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LOT 3136
S. Miller Signed Incised Carved Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 45 cal., 39 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, curly maple stock. This rifle is signed “S Miller” on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and breech and has a matching patch box design and Roman nose stock
profile seen on other known S. Miller rifles. It was built either by Simon Miller or Samuel Miller of Pennsylvania. A variety of similar rifles have been attributed to one or the other over the years but were more likely all built by one maker. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation notes, “Simon Miller
worked in the borough of Hamburg, Windsor Township [Pennsylvania] from the late 1700s to 1806. Miller was a prolific maker of rifles and pistols. His rifle design with the Roman-nose stock and a distinctive patch box design rarely varied.” This rifle fits within that trend as it has the same patchbox design seen on other Miller rifles. The barrel has seven-groove rifling, a dovetailed brass
blade front sight, dovetailed iron notch rear sight, and “S * Miller” signed on top behind the rear sight. The caliber is around .45. The rifle features a “JOSEPH/GOLCHER” marked lock with dock scene on the rear, single trigger, silver oval wrist escutcheon with engraved border, engraved silver hunter star inlay on the cheekpiece, a full-length
curly maple stock with incised carving behind the cheekpiece, a pair of brass tacks on the cheekpiece, loops for a vent pick below, another tag ahead of the buttplate extension, seven small brass pins ahead of the toe plate, and a nice wear plate along the bottom of the forend.
CONDITION: Good as reconverted using a replacement lock which has dark brown patina and a resurfaced frizzen with some chip
at the top. The barrel displays a crisp signature, smooth dark brown patina, and mild flash pitting at the breech typical of percussion
conversions. The brass and silver display attractive aged patina and have distinct engraving. The stock has some chips and slivers
absent from the forend, glossy finish, crisp carving, and very attractive flame figure throughout. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3137
“JK” Signed Percussion American Long Rifle with Extensive
Silver Inlays - NSN, 45 cal., 41 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/silver/bright finish, maple stock. Another of these “JK” signed rifles with the same patchbox design is also known and is attributed to Joseph Kimmell of Union County, Pennsylvania. Little is known about him other than that he was born in Union County in 1802, died in 1887, and is buried in Kimmell, Noble County, Indiana, which was founded in 1831 by the Kimmell family. The rifle features a dovetailed German silver blade
front sight, notch rear sight with long base, “*JK*” signed on the top flat behind the rear sight, “JAS GOLCHER/WARRANTED” marked lock with some
simple engraving, adjustable double set triggers, four-piece patchbox with pierced sideplates and finial as well as some scroll engraving on the lid, wavy line borders on some of the additional furniture, ornate comb plate and wear
plate, and thirty silver inlays in a variety of shapes along the highly figured maple stock. CONDITION: Good with applied refinished brown finish along the barrel, distinct signature, mild pitting at the breech, repaired barrel tang, dark patina on the lock, aged patina on the brass and silver, and some casting pits. The stock is also good and has some faint cracks and repairs, stunning figure, and minor scratches and dings. The lock and triggers need some adjustments. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3138
G. Haines Signed Flintlock American Long Rifle
- NSN, 40 cal., 41 1/2 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, maple stock. George Haines (1808-1881) was a riflemaker in Perry Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania. In 1850, the Census listed him as a laborer, and the 1860 Census recorded him as a farmer, the primary occupation of many 19th century riflemakers, and the 1870 Census identified him as a retired farmer. The barrel
has traditional low blade and notch sights, and “G*Haines” is signed on top of the breech section. The replacement lock is marked “WARRANTED”
and has some scroll patterns and a frizzen spring roller. The furniture is brass. The side plate has a single lock screw and ornate engraving, and the four-piece patchbox is engraved and features an attractive triple pierced finial. The wrist escutcheon is a silver oval. The stock has incised line molding along the bottom and a nice Roman nose style butt with a cheekpiece. A 1947 dated advertisement from T.J. Cooper of Meadville, Pennsylvania, offering this rifle
for sale with “Collection Robert G. Smith” written on the back is in the patchbox CONDITION: Good as converted to flintlock configuration with dark patina on the lock and barrel, mild flash pitting at the breech, repaired barrel tang, aged patina on the brass and silver, and mild overall ear. The refinished stock is also fine and has some faint repairs and general minor marks and scratches. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The T.J. Cooper Collection; The Robert G. Smith Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250 87