September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/6/2023
Henry Lechler was working as a gunsmith in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania prior to 1797. This Lechler signed rifle was clearly made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and displays many similarities related to Jacob Dickert. Joe Kindig, Jr. states "I find Henry Lechler to be a very fine and interesting workman". Later in his life, Lechler relocated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was last recorded in 1850 in the US Census in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he was still listed as a gunsmith. The long, deeply rifled, octagonal barrel features a brass front sight and a notched rear sight. It is stamped with only the "L" still visible on the top flat behind the rear sight. The muzzle is also decorated with a ring of punched circles. The imported lock is marked "KETLAND / & Co." in the center and has a roller frizzen. The brass mounts are all unique to Lechler's shop. The rifle has a classic 4-piece patchbox with a Lancaster daisy finial and the outer edges are engraved with scrolls. There is an unengraved convex silver wrist escutcheon as well as an unengraved 8-point star above the cheekpiece. Sideplate and trigger guard are in the early Lancaster style and have beveled edges and faceted faces. Patchbox release is round and located on the toeplate. An engraved brass toeplate extension runs all the way to the rear trigger guard tang. Full-length stock of highly figured maple with classic, early Lancaster County form and a long, highly relief cheekpiece. There are incised scrolls on the right side of the wrist and relief foliate scrolls with incised accents on the opposite side. There are large, finely executed, relief 'C' scrolls with incised accents in the classic Lancaster style with scalloped embellishments and extra details behind the cheekpiece on the left side. Surviving examples of Henry Lechler's work are extremely rare and examples made in Lancaster County are even more rare. CONDITION: Barrel retains a mostly brown patina and shows scattered pitting and damage from vice on edges towards breech. Heavier corrosion at breech. Lock has been professionally replaced along with surrounding wood, barrel once had a percussion bolster. Lock does not hold on half-cock and is weak. Brass retains a mellowing mustard patina with some scattered marks from use, toeplate is a replacement. Lid shows some denting. Stock is very good and shows some very well-done and nearly impossible-to-detect restoration towards muzzle. There are some scattered age cracks and marks from use. The rifle retains a pleasing finish. Complete with a replacement wooden ramrod. A very attractive, early, relief carved Lancaster County rifle by a rare maker. From the Louie Parker Collection.
Manufacturer
Henry Lechler