January 16, 2020 The Susquehanna Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/16/2020
This early Berks County rifle is pictured as 'Rifle 3' in Chapter 1 of "The Kentucky Rifle" by Merrill Lindsay. It is also featured on pages 114 and 115 as no. 26 in "Rifles of Colonial America: Volume I" by George Shumway. This early rifle has a buttplate that measures about 2" across, including the patchbox lid. The full length, long, octagon barrel is swamped at the muzzle. Barrel is heavily rifled. There is a small brass front sight and a notched rear sight mounted on the top flat. The flat lockplate has a molded edge and is unmarked. The brass furniture includes an early trigger guard with faceted bow and front tang, reinforced on the back tang with a screw in the early style. Buttplate is nearly straight across the back, which dates this rifle to about 1780. Brass buttplate has a faceted tang. Sliding wooden patchbox terminates in the front at a point and has a deep, incised, clover-shaped design at the back. The rifle has no toeplate and the brass sideplate has beveled edges. The full length, partially figured, maple stock is of the early Berks County form with a Roman nose buttstock, with wrist extending into it. There are long, carved relief panels along the lock and sideplate, terminating in an arrow at the back. This carving also surrounds the ramrod entry ferrule and the barrel tang. Within the arrows there are also small incised 'C' designs. The left side of the buttstock features a molded cheekpiece with foliate scrolls in relief on both sides. Rifle is complete with its original wooden ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel retains a light brown patina with some darker spotting and some corrosion around touch hole. Rifle appears to be in its original flintlock configuration. One lock retaining screw is stripped but present. Brass furniture retains a dark mustard patina. Stock shows much dark, original finish with a more recent coat of finish on top. There are a couple minor slivers replaced around barrel tang and a minor chip replaced at the toe. Patchbox lid is original and shows wear, scattered marks, and an age crack. Carving shows some wear, especially around ramrod entry ferrule. Some pieces along forend have been professionally replaced on both sides but have been blended to match. This is a very attractive and early American rifle.
Model
Flintlock Kentucky Rifle