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LOT 3259
Extraordinary John Armstrong Maryland Golden Age Kentucky Flintlock American Long Rifle
with Raised Relief Carved Stock - NSN, 46 cal., 43 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/brass/silver finish, curly
maple stock. This extraordinary rifle was made by John Armstrong of Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Kentucky
Rifle Foundation notes, “John Armstrong is listed as a gunsmith in Emmitsburg Maryland in the early 19th
century. John was born on September 5, 1772, in Liberty Township, Pennsylvania, and it’s believed that he
learned his trade, as a young man, from noted gunsmith George Schroyer, of Hanover, Pennsylvania. The
exact date when John Armstrong arrived in Emmitsburg Maryland and set up his business is unknown,
but he is listed as a gunsmith in that town in 1808.” He may have remained active until his death c. 1842.
On page 445 of “Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age”, Joe Kindig, Jr. writes: “John Armstrong
was a fine gunsmith. He was a very good carver, and he made beautiful inlays and large patch boxes. His
engraving is very good. He also added “John Armstrong’s workmanship is magnificent and his designs are
just perfection. I cannot over emphasize the beauty of his rifles.” Kindig notes that Armstrong used the
same attributes many times over. This creates less variety in his work, but it also allowed him to really refine
the details. Armstrong’s designs draw from the earlier work of George Schreyer who was based in the town
of Hanover just a short distance away. His four sons and his apprentices Nathaniel Rowe and Marine Tyler
Wickham were trained in his style, but his sons did not remain in the gun trade. Examples of Armstrong’s
work can be found in many publications on American long rifles/Kentucky rifles, such as “The Kentucky
Rifle” by John G. W. Dillin, “Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age” by Kindig, “Kentucky Rifles &
Pistols, 1750-1850” by James R. Johnston, and “The Kentucky Rifle” by Merrill Lindsay.
Collection Greg LampeThe
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