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LOT 273
Stunning Silver Inlaid and Incised Carved Golden Age American Long Rifle by Jacob Albright - NSN, 46 cal., 42 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/silver/bright finish, curly maple stock. This rifle was purchased from N. Flayderman & Co., Inc.’s catalog number 118, in which it was item 2544 (scans included). Many of the details are similar to rifle 71 from “Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age” by Kindig, including similar silver inlays on the cheekpiece
and very similar incised carving including the large initials “JA” on
the left side of the buttstock. Jacob Albright/Albrecht (1766-1840)
of Centre County, Pennsylvania, was a talented gunmaker from a family of gunmakers which has created some confusion as to how they were all related, but gunsmiths/riflemakers Zachariah (1796- 1889), Jacob Jr. (1803-1884), David (b. 1806) have been identified as some of his thirteen children. Albright rifles are rather rare and very refined, especially in the carving and inlay work. Given the other rifles carved by the Albrights with matching designs, the large “JA” designs among the carving appear to have been a method of the Albrights for promoting their name. The rifle features a dovetailed silver blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, “J. Alb” signature on top of the barrel, double set triggers, distinctive pierced two- piece patchbox with lid that hinges downward, “KETLAND/& Co” marked lock with light designs, and an impressive variety of silver and horn inlays along the curly maple stock which has the “Roman nose” butt profile. The inlays included a series of eye shaped designs along the forend by the wedges with dark horn “pupils,” additional silver inlays in a variety of shapes (hearts, crescent moons, tear drops, etc.), eye shaped inlays with light horn “sclera” and dark horn “pupils” on the sides of the wrist, a comb edge inlay, alternating inlays in the piercings on the toe plate, and more.
CONDITION: Very good with attractive dark brown patina on the barrel and lock, nice aged patina on the silver inlays and brass furniture, one small piece of horn inlay absent from the left “eye” on the wrist and minor crack in the inlay on the right, some tool marks and scrapes, some small cracks in the stock and spring blowout at the bottom of the lock mortise, repairs to the lock, and generally rather minor overall wear. The triggers/lock need some adjustments. Provenance: N. Flayderman & Co., Inc.; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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