Interesting Bucks rifle (Morphy's yesterday)

[Eric Kettenburg]

Whatcha think?  I think it's clearly a Bucks rifle, nothing "Lehigh" about it at all despite the title.  Also interesting is I *think* this is the first time I've seen what could be interpreted as a liberty head on a Bucks gun, although honestly I think it looks more like a flaming wood tick.  Just overall an interesting gun, interesting carving also.

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__LEHIGH_COUNTY_STYLE_CARVED_UNSIGNED_FLINTLOCK_-LOT514269.aspx

[spgordon]

I vote for turnip.

[rich pierce]

Really nice profile. Neat gun. I’m surprised at the final price, way over estimate.

[Daniel Coats]

I bid on it but dropped out when it took off for the moon.

[Mike Brooks]

I vote for turnip.

Possibly its a rutabaga
They was just apey about rutabaga in Bucks County about teatime in history.

[Eric Kettenburg]

If you look at it in reverse, it looks like a ghost or djinni with devil horns.  Or maybe Angus Young.

[Eric Kettenburg]

What say we stooges to the description noting the lock as original flint?

Of course they cover their a$$ either way with use of "seems" or "appears to be" etc.

[Chris_B]

If you look at it in reverse, it looks like a ghost or djinni with devil horns.  Or maybe Angus Young.

Looking at it I see an owl.
Or maybe Angus Young

[rich pierce]

What say we stooges to the description noting the lock as original flint?

Of course they cover their a$$ either way with use of "seems" or "appears to be" etc.

If reconverted, it was nicely done in my view. The barrel suggests it was percussion- most were converted to percussion during use, so a nice reconversion doesn’t annoy me much. Would you guess around 1800 for this one? 

Also interesting that the vast majority of Bucks County guns now appear as smoothbores, as does this one.

[Shreckmeister]

I'm seeing ghost or devil as well.  Lady Liberty or Columbia not so much.

[DShreckengost]

I am going with Krampus
It is that time of year.
Shreck

[mr. no gold]

I dunno; I see a 'flaming onion' making it the earliest known ordinance gun yet.
Dick

[Buck2]

I see an Owl. Dick / Eric - love the flamin onion / Angus Young..... priceless.

Buck

[mr. no gold]

Taking another look at it, I think that you are right Buck. An owl fits better than anything else. And why not? Owls occasionally appear in powder horn art.
So, I agree with you as to what the carving represents.
Dick

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I vote for turnip.

Possibly its a rutabaga
They was just apey about rutabaga in Bucks County about teatime in history.

Looking at this image, I see the little hammer strikes that were used to drive the parting tool to create the incised carving.

[DShreckengost]

On second thought , a Windingo .
Shreck

[BradBrownBess]

I thought Owl. I bid as well but was not even in the ballpark as I didn't think it that interesting a rifle. Maybe there is something I don't know or - it only takes two. Just Recently bid on a Sam Houston Signed TX Land Grant (been wanting one for a while) that was not that pretty - lots of ink bleed through. It sold at Heritage in 2015 for 1300 dollars. This go round at Heritage some people decided it was worth about 10K. Those are not at all what one would call rare - one Google search will show 1200 to 3000 for the last 20 years.

Seems in these times money is becoming something of not much concern.

[Nordnecker]

I think it’s the rear end of a stinking armadillo.

[c deperro]

Looks like an owl to me.

[Jtown]

 Not sure what it is supposed to be. It seems to that someone with the talent to make such a fine rifle, could have done a much better inlay of an owl.