3396

RELIEF CARVED EMMITSBURG SCHOOL KENTUCKY RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
RELIEF CARVED EMMITSBURG SCHOOL KENTUCKY RIFLE.

Cal. 40. NSN. 56.25" Overall w/ 40.5" unsigned oct. bbl., brass mounted, including 4 piece pierced patchbox, double set triggers, curly maple stock w/ flat brass bbl. keys. There are two silver inlays, vacant oval thumbplate & nicely engraved man in the moon above relief carving on cheekpiece. Originally made as a flintlock circa 1810. Later converted to percussion & restocked, probably around 1840. All components of rifle except newer percussion lock were reutilized. The original 2 screw sideplate was altered & shortened, keeping central engraving motif. Comparably engraved unaltered sideplates by Andrew Kopp can be seen in Kindig, pgs. 441-442. Architecture & engraving of patchboxes comparable also. When restocked in percussion era it probably was converted by an old timer who still relief carved of earlier era. The owner of this rifle must have loved it to have new stock made, possibly because old stock was broken, as collectors know is very common. Since it was being restocked, it was easier to replace flintlock w/ new lock instead of converting. New percussion lock required only single screw which required alteration of sideplate since owner wanted his old flint rifle put back in service w/ all the original parts. Whether that is the true reason rifle was restocked, it makes for a good possible story. Regardless of history, this is a pleasing Emmitsburg percussion rifle w/ elegant engraving & carving in superior condition. This gun probably saw 20-30 years of service before breaking & being restocked. CONDITION: good to very good overall. Lock & bbl. w/ mottled gray patina. Brass has light mustard patina. Buttstock has couple lg. hairline cracks about 2" sliver missing left side of forestock. Inset repair on right side of bbl. tang. & lg. chip missing from nailed repair on left side of tang. Original brass tipped ramrod is very good w/ threaded iron for worm. Mechanically functional, including set trigger. Very good rifled bore. (01-20587/JS). ANTIQUE. $6,000-8,000.