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LOT 3240
Well-Documented, Engraved, Relief Carved, Silver Inlaid, and TW
Marked Golden Age Flintlock American Long Rifle Attributed to
Wickham & Matthews - NSN, 42 cal., 45 inch octagon bbl., bright/brass/
silver finish, curly maple stock. At first glance this rifle might be attributed
to Emmitsburg, Maryland, riflemaker John Armstrong, and it certainly
displays his influence. It is attributed to his apprentice Marine Tyler
Wickham and Wickham’s partner Matthews. This rifle is well-known and is
pictured and described on page 89 of “The Kentucky Rifle: A True American
Heritage in Picture” from the Kentucky Rifle Association, page 51 of
“Kentucky Rifles & Pistols, 1750-1850” by James Johnston and the Kentucky
Rifle Association, and page 43 of “Maryland Long Rifles” by Hartzler and
Whisker. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation notes Marine Tyler Wickham
was born on January 3, 1780. On March 11, 1799, he was bound to
Armstrong to be trained as a gunsmith and locksmith. In 1801, he worked
in partnership with a gunsmith named Matthews. In 1802, he purchased a
lot in Emmitsburg and continued to work with Matthews. In the summer
of 1804, he went to work at the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Thus, this rifle
would have been manufactured c. 1799-1804. Hartzler and Whisker note
that he later was chief armorer of the Schuylkill Arsenal in 1810-1816 and
later owned M.T. Wickham & Co. in Philadelphia. His estate was settled in
1833. Matthews may have been Joseph Matthews who worked at Harpers
Ferry into the 1830s. As pictured & described in Kentucky Rifles
& Pistols, 1750-1850 by Johnston & the
Kentucky Rifle Association