May 18, 2021 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2021
This Pennsylvania longarm is an exceptionally artistic example of the Bucks County rifle in its early, formative years. It has beautiful, relatively high relief carving as opposed to the later incised carving usually found with this school of rifles. Its silhouette is beginning to define what we know as the Bucks County School profile. The fleur-de-lis designs on either side of the wrist at the rear of the lock and sideplate moldings are evidence of this rifle having been made in the upper Bucks County area. The carving behind the barrel tang is seen on rifles made by John Shuler, Andrew Verner, and Herman Rupp, among others from this area. Its octagon to round smoothbore barrel has a squared-off tang and a nice brown-grey patina. The sight has the blade in the rear as opposed to the later Bucks County centered sight. The lock has been reconverted to its original flintlock configuration with a detached pan. The brass sideplate has an uncharacteristic rococo shape for this region. Buttplate tang features the thumbnail design in the style that we often see on Bucks County longarms. It has shell type engraving and what appears to be a Roman soldier engraved on the tang. Buttplate in the rear measures 2 1/8" in width, another sign of an early pre-Revolutionary War period rifle. The acanthus finial trigger guard also has some of the flowing shell type engraving that is seen on the buttplate and is a motif seen carved on most later Bucks County longarms. The rear of the trigger guard is secured with a screw instead of being pinned, as on most rifles seen in this area. The front notch of the trigger guard has been drilled with a hole, which usually indicates possible military usage. The rifle is extensively relief carved including some rococo carving behind the ramrod ferrule nearest the trigger guard. There is also relief carving accentuating the comb on both sides at the wrist and terminating on the top of the wrist with a fleur-de-lis. The carving behind the cheekpiece is showing the beginnings of the Bucks County carving with two "C" scrolls. As previously mentioned, the barrel tang is beautifully relief carved beside as well as behind the barrel tang. The incised, small "V" carved designs found on Quakertown area guns are evident on most of the carving on the stock. Ramrod appears to be of the period and probably original. CONDITION: Barrel was at one time longer and was shortened slightly during its period of use. Stock is in good condition with minor dings. Patchbox lid is a modern replacement. Carvings are all relatively crisp. There is a small 1/4" indentation/hole in the top rear of the buttplate. The 1" brass tip on the ferrule clostest to the trigger guard is missing. Lock has been reconverted back to flint. DRG
Item Dimensions: L: 60"
Caliber/Bore
.70 Smoothbore
Model
Flintlock Kentucky Rifle