Silknitter Rifle (2nd attempt)

[Steve Howell]

Forgive me folks, I'm having issues loading images but I think you'll want to see this one!!! Looking for info or educated comparison for value.

[T*O*F]

Forgive me folks, I'm having issues loading images

Try reducing the resolution on your camera to a smaller size.  800 x 600 is adequate for web viewing.  Your photo is 4 times that large and takes up 4MB....leading to slow upload times.

Also, turn your camera 90 degrees left and take closer shots.  We aren't interested in the background, just the rifle features.

[Steve Howell]

[Steve Howell]

[Natureboy]

 l that's an interesting and unusual butt plate, possibly there to make for a better spot weld, or keep it tight on the shoulder.  Interestingly, the M14s we had in my day in the Army had an addition to the heel of the butt plate which flipped up, probably for the same purpose.

[Shreckmeister]

Nice example of Solomon Silknitter


School: Huntingdon (Pennsylvania/PA)

Barree Township. Worked in the 1850’s. Born: 1830. Apprenticed to Peter Smith.

[Brent English]

I am interested to know if anyone has ever seen a photograph inset in the cheek piece inlay like this rifle has.  A fascinating detail.  Would love to see a close up if it, and photos of the rest of the gun. 

[Steve Howell]

I sent a ton of pics to another member earlier for help posting. The image is very clear in the stock and the soldier is armed with a rifle over his shoulder and a pistol in his other hand. This guy means business.

[Shreckmeister]

 Yes I've seen other rifles from that area with photographs in the cheek inlay. Tintypes

[oakridge]

Yes I've seen other rifles from that area with photographs in the cheek inlay. Tintypes

Do you have any photos of other rifles with images inlayed like that? I've never seen, nor heard, of such. Was this practice peculiar to that area?

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

This Silknitter rifle was once thought to be the only signed Silknitter extant:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=uto3lbdfm6nptenbjgcgukduj1&topic=12876.0

Glad to see another.

[Steve Howell]

I feel the rifle I have should be in a local museum in the area it came from. Does anyone have a contact for such a place?

[smiller]

I just happened to read your post. If you're serious about trying to return the rifle to Huntington County I might be able to help you with a connection. My sister lives in Huntington County and her father in law is involved with a museum in there. He might be able to help you make a connection to an interested party. If you're interested I could contact him and find out if he could help you.

[JTR]

There's lots of good reasons Not to donate to a museum.

Consider that your rifle is a very nice one, is one of only two known signed by this maker, and is worth about $3500 / $5000, and maybe a good bit more to the right collector.

When you donate to a museum, that generally means the gun legally belongs to them to do as they please with it. They can chose to display it, or store it in the back room. They can also sell it, trade it, give it away or throw it away if they decide it doesn't fit their mission. Not to mention the number of guns that have been stolen from museums, or walked out the back door.

I'm not saying that will happen at the Huntington Museum, but if decide you donate it to them, first ask them if they will keep and display the rifle for ever, for all to see.

John

 

[OldSouthRelics]

It's a handsome and unique rifle, thank you for sharing the pictures.

I'll essentially echo what JTR said. I've known people to have trouble with items they had on loan with museums, and of course others that didn't. I've also personally met a gentleman who had to seek legal action to get his firearm returned to him from a museum when he wanted back. I don't recall the story, but I think they were giving him the run around for years.....

It's very noble of you to want to share it in the museum. I absolutely respect and support that decision, but I'd only put it on loan if they'd sign a legal contract that holds them liable for damage/missing/stolen possibilities, and said contract has a section that expressly states you can take back the item, with a reasonable amount of notice, at any time.

Regards,

Bob

[mbriggs]

I will echo what Bob said. 

The other item to consider is with most museums - 90% of there collection is in storage and never seen by the public.  I have worked with a lot of museums, loaned items from my collection and giving programs and seminars for them.  I always tell them they are welcome to borrow anything I have as long as it is going to be on display.  If the item comes off of display, it comes back to me.

Dr. John Murphy was a friend of mine.  He built the largest collection of Confederate Rifles and Carbines in the country. He wanted to donate the collection to a museum that would display the entire collection.  He selected the Greensboro Historical Museum because of his relationship with the Director in the 1990 period, Bill Moore, [another friend of mine].  He asked Bill if he could guarantee the collection would always be on display.  Bill told him he could not, because one day Bill would either retire or die, and could not control the actions of future directors.  Not only could the Greensboro Museum not promise this, no museum could.

Dr. Murphy donated 147 Confederate rifles and carbines to the museum valued at $2.5 million. He also donated eight original Civil War paintings by Don Troiani, and $90,000 to build the display cases.  The Murphy collection was on display for 17 years.  Bill Moore retired ten years ago. The museum is now on it's second director since his retirement. The current director is a woman from New York. She recently made the decision to close the display and move all of the items to the basement. I doubt given the current state of political correctness this collection will ever be seen by the public again.

This is a warning to all collectors who want to donate their collections to a museum.

Michael Briggs         

[Hlbly]

Amen to that, Mike. I would never under any circumstances donate anything to a museum.

[Steve Howell]

I will at some point sell it. I cannot (per the posted rules) offer it here. Truthfully I probably have more tied up in it than it's worth to the open market. I'm in SC so a Union piece here is not in such high demand. I appreciate everyone's input on the donation route. I have donated a few times with other things and have had mixed results.

[oakridge]

A friend of mine donated a collection of about 25 items to our state museum in 1987. They made a big deal about acquiring the collection. Two of the items were displayed in a special exhibition in 1990. None have been seen since. I inquired several times about the collection in the last 25 years, and was told they were in "storage". I even asked if there was any way I could see the collection, and they told me NO, they didn't have the staff, or time, to access the collections in storage. They have thousands of items that were donated to the museum since the 1890s or earlier. Much of it was on display through the 20th century. The state has now opened a new museum of history, replacing the old museum. Sadly, you won't see the many wonderful historic artifacts that filled the rooms and showcases for over a century. The "mission" of the new museum is "educational and interpretive" - large murals and signage where you can read about the state's history - afew reproduction items, and very few "antique" artifacts. It reminds me of my 6th grade history class. I know times change, and some things won't be displayed because of "political correctness", but this is really sad.

[oakridge]

Please excuse my rant. Yes, sell it to someone that will appreciate it.

[Dennis Glazener]

I will at some point sell it. I cannot (per the posted rules) offer it here. Truthfully I probably have more tied up in it than it's worth to the open market. I'm in SC so a Union piece here is not in such high demand. I appreciate everyone's input on the donation route. I have donated a few times with other things and have had mixed results.

Sure you are welcome to sell it here as soon as you have been a registered member for 30 days. I notice you joined Dec 20 so on Jan 19, 2018 you can list it here. You will not find lower advertising rates Plus you have a great group of Long rifle lovers to offer it to.
Dennis

[Bill Paton]

HuntingDon County, Pennsylvania. Shreckmeister knows. Others of us can learn.

By the way, very nice rifle, Steve.

Bill Paton

[louieparker]

The Missouri Historical Society Museum in St. Louis certainly works with the public. A few months ago I called them and made an appointment to see the Phillip Creamer rifle that was made for William Clark. It was not on display but they dug it out. I was ask not to handle it but they would do whatever else I ask for me.  I was very pleased with the visit.......They should all be like that,,,,,,,Louie   

[JTR]

Steve,
Could you email more pictures of the rifle to me.
jtrrobbins@msn.com

Thanks, John

[Steve Howell]

John,

I just sent a couple pics via email. Can you send your cell and I'll send a bunch of pics?