AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: debnal on August 30, 2011, 01:35:00 AM
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A friend just sent me this link, albeit too late! For all those who think there are no great guns still out there. Anyone else see it? Anyone else buy it?
http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/photopanel.cgi?listingid=1200890&category=0&zip=&kwd=
Al
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Thanks, Al. Wonder what it sold for? Can't have been too much given that the gun has been so badly treated. However, a Peter Berry is still a Peter Berr, and worth having no matter what condition. Wow!
Dick
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I just got a detailed description of the actual gun. Somebody got a DEAL!
Relief carved everywhere a golden age gun should be.
Al
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OH, beat up but what a treasure to study
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I picked this rifle up during the Summer but I didn't respond to Al's post at the time and unfortunately the original auction pictures are no longer on line. This Peter Berry was found in a barn in the early 1950's by the last owner when he was a kid. The rifle was lying in the dirt and had begun to deteriorate to the point of the wood starting to be punkie, and even rotting in a few places. The man and his father attempted some restoration, but fortunately for me, they didn't damage the already damaged rifle excessively. I really hesitated in attempting to restore this gun, but it was a fairly rare Golden Age signed rifle that was mostly there, so I gave it a shot. After six months of work, here are the results.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2F212xymt.jpg&hash=b73182edd0585192ab01645c50348489204320c2)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi41.tinypic.com%2Foqyk20.jpg&hash=f41264a4c8ed791e98f26a701ca710cf356e901b)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi41.tinypic.com%2Fnog6et.jpg&hash=7c06cb761033a24a7abb0c83bc1a0ebd25586e1b)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi41.tinypic.com%2F14t1zk2.jpg&hash=8a17e3f929c64479c06c104e156e097974613862)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2F2vj3cxd.jpg&hash=2b7867fce0f7848d03b8e0be1024e72118011539)
FK
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Here are a few more shots. Unfortunately the brass hardware (all original except the sideplate) had been cleaned and coated in a heavy coat of varnish, so I removed the varnish and slightly colored it. I will let time mute the shine. The wood was as white as chalk from being in the weather, it's amazing what a little bee's wax and lemon oil will do.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2Fofne3a.jpg&hash=5467ea45279dcb33f77dacba793a8371f63c2fca)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2F16c2vxd.jpg&hash=894f0a0fb475fcd55129278244a7546f0a2a3284)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2F15xqxdj.jpg&hash=edacb2c1e6ee80702c793250b09d2d7cb2db78f7)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi41.tinypic.com%2F6td6pd.jpg&hash=9fb134e036968f984de7eead803f1229c1a8326e)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.tinypic.com%2Fe05rpe.jpg&hash=8f919e092dec30d82084e5781e153513703d7176)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2F6fqhde.jpg&hash=699ee3d42fc06c4d9c5153e19a8499187d8e83d5)
FK
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Wow Frank, that turned out fantastic! I believe this is a perfect example of proper restoration of an historic longrifle.
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;D ;D Looks like the one I built last year! Very Nice work!!
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Frank, you have a great gift for restoration. Your Berry rifle is once again a real treasure to behold! An 18th century golden age treasure with all of the bells and whistles. Thank you sir for saving this classic for future generations and my viewing pleasure. ;D
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Wow, great job. Bee wax and lemon oil huh? That I gotta try. Thanks, Jack
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Frank,
Great resoration and what a great gun!
Al
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Thanks guys, I wish I had taken before pictures to compare it to, but unfortunately I didn't. It will never be a grand rifle, but at least it was saved from the bone yard. I gotta stop doing these larzarus projects, they're too much work!
Jack, I re-checked and on this project I used something called Howard Feed-N-Wax, it contains bees wax and orange oil. I kept putting it on the wood until it wouldn't absorb any more, it brings the color back and it doesn't damage any original finish that's still on the wood. It leaves a satin finish on the stock and it won't hurt the metal parts.
FK
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Frank, a round of standing applause to you for doing what had to be done here and doing it better than anyone could imagine. Thank you for sending in the photos for us to see. What a grand gun and a super job of saving it.
Dick
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What a beautiful rifle! All things considered, it looks incredibly good.
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Frank,
I have always felt that someone who does" quality" & honest restoration does a great service to future collectors. They also honor the original maker by saying your work is Worth saving. Peter Berry would by proud. Thanks for saving another one. JIM
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Other than the chalk white to brown color, and the side plate you mentioned, I don't see what work you did Frank, so can only conclude that you did a grand job of it!
Originally that rifle would have rated right up there with one of Berry's best! And now it can be around for another couple hundred years for collectors to enjoy!
John
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Frank, I ordered some of the Howards. Appreciate the tip. Jack
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I started using Howards when I redid a friends CVA Hawken. Then I used it on a kitchen
cabinet that I had scrubbed the finish off of (grandkids and crayons ;)) That door looks
better than the rest. I may scrub them all down and re-do with the Howards.
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Frank: A helluva good restoration. Looks a lot like the Kindig rifle by Berry we have in the Landis Museum EXhibit next month. On top of which we will feature a display of Berry at our table at the Baltimore Gun Show in the lobby area, promoting the Landis Valley exhibit and book.
Hope to see you there..
Patrick Hornberger
PS: What auction was the Berry rifle in???
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Thanks again for the kind words guy's, it was an interesting project.
John, There were a lot of small pieces of wood that needed to be put in, but the rifle is dark and the wood repairs blended nicely.
Patrick, I'll be sure to see your table at Baltimore as well as the Landis Valley exhibit. In it's day, this was one of the best rifles that Berry ever made, I'm glad that I was able to save it. It came from a small auction in Pennsylvania, the pictures were terrible and it slid under the radar for most people, but I have low flying radar. ;)
FK
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Frank, just saw your post I've not checked this site for awhile. What a cool rifle and great find! Nice job, you've been busy! The domed patchbox is interesting and an early feature - maybe this is one Berry's earlier guns?
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Patrick,
Can you provide info on the Landis Valley exhibit book?
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So naturally I too had to check on Howard Feed n Wax. It's sold at Home Depot fer crying out loud! Something I can actually go and get for a change!! Thanks!
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Well done, Frank!
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So naturally I too had to check on Howard Feed n Wax. It's sold at Home Depot fer crying out loud! Something I can actually go and get for a change!! Thanks!
I think you'll like it, and it smells good too! Wife came home after I used it on my GPR after 2 weeks
of hunting and asked me what smelled so good.
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What a great gun! You need to keep doing this "Lazarus work" ......you obviously know what you are doing. I would give my right....well you know...for a rifle like that!
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My mother used to tell me when I was a kid that I had champagne taste on a beer budget, and she was right. I realized a long time ago that if I wanted to collect the stuff that I liked, I needed to buy busted up, good rifles and do the restoration work myself. I was fortunate enough to have a mentor who had the patience (and took the time) to teach me restoration, it's served me well through the years. Thank you for the positive comments.
FK
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RE: Frank Kunkel's request: The LANCASTER LONG RIFLE book --which accompanies the Exhibit at Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster opening March 11th, can be bought from Eastwind Publishing, 4302 Baildon Road, Trappe, MD 21673. It will be available March 8, 2012... books shipped in orders received. Briefly, it consists of color photos of 60+ rifles, 8 pistols, horns bags and early gun tools. It is 160+ pages --all four color, hardbound with dustjacket. --it cost $65.00 + $5.00 shipping in USA. Limited editions signed and numbered for additional $10.00.
If anyone interested, but cant get to the exhibit - send me your mailing address and I will send you an order card.
Sorry for the commercial ...
Hope to see you all at the Exhibit...
Patrick Hornberger, Guest Curator/Author
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Hey Fullstock longrifle,
If you happen to live in Virginia, I would bet a nickel I am the fellow who sold you this rifle last August. I am Dave Wile, and I live in Mechanicsburg, PA. Your story about the kid finding the rifle about 1952 is very close to how I came to own the Peter Berry I sold, and the pictures look exactly like the brass furniture, sroll work carving, and Peter Berry signature on the top of my rifle. If it is the same rifle, it certainly does not look like the same rifle I sold. When I sold my rifle, the wood was very bad as you described, and if this is the same rifle, you sure have made it look beautiful.
If you did buy this rifle from me last August, please let me know, and I would be happy to tell more on the forum about the who, what, where, when, and how the rifle came to my possession. Again, your rifle is beautiful, and I hope it just might be the one I sold. I would get a great deal of pleasure knowing my rifle ended up with someone who made it such a work of beauty.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile