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LOT 1286 Desirable Silver Inlaid and Relief Carved Bedford Percussion Long Rifle - NSN, 54 cal., 42 1/4
inch octagon bbl., brown/silver/bright finish, maple stock. There are faint maker’s marks on the lock and barrel that may be “J*S” for Jacob Stoudenour (1795-1863) given some of the similarities with the rifle in the previous lot as well as published examples attributed to Stoudenour who was one of the most prolific and talented of the Bedford
County, Pennsylvania, riflemakers. The lock was converted from flintlock. The rifle features over twenty silver inlays with
LOT 1284
Engraved, Silver Inlaid, and Relief Carved William Defibaugh Signed Bedford County Percussion Long Rifle - NSN, 34 cal., 40 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, curly maple stock. William Defibaugh (1814-1891) was a gunsmith
active from the mid-19th century well into the late 19th century in Monroe Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The barrel is signed “W*Defibaugh*” on top of the breech section with some dot
accents and has seven groove rifling, traditional dovetailed blade and notch sights, and a pointed tang secured by two screws. The distinctive Bedford lock has no visible markings. It is
equipped with adjustable double set triggers. There are lightly engraved silver
inlays on the drops, wrist, and cheekpiece, and the latter is engraved with a spread wing
eagle and shield motif. The furniture is brass, and the four-piece patchbox has some simple
engraving. The release button is at the rear of the upper side plate. The toe plate has floral blooms
engraved around the screws. The stock features incised molding, carving at the front of the flats, extended drops, relief work
at the back of the wrist, and relief carved scrollwork behind the cheekpiece. CONDITION: Fine with smooth brown patina on the barrel and lock, aged patina on the brass and silver, and general mild overall wear including some light oxidation and pitting. There are some flaws in the casting of the buttplate. The stock is also fine and has mostly distinct carving with some rubbing, attractive flame figure, small chips and slivers absent at the edges, a few thin cracks, a few repairs including at the front ramrod pipe, and general mild overall wear. The lock needs work/adjustments. The set triggers are mechanically fine. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1285
Very Attractive “JS” Signed, Silver Inlaid, and Relief Carved Bedford Percussion Long Rifle - NSN, 45 cal., 39 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/silver/bright finish, curly maple stock. This rifle is signed “J*S” on the distinctive Bedford lock and is attributed
to riflemakers Jacob Stoudenour (1795-1863) or his brother John Jr. and would be one of their earlier
and fancier rifles. This rifle is similar to Jacob Stoudenour attributed examples featured in Whisker’s books on Bedford gunmakers as well as another known rifle that has “John
* Stoudenour 1834” signed on a brass panel on the barrel discussed in the article “Bedford Co. - John Stoudenour” by Larry Pletcher on Blackpowdermag.com. Jacob was the more prolific riflemaker, and in “Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties,” Whisker
and Yantz note: “Most collectors believe that Stoudenour’s guns represent the very finest in Bedford County gun making.” They
note that John also worked as a gunsmith at least in the late 1830s but was later appears to have focused on being a farmer. The lock was converted from flintlock.
The rifle features over twenty silver inlays with light engraving along with incised molding and carving, including very nice raised relief scroll carving on the left side of the butt. The classic Bedford patchbox, toeplate, buttplate, trigger guard, pierced side plate, ramrod pipes, and forend cap are brass. The heel is iron. CONDITION: Very good with brown patina, mild flash pitting at the breech, attractive aged patina on the silver inlays and brass furniture, and mild overall wear. The partially restored stock is also very good and has crisp carving and molding, some faint cracks and small chips, repaired cracks in the forend, and very attractive figure. The trigger must be set for the lock to hold at full-cock and functions fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
light engraving along with incised molding and carving. The scroll carving behind the cheekpiece is particularly attractive, and the cheekpiece has a silver oval inlay engraved with a spread wing eagle and shield. The classic Bedford patchbox, toeplate, buttplate, trigger guard, pierced side plate, ramrod pipes, and forend cap are brass. The heel and toe of the buttplate are
iron. The rifle is equipped with double set triggers.
CONDITION: Very good. The barrel exhibits a dark brown overall, and the lock has gray and brown patina and mild pitting. The silver inlays and brass furniture have dark
aged patina. The barrel has heavy flash erosion and pitting at the breech and was bored out to smoothbore indicating this rifle saw extensive use. The toe of the buttplate and the toeplate are replacements. The partially restored stock has some cracks and repairs in the forend, distinct carving, loss at the nose of the lock, a repair above the lock, and repaired toe. Mechanically functions. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
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