May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/9/2024
A fine example of a custom built contemporary Kentucky rifle built by renowned long gun maker William Buchele. Top flat of octagon barrel has builders signature “W. BUCHELE”. German silver front sight with fixed notched rear sight. Lock is unmarked. Full length, key fastened, tiger striped maple stock. Right side of butt has ornate segmented pierced rectangular lid patchbox with fancy finial and fine engraving. Other brass fittings include trigger guard, crescent buttplate, engraved toe plate and engraved sideplate. There are a total of 20 pieces of inlaid silver, all engraved. Extensive silver wire inlay around brass inlaid and engraved flowers along both sides of forest and above cheekpiece. Cheekpiece has an engraved silver oval with a smaller silver oval inside. Area below and around cheekpiece along with a portion forward of patchbox, and wrist have extremely well detailed deep relief carving with a large eagle. There is a silver inlay at the wrist that extends around barrel tang. Stock is held by 4 keys through shaped German silver escutcheons. Ramrod channel has moulded double line borders. Hickory ramrod is held by faceted brass octagon barrel thimble and 3 matching pin fastened pipes. Nose cap is brass. The late William Buchele (1895-1977) was a renowned master long rifle maker. His most famous achievement was collaboration on the book “Recreating the American Long Rifle” with George Shumway and Peter Alexander. The acknowledgment section of "The American Longrifle", 5th Edition gives the following information: “In May 1974, THE AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine featured an article by Ashley Halsey, Jr., titled “The Best Kentuckies–Old or New?” Pictured with descriptions were five of the finest original Kentuckies made by N. Beyer, George Schroyer and Christian Beck, along with contemporary examples by William Buchele, Carl Pippert, Robert Ditchburn, Wallace Gusler and George Stanford. This national publicity made Buchele famous. Buchele also published the “Recreating the American Longrifle” with Shumway and Alexander. CONDITION: Excellent with some minor handling marks. PROVENANCE: Gordon Barlow Collection.
Manufacturer
William Buchele
Model
Contemporary Kentucky Rifle