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Pennsylvania, in 1849. The rifle is signed “SG” on the barrel and handmade lock and features double set triggers, and
a wide variety of inlays. The forend designs include eyes that feature mother of pearl and horn, rattlesnakes, fish, crescent moons, hunter’s
stars, and pointing hands. The two rear hands on the right side have the letters “U” and “L”, and the two rear hands on the left have “H” and “A”. Another eye inlay is on the bottom of the butt behind the trigger guard, and the bulls-eyes on the wrist also have mother of pearl and horn
centers. The left side of the butt has a spread wing bird inlay on the cheekpiece, crescent moons, a radiating sunset/sunrise style design under the cheekpiece, crossed sabers, and Masonic symbols at the rear including the square and compass under an arch along with a hammer, trowel, and beehive
suggesting this rifle was built for a Mason. The primary furniture is brass and includes distinctive “double” ramrod ferrules, a wear plate on the bottom of the forend, and a four piece patchbox with pierced finial and side panels, dark and light horn inlays in the piercings of the side panels, the square and compass on the finial, and floral engraving. The toe plate also has piercings with horn inlays. CONDITION: Very good with a smooth dark brown patina on the lock and barrel, flash pitting and erosion at the breech, aged patina on the brass furniture and inlays, crisp engraving and markings, and general mild overall wear. The stock is very good with attractive flame figure throughout, some faint cracks including a repaired crack in the wrist supported by engraved brass plates apparently done at the maker’s shop given the engraving and inlay, small gaps around the lock mortise, one replaced “post” of the arch, and general mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3284
Elaborate William S. Chilcote Huntingdon School Percussion Long Rifle - NSN, 45 cal., 36 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, maple stock. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation indicates William S. Chilcote (1850-1887) of Todd Township, Pennsylvania, was an apprentice
of his uncle James Stapleton and a late member of the Huntington School riflemakers active c. 1870-1887. He was living in Hustontown in the 1880s and was also a photographer and died shortly after eating a poisonous mushroom. The rifle features extensive German silver inlays with wavy line borders in a variety of designs, including arrows and tomahawks, and a floral motif is engraved on the brass oval patchbox. The patchbox has dried lubricant inside. The rifled barrel is equipped with dovetailed blade and notch sights and is marked “W.S. CHILCOTE” in an inlaid German silver panel with border engraving. The lock is marked “LEMAN/LANCTR PA” and has scroll patterns. It is equipped with adjustable double set triggers. CONDITION: Very good with dark brown patina, mild oxidation and pitting, aged patina on the furniture and inlays, and mild wear. The stock is fine and has most of the varnish finish remaining, some nice figure, flash wear, and general scratches and dings. The trigger must be set to cock the rifle. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3285
Attractive Inlaid and Engraved George Kopp Huntingdon County Percussion Long Rifle - NSN, 36 cal., 37 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, curly maple stock. George Kopp (1810-
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1890), son of Andrew Kopp, was a gunsmith and riflemaker in Geeseytown, Pennsylvania, just west of Huntingdon until around 1870 when he moved to Haldane, Ogle County, Illinois, and then returned to Geeseytown around 1881. A very similar rifle by Kopp is featured on page 104 of “Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties” by Whisker and Yantz. The rifled barrel has designs around the muzzle, blade and notch sights flanked by floral engraving, “G. KOPP” stamped on top, and a short tang with two screws. The rifle also features what appears to be a Goulcher lock with scroll patterns, double set triggers, extensive engraved in a variety of patterns, a very distinctive pieced wear plate on the forend, four-piece patchbox with floral engraving, toeplate with small patchbox lid button, long comb plate, and spread wing eagle and shield design engraved on the oval cheekpiece inlay. CONDITION: Very good with brown patina, mild oxidation/pitting, tool marks, and general moderate wear on the iron; aged patina on the brass furniture and inlays, distinct engraving, and crisp maker’s mark on the barrel. The stock is good and has loss at the breech, spliced repairs at the toe and above the nose of the lock, minor cracks, general scrapes and dings, and very attractive flame figure. The lock will hold full-cock if the trigger is set first. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
German silver/nickel silver inlays
LOT 3283
Documented Elaborate Inlaid and Engraved Huntingdon School Percussion American Long Rifle Signed “SG” - NSN, 40 cal., 42 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/German silver/bright finish, curly maple
stock. This rifle is shown on page 95 of “Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties” by Whisker and Yantz. The authors note that Samuel Gehrett (1789-1854) was taxed in Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, in 1814 and 1815 and may have been associated with Zachariah Albright Sr. and Nicholas Shennefelt. In 1817-1843, he was taxed in Union Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and then later in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County,
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN GUNSMITHS OF BEDFORD, FULTON, HUNTINGDON, & SOMERSET COUNTIES BY WHISKER AND YANTZ