Description of a fine (lost) rifle, 1766

[spgordon]

[Eric Kettenburg]

I've got that one in my article dealing w/ interesting things found in the PA Gazette, although unfortunately I've not had time to get it uploaded to my newer site since the changeover. 

Have to wonder how the heck he "lost" it.  Maybe he was swigging on a bottle while traveling, sat down under a tree Rip VanWinkle style and forgot the rifle?  Or maybe it literally fell off the wagon? 

For two dollars, given the description of the rifle, I doubt he recovered it.

[spgordon]

Has anybody ever come across--on any rifle, in America or Germany--a barrel mark of a "white Metal Lion ... with a Scepter in his Paw"?

Also: I'm not sure what it means that "white Metal Lion" is on the barrel? Wouldn't a stamp on the barrel be the same media/material as the barrel itself?

[johngross]

Has anybody ever come across--on any rifle, in America or Germany--a barrel mark of a "white Metal Lion ... with a Scepter in his Paw"?

Also: I'm not sure what it means that "white Metal Lion" is on the barrel? Wouldn't a stamp on the barrel be the same media/material as the barrel itself?

I envisioned a silver inlay. When silver is polished it looks "white".





 

[spgordon]

Ah, cool! That helps me visualize it. Thanks!

[Eric Kettenburg]

Yep, most likely either a silver inlay as shown or also German barrels were frequently stamped deeply with various maker's stamps and then the stamp gilded (usually in gold).

Given the description of the gun, I strongly suspect it was a short German rifle rather than an American-made rifle.

[Seth Isaacson]

"White metal" in this case probably refers to silver or maybe platinum, and as Mr. Kettenburg noted, I would think the lion design noted is a maker's mark/cartouche.