October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
John Moll II was born May 13th, 1773. On November 13th, 1796 John II joined with one of the oldest families of Allentown by marrying Elizabeth Newhard, eldest daughter of John Michael Lorentz Newhard and Mary Eckert. John Newhard was the brother of Peter Newhard, another great Northampton County gunsmith. John and Elizabeth had a son, John Moll III. John Moll II and John Moll III are both listed as gunsmiths on the Lehigh County, Pennsylvania tax list dated January 6th, 1821. John and Elizabeth had three additional gunsmith sons; Peter, David, and Nathan. John Moll II took over the operation of his father's gunsmithing business in 1795. Although this rifle is signed "JOHN MOLL JR", it was probably made by John Moll III who bought out his father's business in 1820. The rifle was built in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The full length octagon barrel has a dovetailed brass front blade sight and an iron rear sight, both sights have a set of double lines, both in front of and behind them. The flat lockplate is stamped "ASHMORE / WARRANTED". The brass furniture includes a two piece small patchbox with Fleur-de-Lis type finial with a checkered triangle and a stylized "D" engraved on the lid. Classic Lehigh trigger guard, brass trigger. The flat sideplate terminates at the back in an arrow. The nosecap has an open face as is typical in Lehigh County. The highly figured maple stock is of classic Lehigh County form and has a set of double lines carved along the bottom of both sides of buttstock and forend. CONDITION: Barrel retains a heavy brown patina with some marring to edges near breech and corrosion at the breech. Lock has been professionally reconverted to flint and retains a brown finish. Brass is polished. Stock retains much of original violin finish with some scattered marks and pleasing orange color in wear areas. A very nice, signed, Lehigh County rifle. DMG
Caliber/Bore
.44 Smoothbore
Paperwork
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