April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
First half of the 19th century, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Melchior Fordney was famously murdered by a John Haggerty, a crazed religious fanatic, in 1846. Fordney denied him the use of one of his rifles to shoot his horse and Haggerty returned with a tomahawk and murdered him. Fordney is remembered today as a grand master of the late golden age, and his work often is seen with deep, bold engraving and beautiful woodcarving. His guns are known as quintessential Lancaster rifles, with their folk art appeal and inclusion of almost all of the Lancaster characteristics. He worked as a gunsmith from 1807 through 1846 at his shop on South Queen Street in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This rifle features an octagonal barrel signed "M*Fordney" in script on the top flat. Flat lockplate stamped "DREPPERT/LANCASTER" in the center and with stamp-engraved designs. Brass furniture deeply engraved in the typical Fordney style, sideplate engraved with checkered triangles, scrolls, and borders. Four-piece patchbox with engraved scrolls and checkered panels, toe plate engraved en suite. Silver oval escutcheon inlaid above cheekpiece is inscribed "JM", silver wrist escutcheon is vacant and has been replaced. Full-length figured maple stock of familiar Lancaster form, punch-dot checkered wrist and incised border along bottom of both sides of buttstock. CONDITION: Barrel retains a dark brown patina with some edge wear and scattered marks, some light corrosion at breech and signature is very good. Lock professionally reconverted to flintlock configuration and now retains a brown patina. Brass retains a dark patina with some wear and light marks. Stock has been refinished and shows some wear to checkering, about 16 inches replaced on forend, including nose cap, and has scattered age cracks and a few period repairs, some minor pieces replaced around lockplate. This is a very nice example of Melchior Fordney's work.
Caliber/Bore
.52 Smoothbore