In a few weeks, I can get around to posting photos of the rifle John built for me in 1977, his first left-handed flintlock rifle. Its a subdued version of the one he made for my former business partner, the late Lewis Blades Sanchez. We shared first, Cumberland Muzzleloading Supply, then changed it to Cumberland Knife & Gun Works, Inc. located in Fayetteville, NC (1972-1999). Lew left in '82 and moved back home to Tampa. The store remained until closing in 1999.
The order was placed in 1974. John was confined by the availability of high-quality left-hand locks. I believe Bud Siler came out with his left-hand locks in late 1976/early 1977. John got a few from Bud, and gave them to a young man that was working under his wing, Monte Manderino. The inside of the lock is marked "MM". John called me early in 1977, and said he'd have it ready by October.
The flintlock longrifles, crossed, on the cover of Gun Digest 1977 features Monte's workmanship on the left, and John's work on the right, made for Lew. Lew's rifle is pictured on pages 27 through 32 of Robert Weil's book, "Contemporary Makers of Muzzleloading Firearms". The "Hunter's Star" on Lew's rifle is made up of ebony and ivory inlays in the wood surrounded by silver wire & pins. Mine is of the same Lancaster-style, steel-mounted, wooden patchbox, Getz barrel, but subdued on the embellishments.
Being Lew's partner for the ten years he stayed in Fayetteville after leaving the service, I was fortunate to meet many other fine artisans and gunmakers, including Carl Pippert, Fred Riley, Wallace Gusler, Frank Burton, Tom Dawson, Jack Haugh, Bob Watts, and Mark Silver. I was also fortunate to hold and admire the wheelock rifle that was a combined effort of the finest of the finest artisans. Its on pages 36 - 41, of Weil's book.
I'll get to photographing John's rifle as soon as I finish photographing an orignal pecussion half-stock rifle, mounted in German Silver and embellished with about a dozen silver inlays that arrived today.. I have been searching the internet for a possible gunmaker to link this rifle to. The inlaid brass plate on the top flat is stamped (1st digit-illegible) "*....P. Hatcher * The name is flanked on the left and right with what looks today like an asterisk "*". I have found a "Commodore P. Hatcher", who was a gunsmith in Belmont County, Ohio (b. 1817 - d. 1888).
I'll post John's rifle on this thread or a new thread in this sub-forum, and the original half-stock in a new thread on the "Antique Gun Collecting" sub-forum here next week. The half-stock displays uperb condition on the wood and the inlays, but the lock and barrel obviously suffered due to lack of care over its one hundred and forty years or so.
