KENTUCKY RIFLES FOR SALE ON CONSIGNMENT

PRICE REDUCED Signed "David Dirck" Northumberland County, Pennsylvania ca 1825

Not much is known about David Dirck. I find his name as Derk and Dirk in the records as well as it appears David and Daniel are the same people. The rifle is a great Upper Susquehanna example to study as it incorporates characteristics of a few other gunsmiths in that area. The excellent quality curly maple stock has several silver inlays, some are engraved. It has a beautiful pierced toe plate, and comb plate. The patchbox is not only nicely designed and pierced it is also well engraved.

There is no wood replacement and only 2 small silver inlays replaced; one under the cheek piece inlay the other behind the side plate. The wear plate on the fore arm is decorative and engraved; the engraving mostly gone from wear. The 42.5" rifled barrel is about .38 cal and was not shortened when converted to percussion. Few rifles of the Upper Susquehanna region are as decorative and well done as this example.

Available at $10,800.00 PRICE REDUCED TO $9,000 12/30

PRICE REDUCED Signed "H. Deringer Philada", Philadelphia, PA ca 1820

Henry Deringer Sr. worked in Easton, PA and then moved to Philadelphia and worked as a civilian gunsmith as well as fulfilling government conracts for military guns. This example has a bit more ornamentation than his usual rifles. The 43.5" smoothbore barrel is about .54 cal and is stamped "H. Deringer Philada". The lock is marked "JJ Henry Boulton" but is a replacement. The lockplate has been altered to more closely fit the mortise. A very nice pattern of brass inlay work appears in front of the toe plate.

There is a minor wood replacement at the toe. The lock bolt plate is a replacement but is nicely engraved in an appropriate pattern. Other than the replacements the rifle has wonderful surface quality, finish, and above average curly maple.

Available at $7,800.00 PRICE REDUCED TO $6,950.00 12/30

Unsigned Hess Family, Allemengal, Berks/Lehigh County, PA ca 1840

The Hess family of gunsmiths worked in Heidelberg and Lynn townships from the 1780's til the mid 19th century. This example is diminutive in scale and probably made for a boy. It is a rare survival in like-new condition. The lock is in it's original unaltered condition and original to the rifle. The 35" barrel is about .40 cal. This is a remarkable and rare example from the Hess family of gunsmiths. Copies of articles written about the family come with the rifle.

Available at $4,200.00

SOLD SOLD Signed D Cooley, David Cooley, Tyrone Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania ca 1810

David Cooley is one of the best carvers and engravers of Kentucky rifles. This example shows his skill in many areas on the rifle. His rifles are similar in style to Abraham Schweitzer in Chambersburg; he may have apprenticed with him.

The octagon to round barrel is 49.5" and is the original length. The bore is about .54 cal. Referred to as a smooth rifle the owner could shoot either shot or a ball though less accurate than a rifled barrel. The stock is of good curly maple and there is a minor loss under the lock and a crack at the rear of the lock; there are no replacements. Fine relief carving is in all the usual places though carving behind the rear ramrod pipe is worn. The patchbox is beautifully engraved as is the sideplate and toeplate. The patchbox placement is a bit askew suggesting it was an afterthought. The lock is a reconversion.

SOLD 1/26

Signed GONTER, Peter Gonter Jr, Lancaster, PA ca 1780

Peter Gonter is an icon of the Lancaster School working there from 1773 until his death in 1818. He worked before, during, and after the Revolution. He worked with other Lancaster gunsmiths to complete government contracts. In the years after the Revolution he made decorative rifles with incised and relief carving and began signing his name in script. This example is signed in block letters GONTER.

The rifle has the recognizable architecture of Lancaster in the early period. The reconverted lock is stamped Drepperd and is of a later date possibly replaced in period. The deeply rifled barrel is 45.5" and is the original length; about .50 cal. It has a gradual taper but is not flared at the muzzle. There is restoration to the forestock but there is original wood uninterrupted from the butt to the fore end cap. The fore end is cracked in 2 places, glued back together with triangular shaped pieces at the end of the cracks restored. The fore end cap and ramrod pipes are original.

There is restored wood in front of the lock and appears to be restoration to wood on top of the lock but a joint is not visible. A long pice of original wood is glued back along the fore arm in front of the restored piece of wood in front of the lock. There is a crack in front of the trigger guard. There is a minimal amount of restored wood in the stock and a fair amount of original wood glued back together. The restoration is acceptable in my opinion. Early details are the butt stock thickness, beveled side plate, lack of toe plate, wide bow trigger guard, his early signature in block letters, and square barrel tang. It appears the patchbox lid release spring has been replaced.

This is a late Rev war period rifle with alot of originality and a respectable price.

Available at $7,985.00

Signed "G Zorger" York, Pennsylvnia ca 1810

Not alot is known about George Zorger. He worked in York in the early 1800's as a gunsmith then as an armorer at Harpers Ferry. This example shows strong York details and exhibits carving and engraving influenced by Frederick Zorger.

The rifle has restoration that is excellent and accepatble. The barrel now 42" was stretched about 15" from the muzzle and possibly some at the breech when reconverted. The fore end is restored from in front of the rear ramrod pipe to the muzzle. The complex forestock molding is well done as are the ramrod pipes and forend cap. Several pieces of wood restored around the lock mortice suggests the lock is a replacement; if so it is a correct replacement. The important artistic details and gunsmith's signature remain and the restoration has brought this fine and rare example back to life.

Available at $7,950.00

John Moll Jr, Allentown, Lehigh County, PA ca 1810

John Moll Jr. worked in Allentown taking over his father's shop in 1793. He turned over his shop in 1820 to his son John III. Other Moll family members were gunsmiths in Lehigh County.

Kentucky pistols are rare and desireable. This example though unsigned typical of Lehigh County and given the sideplate finial is likely John Jr or Peter Moll. The trigger guard does not have the typical stud where the bow meets the front extention but I believe it is original. The hand-made lock fits the mortise perfectly with original surfaces inside. However, it is likely a reconversion using a detachable pan; the main spring and tubler are replaced. The 9" octagon to round barrel does not show evidence of drum hole welding.

A small piece of wood is restored at the front of the lock. I believe this is where wood chipped out by removing the lock for cleaning or repair over the years. The pistol has a pleasing architecture and old surfaces; there are a few scuffs expecially in front of the lock area. The brass mounts may have been lacquered at some point in the past.

Available at $5,950

Signed "S M Shillito" Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania ca 1840

Sam Shillito was born in Franklin County in 1793 and died there in 1852. He made highly decorated rifles as well as plain rifles. This example is above average in decoration. Shillito Sr. was an excellent engraver; his craft is seen on the patchbox, toeplate and inlays. The forestock inlays are decorative and do not act as escucheons.

There is no wood replacement but a long sliver of wood is missing along the fore arm. A brass plate has been added above the lock to protect the wood from the burning action of the percussion caps. The 38.5" rifled barrel is about .40 cal. The percussion lock is original to the rifle and is by Henry Parker. Gunsmiths in the Winchester, Virginia area used silver inlays interspersed in the butt stock carving as well as silver acorn inlays. This style occurs on this example. The silver star inlay on the cheekpiece is engraved similarly to those on the Sheetz rifles of an earlier period in Shepherdstown. The curly maple is of excellent quality and is evident under an old undisturbed finish.

Available at $2,950.00

Signed J Young, Joe Young, Wetzel County, West Virginia ca 1880

Joe Young was a late rifle maker who worked in Wetzel County, West Virginia from 1877 until his death in 1918. He made some full stock rifles and many half stock rifles; some quite nicely decorated. This is one of his better examples with german silver inlays.

Available at $2,200.00