September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/6/2023
Jacob Metzger is first listed as a gunsmith in the tax records of Lancaster Borough in 1777, where he worked for just over 10 years before moving to Frederick, Maryland, where he bought property in 1788. There are very few early examples of Metzger's work. The smoothbore, octagon barrel has a brass front sight with a silver blade and an iron-notched rear sight. Barrel is signed on top flat in script "J Metzger". The flat lockplate has beveled edges and a deep flute towards the tail. Brass furniture includes an engraved 4-piece patchbox and a flat Lancaster sideplate with beveled edges. There is a silver oval-shaped unengraved wrist escutcheon and an 8-point star above the cheekpiece with single line engraved border. The plain maple stock is of Lancaster form and has relief panels around the lock and sideplate, as well as relief stylized scrolls around the barrel tang, and well-executed Lancaster 'C' scrolls in relief behind the cheekpiece. There are incised scrolls beneath the cheekpiece on both sides of the wrist and on both sides of the forend at the ramrod entry ferrule. Complete with its original ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown patina with some wear to signature. Lock is a reconversion and retains a matching applied patina. Brass retains a mostly undisturbed, dark patina. Buttplate has a chip missing on right side of tang. Stock has its original finish with some heavy wear, missing splinters and marks from use. A chip is present towards top of buttplate on left side and some wood replaced above front and rear lockplate tangs. This is a very attractive Lancaster rifle by an important and early gunsmith. From the Louie Parker Collection.From Louie Parker Collection.
Caliber/Bore
.50 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Jacob Metzger