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LOT 3073
Very Scarce Documented Christian Beck Signed and Raised Relief Carved Flintlock American Long Rifle Featured in “Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age” by
Kindig - NSN, 45 cal., 42 1/8
inch octagon bbl., brown finish,
curly maple stock. This rifle is
attributed to “Christian Beck-
The Earlier” in “Thoughts
on the Kentucky Rifle in Its
Golden Age” by Kindig and
is shown on page 252 as
gun 102. Kindig believed
him to be the brother of John Philip Beck.
Subsequent research by the Beck family
and long rifle historians has indicated that
while J.P. Beck had a brother named John
Christian Beck, Jr. (1750-1806) these rifles
are by J.P. Beck’s son Christian Beck (1782-
1861) that was a gunsmith and trained under J.P.
Beck and died in Jonestown. J.P. Beck also had a
nephew named Christian Beck that apprenticed under
John Bonewitz and produced very different rifles. Kindig notes that “Christian Beck stocks his rifles with good curly maple and decorated them with beautifully designed and
skillfully executed carving in high relief, principally on the cheek piece
side.” On this rifle in particular, Kindig wrote, “Although not extensive,
the carving is quite beautiful.”This rifle likely dates to before the War
of 1812. The seven-groove rifled barrel has blade and notch sights and
is signed “C. Beck” on top. The lock is unmarked. The brass furniture is
plain, a common feature on Christian Beck’s rifles. The stock on the other
hand has fine molding along the ramrod channel and bottom of the
butt, raised relief carving at the barrel tang, “C” shaped relief carving at
the front of the comb on each side, and an incised line on the cheekpiece
that then turns into a beautifully executed raised relief and incise carved
scroll motif on the left side of the butt.
CONDITION: Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with dark
brown patina, moderate oxidation and pitting, attractive aged patina on
the brass furniture, and mild scratches and dings. The stock is also very
good and has some attractive flame figure, an angled crack across the
right side of the butt, some smaller hairline cracks elsewhere, erosion at the
breech, and minor dings and scratches. The lock needs work. This is a very
attractive and well-known Christian Beck signed rifle.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THOUGHTS ON THE KENTUCKY RIFLE IN ITS GOLDEN AGE BY KINDIG
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