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LOT 3132
Very Attractive and Exceptional Relief
Carved and Silver Accented Reading School Golden Age
Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 45 cal., 43 1/4 inch octagon bbl.,
bright finish, curly maple stock. There is a crude marking on the upper right
flat near the vent that looks like “NY,” and it has a “KETLAND/& Co” marked lock.
Otherwise, the rifle has no identifying markings. The profile and patchbox design are
both very similar to rifles associated with the Reading School in Pennsylvania and has many
attributes that are particularly similar to the rifles attributed to Wolfgang Haga/Hagens, such as those shown on pages 42-43 of “Berks County Longrifles & Gunmakers 1750-1900” by Patrick Hornberger and those on pages 122 and 130 of “Kentucky Rifles & Pistols 1750-1850” by Johnston and the Kentucky Rifle Association. Others with similar attributes are known by other gunmakers, including Stoffil Smith. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation states: “The legendary Wolfgang Haga was a gunsmith working in Reading according to a land grant dated 1767. Further tax records show him still working in Reading in 1779. No signed guns by Haga have been found, yet rifle design attributed to Haga set the standard for the Berks County style with later gunmakers copying his ‘Roman-nose’ stock and basic patchbox design. Always made with strong grained substantial tiger maple, Haga’s rifles with simple raised carving are symbolic of the Berks County rugged style of rifle.” As the KRF notes, no signed
rifles by Haga are known, but the rifles attributed to him generally have strong similarities suggesting they are from the same shop. Some have theorized the rifles were made in one shop but by multiple gunsmiths in the last quarter of the 18th century and early 19th century.
The barrel has round bottom, seven-groove rifling, incised border designs on the muzzle, a dovetailed silver blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, and the noted marking that looks like “NY”. It is secured via four keys and the tang screw which passes through down to the trigger plate. The lock has a pointed teat and stepped tail, band of engraving by the tail, an incised line border, “KETLAND/& Co” at the center, roller
on the frizzen spring, and a floral pattern on the dog-leg style cock. The blank oval wrist escutcheon and hunter’s star on the cheekpiece are silver. The remaining furniture is brass. The patchbox opens via pressing the rear screw at the heel. The tow place is pierced
and has a finial that coordinates with the patchbox. The curly maple stock has wonderfully executed molding and carving. The forend molding terminates in a raised relief carved swell with a scroll finial with incised accents, and the carving patterns at the barrel tang coordinate.
The lock panels have attractive double rounded designs and tear drop points. The butt has fine molding along the bottom like the forend, a “Roman nose” profile, incised scroll and “serpent”
style carving at the nose of the comb on the right, and raised relief carved scroll patterns ahead of and behind the cheekpiece which has a fluted edge and loops for a vent pick below.
The ramrod is too short, but presents well.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with a mix of untouched original silver gray and brown patina
on the barrel and lock, some mild pitting mainly by the vent, marks at the edges of the tang and barrel, attractive aged patina on the brass furniture, nice aged tarnish on the silver, and generally mild overall wear. The stock has a screw repaired break in the wrist but is
otherwise fine and has attractive flame figure, crisp carving, some scratches and dings, a few minor flakes and small cracks, and very fresh looking wood visible inside the barrel
channel and patchbox. Mechanically excellent. The patchbox release is light allowing it to open without use of the button. If you are looking for an exceptional original Kentucky
rifle for your collection, look no further!
Estimate: 22,500 - 35,000 83