H. Albright Rifle

[Spalding]

So was at my monthly club shoot today and an old fellow shows up with this rifle he wants to sell. Has no idea what it’s worth or what it is. Says his grandfather acquired it in the 50’s and it passed through his father and then to him about 15 years ago. He’s downsizing and getting rid of stuff.
His father shot it a few times and unfortunately did some cosmetic “restoration” at one time, but it’s starting to re-acquire a little patina. Bore isn’t bad, a little rusty and not much rifling left. Should be shootable with some work. About .45 caliber.
I don’t know much about these, wondering if anyone has any insight as to originality of parts or stock.
It actually looks pretty good, stock has a few chips here and there but I didn’t see any cracks. Barrel held in with tenons. Forgot to get a picture of the hunters star on the cheekrest.
Said he was offered $800 a while back, didn’t know if that was a good price. Most guys thought it was a $300-$500 rifle. I kept my mouth shut and just nodded. Love that horse head patchbox though.

Any thoughts on this?



Bob

[spgordon]

Strangely enough, there is another "Albright" rifle with a J. J Henry/Bouton lock currently up for auction:

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1041/6092/a-albright-signed-flintlock-american-long-rifle-powder-horn

The listing says it is an "A. Albright" but I have no idea who "A. Albright" could be. Andreas Albrecht's son Andrew was not a gunsmith and was dead by the time J. Joseph Henry had moved to Boulton (1822). It could be a re-used barrel by Andreas Albrecht himself, except that, as far as we know, Andreas Albrecht never used the variant "Albright." But his son Henry Albrecht/Albright (1772-1845) did, and he moved (back) to Nazareth, near Boulton, in 1816. So my guess--just a guess, having not seen the rifle being auctioned by Rock Island--is that the barrel says "H. Albright" and somebody misread it for "A" Albright.

[Spalding]

I notice some similarities on the two.
Although I forgot to take a photo, I remember noticing how short the cheek piece was, maybe 2 - 2-1/2 inches with the Hunters star, the barrel tenons, J.J. Henry lock, etc.
I keep telling myself I don’t need this. But just don’t know enough to know what to look for.

Bob

[jdm]

Do you have a picture of the cheek piece side ?

[Spalding]

Unfortunately I neglected to take a photo. You can see a small portion of it and the hunters star on I believe the fifth photo. I just remember thinking how short it was compared to others when I was looking at it.

Bob

[JTR]

That signature doesn't match exactly the published H Albright signatures, but is similar.
If it could be bought for between the 350 and 800 prices, I'd buy it anyway. If it's an original, it's worth much more than that, and if a restock/modern gun, and nice one and would be a cool shooter.
John

[Tanselman]

The signature is very similar to the photograph of an "H. Albright" signature in "Kentucky Rifle Patchboxes, Volume II." We are used to seeing the earlier carved Albright rifles from his Lancaster days, and those guns had heavier, triangular butts. He also worked in Ohio for a period of time before returning to Lancaster, PA, where he died in the 1840s. This rifle has the separated side leaves on the patchbox, and lack of stock carving, of a later flint era rifle. The graceful curvature of the butt stock and slim forestock look more like the work of Albrights in Ohio, and perhaps Henry worked with/near them when in Ohio for a while.
 
The gun appears rather heavily cleaned, but from the photos, I think it is an original rifle with a fine patchbox. If not by Henry, then probably his hardware restocked by a relative in Ohio, but it could well be a later rifle by Henry with Ohio influences, i.e. slimer with curved comb. Regardless, it appears original to me, and I'd grab it in a heart-beat at 800 and think I stole it. Geeeze, the lock itself is probably worth $400.

Shelby Gallien

[jdm]

I'm with Shelby on this one . If I saw it for $800 on a table at a show I wouldn't even try to talk em down. 

[blienemann]

Shelby and all, the very talented Henry Albright left Ohio and lived just outside Lititz for a time, and about 1816 he moved his family to Nazareth, PA - back where he first studied something (joiner?) with Wm Henry, Jr as a young man. HA built a fine house on the square in Nazareth which still stands, and continued turning out fine rifles. He did not go the large manufacturer route like the Henrys, but kept stocking finely carved and engraved rifles - and died in early 1845. So there is plenty of overlap between an HA signed barrel and the Henry family locks from Boulton. He shows up on Henry ledgers.

I think (more to learn) that Henry had a son Andreas or Andrew who was also a gunstocker, and moved just outside Nazareth - Moore Twnshp, so A Albright may be the original Andreas' grandson. Young AA also shows up in the Henry ledgers. Another son of Henry was TJ who set up business in St Louis, and followed the rifle trade to the mountains.

Always more to learn, and great to see these old rifles. That is a dandy to my eye, worth some $$. Bob

[spgordon]

I'd forgotten about Henry Albright's son!--also Andrew Albright (1802-1837). I photographed his memoir in 2020 and here's the translation:

Memoir of the married Brother Andrew Albright, gone off to blessed rest on 23 February 1837.

Our dear Brother was born on 28 March 1802 in Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was baptized at that same place in the Protestant Church. In time he arrived here with his parents and received school and religion instruction. In the year 1816 he was received into the Gemeine. He partook of the Sacred Communion for the first time on 13 November. He was in Lancaster some years and learned a trade (Geschäfte) there. He then returned to us and lived in Moore Township. There he married Agnes Dunn on 16 October 1823. Their union was blessed with 4 sons and 1 daughter, leaving them as orphans to the care of the eternal, living, faithful Father and caretaker and his wife as a widow. Through the efficacy and zeal of his honorable striving, he was very concerned about the salvation of his soul. One could notice how the Holy Spirit was at work in his soul. When he had the opportunity he fondly spoke of and shared matters of the heart and faith. His wish was to proceed on the path to the Lord. Some recent deaths in the family, especially that of his dear mother, pulled his thoughts of heaven more strongly in that direction. For some years his physical condition had weakened. He would appear to make substantial improvement, but despite all interventions, would revert to an unhealthy state. This forced him to give up his trade and sich legen mußte. He wished fervently to take communion again soon and strengthen his soul. – This wish was granted on the 19th of this month. His soul was enriched with the accompanying prayer and song at this Holy event. He found words inadequate to describe and explain the power and love of Christ’s nearness at that moment. There was nothing more he longed for than to be with his Redeemer and Savior. He sensed release from all earthly bonds and it was obvious he now felt the sweet comfort of Jesus. To his friends at his side, his joy was moving and instructive. His remaining time was spent in faith until the 23 of February at noon, when his soul crossed over to Him whom he had waited so long to set eyes upon. – His age was 34 years, 10 months, 25 days.

The memoir doesn't mention his trade--but Bob found transactions between the Boulton gunworks and Henry and Andrew Albright in 1829 & 1830 (third and six page of this PDF):

http://www.jacobsburghistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Part-1-5.pdf

Here's a piece on Henry Albrecht, which establishes that he apprenticed to William Henry II as a joiner:

http://www.jacobsburghistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/William-Henry-and-Henry-Albrecht.pdf

[spgordon]

We are used to seeing the earlier carved Albright rifles from his Lancaster days, and those guns had heavier, triangular butts. He also worked in Ohio for a period of time before returning to Lancaster, PA, where he died in the 1840s.

Just a quick note on dating: Henry Albright heads west in 1794 and, after stints in Chambersburg (1796-98) and Shippensburg (1798-1808) in Pennsylvania and Gnadenhütten (1808-1809) in Ohio, he returns to Lititz and then to Nazareth (1816-1845). J. Joseph Henry moves to Boulton in 1822 and died in 1836. So the signed "H. Albright" rifle likely dates to after 1822, the "A. Albright" one a bit later.

[Seth Isaacson]

The gun at Rock Island Auction is definitely signed "A. Albright":

[spgordon]

The gun at Rock Island Auction is definitely signed "A. Albright":

That was my bad guess (without having access to the photo) that it was an "H" and not an "A"--I'd forgotten that Henry Albright had a son Andrew, who worked as a gunsmith. Thanks for sharing that photo!

[Seth Isaacson]

Happy to help. Usually the signatures are photographed and uploaded with the lots on the website, but this one wasn't. We can always get more pictures for you guys if you email info@rockislandauction.com and ask for them, and if you have questions and want someone to call or email  you about them, feel free to request my assistance.