AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: gunmaker on April 17, 2015, 06:45:53 PM

Title: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: gunmaker on April 17, 2015, 06:45:53 PM

Did any Lehigh guns, rifled or smooth have wood covers on box ?  ....Tom

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: E.vonAschwege on April 17, 2015, 07:03:34 PM

Yes, there are some great Lehigh rifles that have wooden patchboxes.  Neihart seemed to use them more often than other makers.  They're long and somewhat narrower than you'd see on other styles.  IIRC, there's a rifle attributed to Neihart in "Kentucky Rifles & Pistols 1750-1850" that has a wooden patchbox. 
-Eric

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: gunmaker on April 17, 2015, 07:53:56 PM

Thanks Eric......Tom

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: Nate McKenzie on April 17, 2015, 09:00:16 PM

From the ALR museum:   http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=33905.0

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: JTR on April 17, 2015, 09:08:07 PM

Yep, I have one! Probably 1780/90's period. The cover is original to the gun, about 1 1/4" wide and 4 3/4 long. It sits up about .200" above the plane of the stock at the butt end.
John

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: Stophel on April 18, 2015, 01:26:51 AM

The wood box lid hung on longer here than most other places.  Well into the 19th century.

David Cooke's flintlock rifle.  Probably near 1830, I'd guess.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjamesdjulia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimages%2Fauctions%2F346%2Fimages%2Flrg%2F49445.jpg&hash=7f29b07443d38247209057ee087a505cc15dbd88)

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: Bob Roller on April 18, 2015, 02:40:38 PM

Quote from: Stophel on April 18, 2015, 01:26:51 AM

The wood box lid hung on longer here than most other places.  Well into the 19th century.

David Cooke's flintlock rifle.  Probably near 1830, I'd guess.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjamesdjulia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimages%2Fauctions%2F346%2Fimages%2Flrg%2F49445.jpg&hash=7f29b07443d38247209057ee087a505cc15dbd88)

Too much drop for me but I do like the style and stark simplicity of this rifle.

Bob Roller

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: RichG on April 18, 2015, 04:38:37 PM

love the barn find gun. so simple. also noticed the red color on the picture of the tang. looks like most of the finish has worn off with use. Eric-what do you think? Dragons blood or madder root?

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: E.vonAschwege on April 18, 2015, 05:18:50 PM

I don't know if you mean Eric K or Eric V, so I'll share my thoughts - I have some of the closeup photos from the auction and I don't believe it had a colored varnish.  At least if it did, it doesn't anymore.  Bill Knight did some great research and believes a lot of the red coloration we see in old stocks is likely caused by a reaction between aquafortis and the linseed oil based finishes applied.  Certainly linseed finishes age to an amber/reddish color, and I think that's what we see on this one and lots of others. 

Title: Re: Lehigh patchbox covers ???
Post by: Stophel on April 20, 2015, 04:24:46 AM

That's the color I get with Aqua Fortis and linseed oil.

 ;)