called Middletown. Bonewitz is one of four masters of the Womelsdorf School who worked from at least 1779-1809. CONDITION: Outstanding carved and engraved Kentucky rifles have been accepted all over the world as examples of fine quality American Art. This outstanding relief carved rifle by Master Gunsmith John Bonewitz, Womelsdorf PA, is a superb example of one of the finest relief carved Bonewitz rifles we have ever handled. In the fine art field when a rare irreplaceable piece of art has been damaged it is often restored to its original beauty. This rifle has been restored from the wrist forward and the barrel and lock have been replaced. Some previous owner, in 1983, loved this gun enough to spend a great deal to have it expertly preserved for future generations. The rifle was restored by one of our countries best, Mr. Jack Brooks of Evergreen Colorado. The restoration cannot be seen without dismantling the rifle. If you are not inclined to spend tens of thousands for a complete all original Bonewitz whose carving is probably not as fine, this is an outstanding and reasonably priced alternative. 53105-1 RGG (12,000-18,000)