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LOT 233
Charles M. Knupp Engraved and Incised Carved Somerset County Percussion American
Long Rifle - NSN, 32 cal., 36 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, curly maple stock. Charles Monroe Knupp
(1862-1937) was a late 19th and early 20th century gunsmith and saw miller in Somerset County,
Pennsylvania. He is believed to have been trained by his uncle Jonathan
Dormayer (Dunmeyer) and to have continued working as a gunsmith
until shortly before his death long after breechloading rifles had
become the norm. His rifles are very similar to his uncle’s work;
note for example, the rifle in Lot 231. Another of Knupp’s rifles
is also featured in Lot 232. His uncle David Dunmeyer was also
a gunmaker and made the rifle in Lot 230. The lightly tapered octagonal barrel has a browned finish and traditional blade and notch sights and
circles and dots around the muzzle. The single position lock is signed “C.M.K” like other known Knupp rifles and has some lined engraving. The rifle is set up to fire only
after setting the double set triggers. The rifle features engraved brass mounts and a figured curly maple stock with incised scroll carving and molding.
CONDITION: Fine with a smooth blend of finish and brown patina on the lock and barrel, minor flash wear and pitting at the breech, attractively aged patina on the brass mounts, glossy
finish on the stock with some discoloration around the tail of the lock and wrist, and generally minor overall wear. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 232
Incised 20th Century Charles Monroe Knupp Somerset County Percussion American Long
Rifle - NSN, 40 cal., 35 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, curly maple stock. Charles Monroe Knupp (1862-1937)
was a late 19th and early 20th century gunsmith and saw miller in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He is
believed to have been trained by his uncle Jonathan Dormayer (Dunmeyer) and to have continued
working as a gunsmith until shortly before his death. His uncle
David Dunmeyer was also a gunmaker. See the rifle in Lot 230
for example. Knupp’s rifles are nearly identical to some of the
Dunmeyer rifles; note for example, the rifle in Lot 231. If these
two rifles were not signed differently, you would presume
they were by the same man as would the other Knupp rifle in
Lot 233. The approximately 15/16 straight octagonal barrel has a browned
finish and traditional blade and notch sights. The single position lock is signed “C.M.K” like other known Knupp rifles
and has some lined engraving. The rifle has adjustable double set triggers and brass mounts with engraving. The figured curly maple stock has incised
scroll carving.
CONDITION: Very fine with smooth brown finish along the barrel, lighter brown on the lock, aged patina on the brass mounts, and minor overall wear. Mechanically fine (set trigger first)
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 231
Late 19th Century Incised Carved Jonathan Dunmeyer Somerset County Percussion American
Long Rifle - NSN, 32 cal., 36 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, curly maple stock. This rifle is signed “J D”
on the lock and has strong similarities with other Jonathan Dunmeyer rifles, especially the rifle at the top of
page 88 of “Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties” by Whisker and Yantz.
His family spelled their surname in various ways, and he spelled his
surname Dormayer per 19th century records and his grave in
Somerset Township. He lost a leg after being wounded while
serving in the 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry at Cedar
Creek, Virginia, in 1864 returned to gunmaking. His father
Peter Dormayer and brother David were also gunmakers as
was his nephew Charles Monroe Knupp who made rifles that
were essentially copies of his uncle’s work long after breechloaders became the norm. See
David Dunmeyer rifle in 230 and the Knupp rifles in Lot 232 and Lot 233 for comparison. The rifled straight octagonal barrel has circle and dot designs
on the muzzle and dovetailed blade and notch sights. The lock and brass mounts have fairly simple engraving. The curly maple stock is nicely shaped and featured
incised scroll carving and molding. The single position lock is fired with adjustable double set triggers that must be set to fire.
CONDITION: Fine with light brown patina on the lock and barrel, mild pitting, attractively aged patina on the brass mounts, a faint hairline crack on the left at the breech, and minor scratches and dings on the metal
and stock. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500