September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
42" barrel, .50boreTop barrel flat is stamped S with a star and the outline of the second letter is visible. Finding an exact match for this stylized signature of two letters from the top of the barrel is difficult to match but our consigner attributed this rifle to Samuel Morrison who built rifles from 1826-1843 in Milton, Union County Penn. An example of Samuel Morrison’s work can be found on plate 292 in the book Kentucky Rifle Patch Boxes Vol. 2 by Chandler and Whisker. This plate clearly shows the Samuel Morrison stock design which is nearly identical as well as the butt plate, trigger guard and patchbox release. Milton is a borough of Northumberland County. This rifle has many of the characteristics of the Dauphin school which borders Northumberland county especially in regards to the stock profile. This is a classic full stock Penn. rifle. The barrel is an octagon to round with a step collar and has a set rear sight with dove tail brass front sight. There are three brass rod retaining thimbles, the forestock displays three half circle decorative appliques, sports a single trigger and a plain brass trigger guard with a flure-de-lis forend palm plate. The lock is simply stamped warranted, the stock retains beautiful hand rubbed striped finish and has a decorative heel plate with a brass butt plate and a decorative brass toe plate and wonderfully exquisite patchbox with an external release. There is a vintage, of the period, brass wrist reinforcement, a quarter moon set above left stock cheek piece. There is a contained chip at toe, has a silver thumb shield, has a single set trigger. The barrel finish is a mix of gray and brown patina, brass retains fine mustard appearance. Lovely Stock finish. Extremely handsome early Penn. signed flintlock long rifle.