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LOT 3134
Documented Peter Berry Signed, Engraved, and Relief Carved Golden Age Flintlock American Long Rifle Featured in “Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age” by Kindig - NSN, 47 cal., 43 3/4 inch octagon bbl., unknown finish, curly maple stock. Peter Berry of the Dauphin County School was among the most talented master craftsmen of the post-Revolutionary War “Golden Age” in American long rifle craftsmanship. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation states: “Peter Berry (d. 1796) is regarded as a grand master of the Dauphin/Lebanon region. He was taxed as a gunsmith in Heidelberg Twp., Dauphin County from 1786-1796. His distinct rifles reflect excellent craftsmanship and engraving, and genuine specimens are rare and especially desirable.”-Joe Kindig Jr. Indeed, surviving examples of his work are rare and among the most desirable early American firearms. This example is pictured on page 271 of Joe Kindig Jr.’s classic book “Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age.” The barrel is smoothbore and has a dovetailed brass blade front sight, dovetailed iron notch rear sight, and a crisp “Pe*Berry” signature on top of the breech section. The rifle features a plain single trigger and an unmarked lock with faceted pan and a
The brass furniture has well-
executed but subtle engraving. The
cheekpiece edge has a brass edge-plate with
two copper pins. There are brass wire inlays along
the top of the comb running back to the buttplate and along the bottom of the butt between the scroll finial of the
toeplate and the back of the trigger guard extension. Kindig noted
gooseneck cock.
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THOUGHTS ON THE KENTUCKY RIFLE IN ITS GOLDEN AGE BY JOE KINDIG JR.
of the accents and the C-scrolls on the left side of the butt that flow off of t
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that the brass wire inlays were “a rare detail that Peter Berry used occasionally.” The patch box is correctly secured by three screws with high rounded heads. The stock has molded line accents along the edges, tear drop flats, an inlaid silver wrist escutcheon secured by for small pins and accented with some light engraving, and raised relief scroll and floral patterns at the ramrod entry, barrel tang, and both sides of the butt with some notch accents. Despite the many consistencies in Berry’s work broadly, his carving designs vary widely, but all clearly demonstrate his talents as a carver. Kindig wrote, “Peter berry carved beautiful designs of C-scrolls with some flowers in high relief. The fact that no two of these guns are carved alike attests to his versatility.”The intricate details he back of the cheekpiece are certainly excellent examples of his craftsmanship. CONDITION: Very good as professionally reconverted to flintlock configuration. The barrel signature remains crisp. The barrel and lock exhibit dark brown patina and mild surface oxidation. The brass furniture has attractive aged patina and distinct engraving. The silver wrist escutcheon also has attractive aged patina and distinct engraving. The stock is fine and has stunning carving with crisp details on the butt, minor fading on the forend and barrel tang areas, some wear above the nose of the lock, faint cracks and repair at the toe, and general mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. This is one of the most famous examples by one of the most celebrated Pennsylvania rifle makers in the “Golden Age” during the early national period. This rifle is a true work of firearms art. Provenance: The Joe Kindig Jr. Collection; The Brian LaMaster Collection; The Michael Simens Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 22,500 - 35,000
LOT 3135 John Golcher, Easton Marked Flintlock Revolving Pepperbox Rifle/Shotgun - NSN, 36 cal., 18
1/2 inch round bbl., blue/bright finish, curly maple stock. The barrel group has seven vents and seven outer
barrels that are .36 caliber and rifled, and there is a central “barrel” that is smoothbore and approximately .47
caliber and may have a vent shared with one of the rifled barrels. There are nickel-silver blade front sights and a ring with U-notch rear sights. The back action lock is marked “JOHN GOLCHER/EASTON” for the early American
gunsmith active in Easton, Pennsylvania, in the late 18th century who became known as a maker of double barrel swivel breech rifles and combination guns and is popularly attributed as the one who made Timothy Murphy’s rifle in the American Revolution. The breech had serrations, and there is a
small trigger ahead of the trigger guard to release the barrel group for rotation. The upper tang and trigger guard have floral scroll engraving. The curly maple stock has an American long rifle style brass patchbox and buttplate. CONDITION: Good with a mix of faded artificially applied dark patina along the barrel, mostly gray patina on the lock and remaining
iron, attractive aged patina on the brass, some mild pitting, mostly distinct engraving, broken patchbox latch, absent screw from the left side of the frame, and general mild overall wear. The refinished stock is also good and has a gap around the top of the lock, a small crack
in the toe, attractive flame figure, and minor wear. Mechanically fine. This is definitely a very interesting and rare flintlock pepperbox revolver. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500