May 13-15, 2025 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2025
Henry Lechler was working as a gunsmith in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, prior to 1797. This is one of the earliest known surviving Lechler rifles and was clearly made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and displays many similarities related to Jacob Dickert. Joe Kindig, Jr. stated "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. This is probably the finest example of his work. The long, deeply rifled, octagon barrel features a brass front sight and a notched rear sight. It is inscribed with a partially visible signature where only an L and parts of other letter are indistinct and partially visible. The muzzle is also decorated with a ring of punched circles. The rifle has a curled trigger and a flat lockplate with beveled edges and a molded tail, center marked "T / KETLAND / & Co". The brass mounts are all unique to Lechler's shop. The rifle has a classic four piece patchbox with an engraved Lancaster daisy finial and the outer edges are engraved with scrolls. There is a silver convex wrist escutcheon with vacant inscription, as well as an eight 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 rectangular and located on the toeplate. There is a brass toeplate extension all the way to the trigger guard tang and engraved with vines. Full length stock of highly figured maple with classic, early Lancaster County form and a long, 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 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 grey patina with scattered areas of pitting. Lock is in its original flintlock configuration but is a replacement. Lock functions properly. Brass retains a mellowing mustard patina with some scattered marks from use. Lid shows a couple minor dents. Stock is very good and shows a minor very well blended and undetectable restoration to the last couple inches of forend. Some slivers replaced around lock. There are some scattered age cracks and marks from use. Complete with an old wooden ramrod. A very attractive, early, relief carved Lancaster County rifle by a rare maker.
Manufacturer
Henry Lechler