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A Masterpiece of American Decorative Art
This creates less variety in his work, but allowed him to really hone his skills
on particular details. This example is incredibly similar in ornamentation to the example pictured on page 449 of the above book. Note the eagle engraved on the cheekpiece plate, the patch box designs, heart inlays on the tear drop flats, and the relief carving and checkering on the left side of the butt. The rifle on page 452 is also very similar. Other examples of Armstrong’s work, which also utilize similar designs, are on page 72 of “The Kentucky Rifle” by John G. W. Dillin and in “The Emmitsburg School” section of The Kentucky Rifle by Merrill Lindsay. This is only the second rifle built by Armstrong using the percussion system that the writer is aware of and was likely produced late in his career. The barrel has blade and notch sights as is common on American long rifles. The rear section of
the barrel has a inlaid brass plate inscribed with “John Armstrong” in script. The lock plate has a script “JA” marking at center. The lock plate and hammer have coordinating engraving patterns. It has a full length maple stock with twelve silver inlays. The stock has a large, ornate patchbox with a spring release button on the bottom of the butt and has rococo style carved accents ahead of the stock flats, behind the ramrod entry pipe, at the breech, ahead of the patchbox finial, and on the left side of the butt extending from the buttplate to the wrist. There is a section of checkering below the cheekpiece which has a molded edge and the eagle inlay noted above. The design at the breech also has some checkering. The rifle has a long brass forend cap. The buttplate is mostly brass except for a small piece on the heel.
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