October 30, 2019 The Collection of Steve & Marcy Hench
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2019
The full octagonal barrel is signed in script "* John * Derr Oley 1829" surrounded by a broken line border. The tang is overlaid with silver and also engraved with a broken line border. The rounded lockplate is stamped engraved with game scenes at the tail and marked in the center "Henry Parker / Warranted". Features a reinforced cock and a roller frizzen which was relined during the period. The brass furniture includes a four piece patchbox with five piercings and engraved with simple borders. There is a long, unengraved toeplate and a long, shaped, brass comb wearplate secured by brass pins. There is also a forearm wearplate engraved with rocker panel and line borders. The left side of the buttstock shows two large, shaped brass inlays towards the buttplate which are also engraved with rocker panel designs. Below the cheekpiece is a large brass inlay, engraved en suite, with a ferrule for a touch hole pick. There are a total of 20 rocker panel engraved silver inlays, including a bar on the cheekpiece, a star above the cheekpiece, three inlays on each side of the wrist, an oval wrist escutcheon, a large scroll around the barrel tang, and cloud shaped designs on each side of the forend. Full length stock of partially figured maple with classic Roman nose Berks County buttstock. There is relief cameo carving around some of the brass inlays on the left side and folky incised scrolls on both sides of the cheekpiece. There is also incised carving on both sides of the forend and surrounding each of the silver inlays around the forend. Complete with a replaced wooden ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel retains a dark brown patina and shows a clear signature. Lock is in its original flintlock configuration. Part of the silver overlay on the tang, as well as the tang screw, are replaced; and a tip of the scroll surrounding the barrel tang is also replaced. The brass and silver retain a mellow patina and show a few scattered marks. Stock is very good with its original finish and without any restoration. There are some scattered marks and minor losses to finish as well as some dry areas around the lock. This is an unusually ornate example of Derr's work and is a fantastic dated Pennsylvania folk art rifle.
Caliber/Bore
.40 Smoothbore