November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
George Eister was born in 1741 and died in 1810. He is buried at Wolf's Church in West Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania. George Eister is listed in the 1795 tax records as a gunsmith in Manchester Township. For an example with an extremely similar patchbox, see rifle number 27 on page 300 of "The Annotated Third Edition of Thoughts of the Kentucky Rifle in it's Golden Age" by Joe Kindig, Jr. The example shown in the book is signed. The 43" heavy octagon barrel is deeply rifled in .50 caliber, and the muzzle face is decorated with punch dot stamps. Front brass blade sight and notched iron rear sight. The flat lockplate with the recessed tail section is stamped "T. KETLAND & Co." in the center. The brass furniture includes a large four-piece patchbox with six piercings and retained by thirteen brass screws. The patchbox skirts are engraved with scrolls and the lid is engraved with scroll and floral designs. The patchbox release is a brass button on the top patchbox skirt near the buttplate, and the lid is convex. Large faceted trigger guard with double set triggers and a flat sideplate with beveled edges. There are eight diamond-shaped silver inlays, one surrounding each of the brass barrel keys. There is also a vacant silver wrist escutcheon and an eight-point silver star inlaid above the cheekpiece. The figured maple stock is consistent with York County form and is very similar to that of rifle number 129 on page 302 of the book mentioned above. CONDITION: Barrel retains a light brown surface with scattered areas of spotting and evidence that the tang of heat treatment, probably to reattach the tang. Lock has been reconverted and browned, markings are faint. Brass retains a mellowing mustard patina, and shows some wear and scattered marks. Head is absent from rearmost screw in sideplate and a portion of the sideplate is missing around the front lock screw. Four of the silver inlays have been replaced. Stock shows added coats of finish and some cracks along both sides of the wrist, as well as one between the rear lock retaining screw and barrel tang, otherwise good, aside from some minor marks from use. DMG
Item Dimensions: L - 58"