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LOT 287
Highly Desirable Hershel House Contemporary Southern Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 32 cal., 38 5/8 inch octagon bbl., antiqued finish, walnut stock. Hershel House (1941-2024) of Woodbury, Kentucky, is a legend
in contemporary longrifle culture and the larger muzzleloading community as the founder of the “Woodbury School” along with his talented younger brothers Frank and John. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a very versatile and talented artist and craftsman focused on traditional muzzleloading firearms and other related items such as forged knives as well as the restoration and conservation of antiques. He also passed on his skills to numerous other gunmakers and thus was a key figure in keeping traditional American muzzleloading going. The Hershel House and the Woodbury School Foundation, Inc. was formed in his honor to keep that legacy going after his passing earlier this year. This rifle was built in the traditional Southern Longrifle fashion, in particular in the style of original Tennessee rifles. The swamped octagonal barrel features traditional blade and notch sights and is crisply signed “H House” in script. The long tang
reaches all the way back to the nose of the comb. The lock is marked “MM/MASLAM/WARRANTED” and has some floral engraving. The rifle is equipped with adjustable double set triggers and forged iron furniture.
CONDITION: Very fine with Hershel House’s distinctive antiqued finish, some light oxidation, and generally minor overall wear. The lock and trigger lock-up are a little finicky, but it is mechanically functional. Estimate: 4,000 - 7,000
of Colonial Williamsburg fame and was the mentor of other well-respected modern makers. The rifled barrel has traditional style blade and notch sights and Bivins’s silver “I-B” maker’s mark on the upper left flat at the breech. Like most of the original rifles, the swamped barrel is otherwise plain. The lock is marked “CS” on the inside and is finished in the same antique brown finish as the barrel. It is fired using adjustable
double set triggers. The furniture is brass, including the elaborately engraved patchbox
and sideplate. The beautifully figured curly maple stock features raised relief carving with silver wire accents.
CONDITION: Excellent overall with mostly only minor handling and storage marks on the metal and wood, crisp carving and engraving, and stunning figure. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
Very Fine Jack Haugh Contemporary Early Lancaster Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 50 cal., 44 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/ bright finish, curly maple stock. This early Lancaster style long rifle by Indiana custom gunmaker Jack T. Haugh (1931-2018) is very similar to some of the bicentennial rifles he and John Bivins made back in the mid- 1970s along with Monte Mandarino and Mark Silver and was built around that time but does not have the bicentennial plaque inside the patchbox. Haugh was one of the most revered contemporary muzzleloading rifle makers and lived right near the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s headquarters and range in Friendship, Indiana, for many years. When this rifle was advertised in“Muzzle Blasts”in November 1984, it was noted as“probably the finest Jack Haugh Kentucky.”The rifle features traditional style blade and notch sights, “J Haugh” neatly signed on top of the barrel, Pete Allan lock, single trigger, brass furniture, engraved side plate and patchbox, blank nickel-silver wrist escutcheon with light border engraving, and fantastic molding and carving including elaborate C scrolls behind the large cheekpiece. CONDITION: Excellent overall with smooth “antique brown” style finish attractive light aged patina on the brass, and minimal wear. The stock is also excellent and has beautiful crisp carving and flame figure, and some very minor light scratches and marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250 267
LOT 289
LOT 288
Beautiful John Bivins Contemporary Engraved and Raised Relief Carved Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 45 cal., 42 inch
octagon bbl., brown/bright finish, curly maple stock. John Bivins was one of the early masters of 20th century American long rifle making, and his work continues to influence makers today. He trained with Wallace Gusler