December 18th 2010 Firearms (9)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/17/2010
Overall length: 60 inches. Barrel length: 45 - 1/2 inches. This Kentucky long rifle appears to have its origins in southwestern Virginia, near the North Carolina border. The brass patchbox is a feature similar to those rifles from that area geographically. Also, it has the "double" ramrod ferrules, another feature of that region, as well as its "buckhorn" lock-bolt plate. The full curly maple stock has eight silver octagonal barrel keeper inlays, all punch-engraved similar to the ornamentation on the brass patchbox, side plate, and toe plate. There also is a brass cheek piece hunter's star and cheek piece inlay, as well as a silver oval escutcheon on the top of the wrist. The curly maple stock is quite slender and carries the 45 - 1/2" octagonal, rifled barrel very well. There is some wood partly "in-filled" on the left side. The incised carving behind the cheek piece consists of simple "C-scrolls" and "punch" decoration. While the rifle still has its double-set triggers, there is the often-found typical "break" area under the lock and around the trigger guard. This break is secured by an "in-period" repair, using a brass plate with ten screws. Originally, the lock was a flintlock, now in percussion. At some point, the stock has been thoroughly cleaned and shellacked. Overall, the rifle is intact, but needs modern "quality" attention, or conservation to bring it back to an eye-pleasing level.