Gentlemen,
Re: Brass nose cap with attachment to barrel with screw. I recently had the opportunity to inspect two early Reading rifles with the screw and nose cap feature. At the time, I was more interested in whether the nose cap was cast or swaged. Fortunately, I had two well known builders and/or restorers with me when we made the inspection. The overall opinion was that both nose caps were cast. That by itself is important, but it led to the inspection of the patch box cover and side rails. They too were determined to be cast as was the butt plate and side plate along with the trigger guard. The latter three having been decided long ago. What turned out to be new, to me, was the casting of the nose cap and patch box assembly. It will be interesting if the new owner of the RI auction gun will make the same observation. The two guns we inspected are in the RCA Vol. I and near in sequence to the auction gun.
I won't be shy with my opinion here, but I believe there were brass foundries operating in Reading and servicing gunsmiths and other early industries prior to what we have always thought. There is too much consistency in Reading style 'spoon tailed trigger guards' and beveled side plates to miss an opportunity to delve into the possibility.
I respect all the opinions put forward above. Myself and Bruce Moyer have been studying the guns attributed to Reading for over 35 years. Others have joined the effort to at least identify four basic periods of gun making in the Boro of Reading and surrounding area. It starts in 1750 with Baroque and heavily carved 'C' scrolls or volutes [Shumway did a good job here]. After 1765 the stock architecture seems to stay the same but the carving appears to evolve into the pre Rev War era, more refined, but not distinct; hasn't reached its own yet, except 'spoon tailed trigger guard'. I am not sure what happened during the Rev War but I do know when gunsmiths were doing their best after the war to market their wares, the era I referred to as ' Vines, Leaves and fruit' emerged. When the Great comet of 1811-12 became the community talking point the majority of guns produced in and around Reading carried a 'comet' inlay. A Reading style gun dated 1812 is a fine example.
I am open to discussion. Actually, I need 12 more examples of guns attributed to Reading to complete the study. Probably 24 more would be more appropriate. Currently, I have photosets of each gun I mention in the four categories.
With respect, HIB
