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LOT 281
Ornate German Silver Inlaid and Engraved Huntingdon County Percussion Long Rifle - NSN, 40 cal.,
40 inch octagon bbl., unknown finish, curly maple stock. The signature on the barrel is mostly rubbed away, but the first letter looks like it could be a “J”. This rifle has strong similarities with others identified as by Joseph Douglass (Sr. or Jr.). He used the same patchbox and side plate designs on multiple identified rifles and very similar inlays. See “Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties” by Whisker and Yantz for multiple examples as well as the rifle in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number: 56.164.4). The rifled barrel has circles around the muzzle face, a blade front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, floral engraving, and a peep sight fitted to the upper tang. The lock has floral engraving. The rifle is equipped with adjustable double set triggers and has a spurred trigger guard. The four-piece brass patchbox has piercings and very nice floral engraving. The stock is decorated with extensive German silver inlays with engraving in a wide variety of shapes as is common on the Huntingdon School rifles, including an elaborate wear plate similar to the rifle in the following lot. The cheekpiece inlay has a spread wing eagle. CONDITION: Very good with mottled gray and brown patina and some mild pitting on the lock and barrel, attractive aged patina on the brass, lighter aged patina on the inlays, crisp engraving, faint barrel marking, some small repairs (lock, front sight, and trigger guard), and mild overall wear. The stock is also very good with some flash wear, mild scratches and dings, strong finish, attractive flame figure, and cracked toe. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
stock. This rifle has similarities with rifles by Joseph Douglass Sr. or Jr. of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, especially the lower rifle on page 80 of “Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties” by Whisker and Yantz which has the same
patchbox with heart pierced finial but different engraving and the same side plate as the rifle on the bottom of page 81. The rather heavy barrel is rifled, has blade and notch sights with engraved “chicken track” accents, and is signed “A x B” in a very similar fashion to the lock on the “Amos, Border & Co.” attributed rifle on page 51. The lock is marked “CONESTOGA/RIFLE/WORKS” and has scrollwork. The rifle is equipped
with double set triggers, brass furniture, and extensive German silver inlays with fancy engraving, including a very ornate wear plate along the bottom of the stock that is similar in patterns to the rifle in the previous lot. The stock has a shallow cheekpiece and the distinctive “hockey stick” profile. CONDITION: Fine overall with dark brown patina and mild oxidation/flash pitting on the lock and barrel, attractive aged patina on the furniture and inlays, brass bands to repair a break in the wrist, some thin cracks and repairs in the stock, chip at the forend tip, crisp engraving and barrel marking, and general mild overall wear. The trigger must be set to cock the hammer.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500 265
LOT 282
“A x B” Signed, Inlaid, and Engraved Percussion Pennsylvania Long Rifle - NSN, 47 cal., 35 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/bright finish, curly maple