Kentucky Rifle Ancestry and Value

[zedcat]

Hi ALR Community,

We are trying to research the ancestry and value of our families Kentucky rifle.   I was excited to find your web site based on this and I am trying to ascertain some knowledge about the rifle.   Would you be so kind as to look at the attached photos?

The Kentucky Rifle comes from the estate of Ezra Winter's (the painter -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Winter).   My Grandfather (Milton Perry Hunter) married Ezra Winter's daughter Renada after he divorced my Grandmother.    My Father (also Milton Perry Hunter, or just Perry) has had it for about 40 years, stored away and never touched it.   We are interested to know if it is valuable. 

On one side beneath the flint cock (which was there always) is inscribed "H. DEMUTH WARRANTED" with the date 1773 etched in (see photos).

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Chris & Dave Hunter

[JLB]

Zedcat,
Nice rifle, I believe the 1773 that you are anticipating to be a date is actually part of the engraving décor of the lock. I believe the hammer is also not original to the rifle, it appears to be European in nature. H Demuth was the lock maker and he (I believe) is from the States. The documented Demuth family members were from Lancaster and Bushkill. I am also guessing your rifle to be of Lehigh origin or North Eastern Berks County. My guess on the date is probably around 1819 / 1820. I am new to collecting so this is not an educated opinion. 
Good luck
JLB

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

The price is "invaluable" as it is a family heirloom. Likely from the Lehigh-Allentown ,PA area....early 19th C. Would like to add it to our Museum here on ALR but need your permission. Look carefully on the top of the barrel around the the lock area or just forward of it for a name....there is to likely be found the makers name if "signed." The finial of the patchbox might also be a clue to the maker.
Hurricane

[Shreckmeister]

Yes sir. She is valuable and beautiful and in great condition and I wish it was hanging on my wall. Thanks for sharing your family treasure.  Look very closely between the rear sight and breech for initials. Do not clean, polish or otherwise change any part of your rifle

[mountainman70]

And yet another Blast from the Past comes out to walk among us!!Wow! What a great find.Thanks for sharing with us.Dave in WVa

[Dphariss]

It likely from the first quarter of the 19th c.  Lock is surely an import from England that has an importers name stamped on it. This is very common on American arms.
It needs to be looked at and appraised if for nothing else than insurance purposes.
All original Kentucky's are valuable. How valuable depends on many things. This is a fine specimen but I am not qualified to give a value.

Dan

[Dphariss]

And thank you very much for sharing.

Dan

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

What you are seeing under the pan that you thought was '1773' is the remains of engraving sometimes called a 'sunburst'.  It is meant to simulate an explosion, and consists of shallow wavy lines converging into points.  I agree with the others that the rifle appears to have Lehign Co. roots and dates in the first quarter of the 19th C.  Family heirloom - priceless!