November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
This fantastic relief-carved rifle is featured on page 4 of "Kentucky Rifles & Pistols: 1750 - 1850" published by James R. Johnston. The rifle dates circa 1790 and is one of only a handful of relief carved rifles from the Allentown-Bethlehem School. The rifle features a 41 - 1/4" full octagon .48 caliber smoothbore barrel with a brass and silver front sight and a notched rear sight. Both have double lines engraved on the top flat in front of and behind them. The flat lockplate has a molded tail and is unmarked. The brass furniture includes a four-piece patchbox, deeply engraved with whimsical foliate designs, the sideplate is in the early classic Lehigh County form and terminates in the back with a stylized Fleur-de-Lis. On the wrist there is a silver oval escutcheon also deeply engraved en suite. Above the cheekpiece, there is an 8-point engraved silver star and in front of the front trigger guard tang there is an inlaid silver Allentown Indian head. The highly figured maple stock has classic Lehigh form and a thin profile. There are relief panels around the lock and sideplate, terminating in the rear with a teardrop with a small tit. There is a relief design with incised accents around the barrel tang and there are relief and incised scrolls on both sides of the wrist. Behind the high relief molded cheekpiece there is a masterfully executed display of relief sea scrolls with incised whimsical designs. Complete with a properly replaced wooden ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel retains a spotted brown patina. Lock is a good professional reconversion and retains a matching brown patina. Brass furniture retains a mellow patina. Stock retains a pleasing orange color and craving is excellent. There are some losses from chipping around the barrel tang and the entire forestock from the front of the front trigger guard tang forward has been professionally replaced, although all of the hardware, with the exception of the nose cap, appears to be original. This attractive rifle has great form and excellent carving, which was clearly executed by the hand of Peter Neihart. DMG
Caliber/Bore
.48 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Peter Neihart, Attributed
Model
Flintlock Kentucky Rifle