Shreckengost rifle signed John McCann

[Shreckmeister]

Apologies for hogging up the forum today, but I couldn't resist putting up this last rifle.  It's the cream of the crop of the work of Wm Shreckengost.
Not for condition because it shows it's age, but the work on this rifle
is beautiful.  In my humble Shreckengost loving opinion.  R. Biddle, Phila
lock. 42 Cal, 38" barrel.  Old Billy was confident enough in his work that
he put the names of his buyers on the barrel.

[Dphariss]

Putting on photos of vintage rifles is not hogging the forum.
I like seeing old rifles.

Dan

[Whitedog]

Beautiful rifle!  Thanks!   Fred

[Dave B]

Very cool. I like it.  The patch box is interesting with the lid hinge being at the other end than tradtionally done. Thank you for sharing the wealth.

[Shreckmeister]

Yes, that reversed patchbox is one of Shreckengosts signatures.
Another is that his guns also had a dramatic drop in the stock. 
The butt of the rifle was designed
to be tucket in your elbow which brings the balance point of the rifle
back toward the center of your body.  If you raise one of these rifles
to position, it's amazing how much steadier you can hold it that way. 
Truly a unique feature and one that I've not seen on any other rifles.
I'm told that the buttplate was sized to the buyer's arm.

[Shreckmeister]

  Having seen 34 Shreckengost rifles to date, this John McCann signed Shreckengost is the most ornate rifle of them all with perhaps the exception of Wm and Lincoln's personal rifle, yet even it is unengraved.  My conclusion is that this rifle was made for a man of both means/status and a man
who has the opportunity to travel and buy a custom rifle from a man out of his area.
  It makes sense from many perspectives.  According to the Beers History of Armstrong County, Wm Shreckengost was known as the best maker of muzzleloading rifles in the U.S. in his time.  
   I had originally believed this to say John McCown, but after a closer inspection by a friend with experience, I believe it says McCann.

[Shreckmeister]

Adding sideplate picture.

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

An extensive story of the Schreckengost family of gun makers is told in the ALR Museum and Library, prepared by Rob Watt ( "Suzkat"). It may be the most extensive documented history and gun exhibit of any Gunsmith family anywhere in print.

Here is the URL:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=316.0

Hurricane

[Mark Tyler]

Do you have a close-up of the lock?

[Buck]

Rob,
 Beeeeeaaaaauuuuuuutttttttiiiiiiiiifffffffuuuuuuuullllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buck

[Shreckmeister]

I'll get a close up Mark

[Shreckmeister]

Mark,  This is the only shot I have of the lock.  He almost always used a patent breech.
The lock is marked R. Biddle.   He used alot of Whitmore Wolf
Duff & Co. locks from Pittsburgh on others.

[aaronc]

That is one good looking rifle. Thanks for posting the pics,.....really enjoyed looking at'em.

[Shreckmeister]

I now believe the signature says John McCann rather than McCown.

[Mark Tyler]

I was questioning the last name myself, but hard to tell from the photos. I also question if it was signed by Schrekengost. The engraving on the signature doesn't appear to be the same quality as the rest of the gun.

[Shreckmeister]

Having seen many, i am confident it was his signature work.

[Curt J]

Beautiful rifle!

[Shreckmeister]

I found a very interesting site that has a significant history on the Biddle family of lockmakers.  Here is a link to it.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/library/friends/ead/5177bifa.xml

The R. Biddle lock on this rifle is likely by Robert Biddle of R & W.C. Biddle hardware.
It says they made locks from 1847-1861, but doesn't say when R. Biddle locks were made without the W.C.
Biddle, Robert (1814-1902) and other family members to Clement Biddle (1819- 1895) 1842-1892 (21 items)  Box 4

 Biddle, William C. (1816-1887) to Clement Biddle (1819- 1895) 1834-1870 and n.d. (9 letters)  Box 4