January 16, 2020 The Susquehanna Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/16/2020
Andrew Fichthorn, Jr. lived between 1779-1822 and worked in Womelsdorf, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He relocated from Reading to Womelsdorf to apprentice for John Bonewitz and to work with Leonard Reedy around 1793. During the first quarter of the 19th century both Reedy and Fichthorn left Bonewitz's shop and opened their own gunsmithing shops. The two stage, deeply rifled barrel has an applied teardrop shaped brass front sight and a notched iron rear sight. It is signed on the left flat at the breech "AF". The handmade lockplate has two graduated steps at the tail and a roller frizzen. The brass furniture includes a four piece patchbox engraved with scrolls and retained by seven screws. The finial is pierced and features an engraved flower. The sideplate is of classic Womelsdorf form with beveled edges. There is a small oval shaped wrist escutcheon with a broken line border and an inlaid silver star above the cheekpiece which is shaded and engraved. There are two iron loops for a touch hole pick beneath the cheekpiece. The full length figured maple stock is of classic Womelsdorf, Berks County form with a slender Roman nose profile. It is carved with scrolls in relief around the barrel tang and incised designs on each side of the forend above the ramrod entry ferrule. There are raised panels around the lock and sideplate, terminating in the back with teardrops. On the right side of the buttstock there are incised scrolls and on the left side there are relief carved scrolls on both sides of the cheekpiece in the classic Fichthorn style. CONDITION: Barrel retains a spotted brown patina with clear "AF" stamp. Lock is in its original flintlock configuration and retains a matching patina, functions properly. Brass furniture is polished and shows some wear. Stock shows no restoration and has much original finish, showing some smoothing and wear to carving. There are some minor losses around the lockplate and a crack stemming from the comb on both sides of the wrist, which has been secured during the period of use with a screw on the underside of the wrist. There are also some cracks and grain cracks along the forend but no wood is replaced. Complete with its original ramrod. This is a very well carved Golden Age Kentucky rifle by a desirable Womelsdorf maker. CORRECTION: Figthorn opened his shop in Reading in 1803, after leaving Womelsdorf. Ready did not leave Bonewitz’ shop.
Manufacturer
Andrew Figthorn
Model
Flintlock Kentucky Rifle