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LOT 189
Desirable Peter Moll, Hellerstown, Pennsylvania, Smoothbore Flintlock American Long Rifle - Serial no. 141, 52 cal., 43 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/brass finish, curly maple stock. Peter Moll (1799-1879) fought in the War of 1812 in Abraham Rinker’s Company in Colonel Thomas Humphrey’s 18th Riflemen. Afterwards, he became a gunmaker in Hellerstown, Pennsylvania. In addition to his rifles and smoothbore long guns, he and his relative David Moll manufactured pistols that have been considered “secondary martial pistols.” The barrel is bored
smooth and has traditional low profile blade and notch sights, “Peter Moll Hellerstown No. 141” signed on top in fancy
script, and “D CHRIST” (“D” weakly stamped or has die breaks making it look like an “I”) stamped on the left. The lock has some simple engraving, a roller on the feather spring, and “JOHN
WALKER/BIRMINGHAM” stamped at the center. The silver wrist escutcheon is inscribed with the initials “JA.” The two-piece brass patchbox has some light wavy line engraving and the typical Moll shape. The sideplate has the “arrowhead” rear finial. The small cheekpiece has a silver hunter star inlay. The stock also has some double incised line molding along the forend and bottom of the
buttstock. Moll No. 140 is also known to survive and is very similar and also has a Christ barrel and Walker lock. A Jacob Christ of Berks County, Pennsylvania, has been previously listed as the maker of these barrels, but Shumway and others also list a D. Christ as a rifle barrel maker in Berks County. Some theorize he specialized in smooth-boring worn rifle barrels. There were at least three Daniel Christs in Berks County in the first half of the 19th century.
CONDITION: Fine as reconverted to flintlock configuration with dark brown patina, mild pitting concentrated at the vent, attractive aged patina on the brass furniture and silver inlays, and general moderate overall wear. The stock is also fine and has some small chips along the edges, flash wear at the breech, mild scrapes and dings, and some faint cracks and repairs. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 8,500 - 14,000
LOT 190
Documented George Schreyer Sr. Attributed Relief Carved Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 50 cal., 44 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, maple stock. This very attractive smoothbore is gun No. 31 in “George Schreyer, Sr. & Jr. Gunmakers of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania” by George Shumway where it is
noted as: “Length overall 59 5/8 inches. Octagonal smoothbore barrel 44 inches long, .50 caliber” and “This unsigned piece is attributed to George Schreyer, Sr., without hesitation. For many years it was part of the collection of the late James S. Lewis, but in 1987 it was sold at auction and I have not been able to locate
it for further photography and measurements. The patchbox is a unique design, simple but pleasing, and the relief-carved decoration is yet another example of Schreyer’s skill. The usual fleur-de-lis is carved at atop the wrist.” The rifle has notable similarities with rifles No. 32 and 33 in the book as well, the latter signed
“G. Schreyer”. The current rifle is also featured within the article “Identifying a Kentucky Longrifle: The George Schreyer-John Fondersmith-JFS Connection” by
Glenn Marsh, M.D., in the American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin 84.
Now, this rifle is again available for purchase and study. In addition to the details discussed above, the “smooth rifle” features traditional dovetailed blade
and notch sights, a faint rectangular marking on the inside of the lockplate, plain single trigger, brass furniture, and a figured maple stock. The stock features exceptional raised relief and incised carving and molding. There are three sets of three incised crescents behind the ramrod entry point along with raised relief carving that becomes incised carving to the sides. The flats are well-formed and feature beautifully executed drops. The classic Schreyer fleur-de-lis carving is on top at the barrel tang. There is very interesting carving at the front of the butt that varies on the right side from the left. On the left side, extraordinarily cleanly carved “C” scrolls extend off of the cheekpiece. The four-piece patchbox has primarily “wiggle” line engraving, and the patchbox release is on the heel. A short toe plate secured by two pins is installed and has coordinating engraving.
CONDITION: Fine as reconverted with dark patina underneath a protective coating, mild pitting, vice marks on the barrel, crack in the neck of the cock, attractively aged patina on the brass furniture, and generally fairly mild overall wear. The ramrod is a longer replacement. The stock is very fine and has crisp carving and molding, mild dings and scratches, attractive figure, and generally fairly minor wear. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The James S. Lewis Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK GEORGE SCHREYER, SR. & JR. GUNMAKERS OF HANOVER, NEW YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA BY SHUMWAY