September 29, 2021 The Bill Myers Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/29/2021
George Schroyer moved to Hanover around the beginning of The Revolutionary War. He is found in the 1783 Hanover, Pennsylvania tax records. Hanover is in York County. Records dated 1793 identify Schreyer as a gunsmith and he is listed as a gunsmith in Hanover as late as 1813. George Schreyer made beautiful Kentucky rifles before, during and right after The Revolutionary War. This example features a rifled and swamped octagon barrel inscribed "G. Schreyer" on the top flat, towards breech. Barrel is retained by solid silver barrel keys. It features a silver front blade sight and an ornate notched rear sight with a long four stage engraved chiseled finial on the front. The lock, also made by Schreyer and signed "GS" inside, is flat with beveled edges and has a molding at the tail section. Fitted with double-set triggers. The rifle has a total of seven silver inlays, including an oval wrist escutcheon inscribed "JST". There is also an engraved eight-point star above the cheekpiece, engraved with a side profile of an Indian with long hair. There are three engraved silver inlays within the piercings of the finely engraved four-piece brass patchbox, which terminates in an edelweiss finial. Patchbox release button is located on top skirt of patchbox towards buttplate. There is a full engraved toe plate extending all the way to the rear trigger guard tang. The classic side plate displays Schreyer engraved floral designs. Within the teardrop carving behind the lock and side plate, there are silver teardrop-shaped inlays. The rifle is stocked in highly figured tiger maple with extensive relief carving on the left side of the buttstock consisting of scrolls and checkered panels. There is a relief bell flower behind the barrel tang and relief carving along the forend on both sides, as well as on both sides of the wrist. Complete with its original wooden ramrod. CONDITION: Completely as found and untouched in wonderful attic condition. Barrel retains a brown patina with some corrosion around percussion bolster. Lock also retains a dark original patina. Brass and silver furniture retain dark patinas and are unpolished. Stock retains a pleasing original honey surface with some darker areas in protected low sections. Forend shows some splintering, minor losses and minor fractures on both sides, especially towards muzzle. There is a 1/2" section of wood lost due to percussion burnout on right side of barrel tang. This an extremely fine example of a signed Golden Age Schreyer rifle in completely untouched condition. DMG
Manufacturer
George Schreyer