Author Topic: Kentucky rifle (Read 1433 times)

debnal · « **on:** July 15, 2024, 08:00:06 PM »

A friend sent these pictures. I really don't collect Kentuckys so I thought some of you can chime in.
Al

upload images

rich pierce · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2024, 08:06:46 PM »

Very interesting and probably important early smooth rifle of the 1770s-1790

Buck · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2024, 08:34:05 PM »

The carving reminds me of Metzger, Jacob I believe. It's a nice fowler.

Buck

jdm · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2024, 11:55:20 PM »

Check P M

debnal · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2024, 12:59:27 AM »

jdm · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2024, 01:09:08 AM »

Wow! Rounded on the bottom of the but stock like a fowler,fowler type trigger guard. Rifled barrel. Cool Neat early gun . wish I had some insight . I got nothing. Jim

rich pierce · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2024, 02:04:56 AM »

Hahaha we all want it!

debnal · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2024, 04:36:53 PM »

I got another picture of the trigger guard and bottom of the butt. I am very interested in where this piece may have been made and its date of
manufacture.
Al

Robert Wolfe · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2024, 04:49:18 PM »

Nice. The gunsmith did not worry about file marks left on the end of the nose cap, did he.

jdm · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2024, 05:21:50 PM »

I stand corrected the bottom of the but stock is flat and no round. This makes it even better.

Buck · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2024, 06:39:22 PM »

Jim,

See the link below, think back on Louie's Metzger Rifle - same maker.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/85/1258/jacob-metzger-signed-flintlock-american-long-rifle

Noel

rich pierce · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2024, 11:08:40 PM »

Quote from: debnal on July 16, 2024, 04:36:53 PM

I got another picture of the trigger guard and bottom of the butt. I am very interested in where this piece may have been made and its date of
manufacture.
Al

These features are like other guns guessed to be 1770s to 1780s guns:
Flat wide buttplate
Wooden patchbox
Large caliber filled barrel
Side plate reminds me of Oerter’s, but of course the architecture doesn’t.

Looks Lancaster/York to me, favoring Lancaster. I’d like to see any carving around the tang. Side plate?

debnal · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2024, 11:49:05 PM »

Rich,
Thanks for your comments. I thought it was early, just didn't know if it could be Rev war. I have no idea of the place of manufacture.
Al

debnal · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2024, 12:20:42 AM »

I just got this picture. The more pictures I see the more I want this rifle.
Al

debnal · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2024, 12:25:04 AM »

A couple more pictures.
Al

rich pierce · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2024, 01:08:54 AM »

Other opinions may vary on approximate date and location. I’m going to search my collections of Shumway stuccoes because they cheekpiece and carving triggered something in my memory.

sbowman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2024, 01:24:42 AM »

Nice find. Interesting lock with no rear fence on the pan, maybe another clue to origin/maker

Steve

JTR · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2024, 02:36:10 AM »

That's a great rifle, and certainly early!
The side plate with the two filed notches just behind the forward screw reminds me of someone/some place, but my mind is refusing to cooperate.
I also wonder about the fowler style trigger guard and its inletting, but overall not a big deal.
What a find!
John

m. reaver · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2024, 06:16:33 AM »

In the first photo posted, it appears as though there is a concave "swale?" along the top half of the buttstock (between the top of the patchbox lid and the comb). Seen similar wrist to butt transitions, but not where extends all the way to the corner off the buttplate.
Anyone see this before and would you consider it a regional detail?

DaveM · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2024, 02:21:34 PM »

Cool rifle - just a wild guess but the side plate makes me think of the area between Reading and Lebanon - like an early Philip Beck or someone somewhere in the vicinity.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2024, 02:46:06 PM »

Very neat rifle. I don't think it's a PA gun but where, no idea. Looks like a 'parts gun' too. The buttplate clearly looks like a fowler plate that was cut down a bit and reshaped somewhat and is likely why the toe flat is so narrow.

Has this been reconverted, maybe an old reconversion? Tough to tell with the photos but trying to zoom in, some of the exterior lock parts kind of look more like replacement parts as opposed to what I would expect to see with that lockplate. Could be wrong but there is definitely something funky going on with the fitment of the pan, or maybe just the camera angle.

Box lid looks to be original - that's extremely cool! How long is this barrel?

Shreckmeister · « **Reply #21 on:** July 17, 2024, 03:06:24 PM »

Nice to see this early rifle. Thanks Al.

debnal · « **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2024, 05:10:47 PM »

The barrel is 43.5 inches. The lock appears to be original flint according to my friend.

Al

bama · « **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2024, 06:40:30 PM »

It's a great old piece that needs to be closely studied. It may be made up of pieces from an earlier gun but I believe all original to it's build. What a find.

Jim

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Author Topic: Kentucky rifle (Read 1433 times)