Longrifles of Note - J Fenimore Cooper rifle

[rich pierce]

I’ve seen it several times. It has some oddball features like some carving where the side plate should be. Nice architecture and a nice inspiration for an early build.

[Collector]

Also found in:

The American Tradition
The Journal Of The Contemporary Longrifle Association
2022
Volume 14   No. 1
Fall 2022
Pg(s). 8 - 13

[backsplash75]

more images are up here https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__AN_IMPORTANT_DOCUMENTED_HISTORIC_EARLY_FLINTLO-LOT598497.aspx

[Avlrc]

 I can believe it was made here by an early German immigrant. Soon, it will be the pinnacle of somebody's collection. I have always loved that rifle.

[Eric Kettenburg]

I don't think it's American at all.

Maybe whoever owns it now can actually test the wood, but that does not look like maple to me.  George, unfortunately, as nice a guy as he was, believed a lot of things he was told by owners without question.

I think this is simply another heavily-used European rifle that may have a somewhat long American history but was not made here.  And there are a lot of them.

The Cooper engraving is just silly and probably dates to the late 19th or early 20th century.

[Seth Isaacson]

The font of the inscription is the style I'd expect on a late 19th or early 20th century dime novel's cover or an early movie poster. It is definitely a very interesting rifle. I'd be interested in reading more of the historical information with it regardless of the specifics of who made it when and when that inscription was added.

[rich pierce]

Not a lot has been written about it except for a Muzzke Blasts article by George Shumway.

[WESTbury]

more images are up here https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__AN_IMPORTANT_DOCUMENTED_HISTORIC_EARLY_FLINTLO-LOT598497.aspx

I find the following sentence from Morphy's description interesting: "This rifle is as found and shows heavy use, consistent with having been used over a long period of time in multiple wars."

Where did the describer get this piece of intelligence from?

[rich pierce]

more images are up here https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__AN_IMPORTANT_DOCUMENTED_HISTORIC_EARLY_FLINTLO-LOT598497.aspx

I find the following sentence from Morphy's description interesting: "This rifle is as found and shows heavy use, consistent with having been used over a long period of time in multiple wars."

Where did the describer get this piece of intelligence from?

I’m with it as far as heavy use is concerned. There are always wars it seems, but it being used IN wars would be a presumption, methinks. But, it’s not egregious in my view compared to things written in the past (Wolfgang Haga attributions come to mind).

[Seth Isaacson]

more images are up here https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__AN_IMPORTANT_DOCUMENTED_HISTORIC_EARLY_FLINTLO-LOT598497.aspx

I find the following sentence from Morphy's description interesting: "This rifle is as found and shows heavy use, consistent with having been used over a long period of time in multiple wars."

Where did the describer get this piece of intelligence from?

Earlier photos show the frizzen missing, so its not "as found."

[Eric Kettenburg]

Nothing is.   

[WESTbury]

[A Scanlan]

So what was the high bid?  Opening bid was $20,000 and it is reflected as having 2 bids.  My guess is that it was far lower than the $40,000 to $80,000 projected.  This was offered on the owners website prior to consignment to the auction for something like $100,000 +.

Very interesting indeed.

[Avlrc]

So what was the high bid?  Opening bid was $20,000 and it is reflected as having 2 bids.  My guess is that it was far lower than the $40,000 to $80,000 projected.  This was offered on the owners website prior to consignment to the auction for something like $100,000 +.

Very interesting indeed.

I just looked on LiveAuctioneers & it says 22grand

[A Scanlan]

Thanks!  Best say nothing more else I'll get in trouble.

[lexington1]

I think I might sell some of my German guns!

[Daryl]

Dang - was hoping for a "telling" picture of the muzzle.

[Eric Kettenburg]

Most folks (or I should say, most to whom I talk which is admittedly not a crowd...) are confident it's an old European piece that probably was brought here and used quite heavily.

It would be fun to think that maybe it's a Wistar import?  I guess I would say that if it *was* a surviving import of the mid 18th century, it probably would look about like it now looks (in terms of use).