Attributed Levi Shreckengost Rifle & Obituary

[Shreckmeister]

This gun is shown in "Gunsmiths of Western Pennsylvania Volume 1" by Jim Whisker.
Mr. Whisker tells me that prior to 1970 the gun was in the personal collection of
Vaughn Whisker.
   Specifically, I am interested in knowing if anyone has seen photos of any other
Levi Shreckengost rifle.  The only rifle I can compare it to is one made by his
brother Lincoln and they both used the same quilted maple.  Interested in opinions, thoughts, insight regarding this rifle.








For more information on Levi Shreckengost visit
http://www.wattins.com/levi.htm

[louieparker]

 
Back in the late seventies or early eighties I owned a butt stock by this maker , In my memory it was very similiar to your gun . The bbl. was missing, but it was at least  1 1/4 at the breech  with a taper .  Can't recall the trigger  guard , but the shape of the stock , patch  box , inlays , and butt plate were very  close to your rifle . At one time I had a black and white photo which I may have pitched . Sometime today I will go through a bunch of old photos to see what I can find ..   LP

[louieparker]

Sorry to say I could not find the photo ....But as I remember the two are very similiar . Sorry I couldn't be more help .  LP

[Shreckmeister]

 Do you recall where the stock came from or anything else about it?  Do you recall who
identified the stock as a Shreck or was it marked somewhere?

[louieparker]

I can't say for sure that it was ever identified to me . I think the fellow I traded it to at a KRA meeting told me who the maker was,  but I can't recall what he said .  There is no doubt that it was near identical to your gun. Even the same type wood .
As to where it came from , I bought it from a friend who moved here from Chicago  . So it could have been acquired in that area or maybe Friendship ,as he went there in the early days and bought several things.
I don't recall any name stamped in the stock .

My wife was in school when I bought it ,she says that was seventy nine . So it was probably 82 or so when I let it go . LP

[Shreckmeister]

After a second visit with the owner I believe you're right, the barrel is tapered from 1 1/4 inch to 7/8 at the muzzle.

[Robert Wolfe]

Since this is an attributed rifle, do you know what the attribution is based on?

[Shreckmeister]

I wish I did.  I asked Jim Whisker whether it was a personal history or based on style.  The gun was in his father's collection and it is thought that Vaughn knew the history.  I have seen a gun by Levi's brother Lincoln that has a few similarities, but I was hoping someone had seen another Levi rifle and could draw a comparison.  If you have any ideas, they would be appreciated.

[Shreckmeister]

Two questions.  The inlays on this gun  appear to be silver rather than brass, but the silver is yellowed.  Does anyone know if this is some light form of brass or
yellowed form of silver.  Are the white inlays usually made of bone/ivory or
what?  PS.  He took the gun to an expert who identified the white inlays as ivory.  He told him that if you look closely, you can see the growth rings in the ivory.  He was also told that the inlays are german silver also called white brass.