Horst Auction JP Beck

[Jdbeck]

Horst Auctioneers in Lancaster shared a beautiful JP Beck that came into their auction house today:
It’ll be sold at their October 20-21 auction.

https://www.horstauction.com/



















Total beauty!!

[Dave B]

Wow! How cool is that! Thank you for sharing.

[backsplash75]

Very nice, thanks for sharing the images!

[JTR]

You going to buy it, JD?

[Jdbeck]

I doubt I have the money for the winning bid. 🤣🤣 especially in this economy!

[dadybear1]

NICE PIECE OF ART/AMERICANA--THANKS FOR POSTING!!!!!

[WESTbury]

Very nice.

Does anyone know if this particular rifle is published ?

[Shreckmeister]

Very nice indeed. You better buy that.

[Buck]

JD,

Nice rifle, definitely seen use. The comb is worn down, reminds me of the Lion Rifle.
Good luck.

Buck

[DaveM]

 Very nice rifle. Is this pictured or published anywhere or s this newly discovered?

[Jdbeck]

Very nice rifle. Is this pictured or published anywhere or s this newly discovered?

I would be curious to know, but the slimed down comb is identical to the rifle I posses, also the more straight butt plate.

I am going to see it Thursdays, hopefully I’ll be able to pull some measurements. And get
Some more photo, and ask about the provenance.

[JTR]

JD, it has a lot of butt stock profile in common with your rifle!

[Buck]

JD,

Good luck, fortunately for you the prices have plummeted. Louie Parkers Collection that sold at Morphy's a few weeks ago is an indicator.

Buck 

[Jdbeck]

All I can do is try😉

[Jim Kibler]

JD,

Nice rifle, definitely seen use. The comb is worn down, reminds me of the Lion Rifle.
Good luck.

Buck

I thought the same about the similarities in stocking.  I don't think most of this is from wear.  Think it was stocked very much like we see.

[JTR]

I agree, a little wear on the comb, but I think the comb line is mostly original.
Long use for sure, with the forearm worn through to the ramrod hole!

JD, is this one signed?
Do they have an estimate on it yet?
John

[Buck]

John,

Following the Morphy’s results - $10k to 15k on the high end. I wouldn’t pay more than that. Another year or 2 it’ll be worth $5k. I’d hold off, there will be others soon enough at basement prices.

Buck

[Jdbeck]

No provanance, it’s pretty rough with some repairs.

[Jdbeck]

It’s signed:

Video of rifle: permission from the Auction house.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxvoB6fLJeE/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I believe the patch-box door could be a replacement, lock apears original. No change in barrel patina from lock to muzzle— expertly restored or original flint?

Only wood replacement is a tiny piece at ramrod pipe. Also appears to be a repaired crack to the buttstock bottom corner.

I’ll bid, but it’s a beautiful piece with carving forward the trigger guard, and front lock mortis. I won’t be a player🤣 maybe a few more years of saving.

[Eric Kettenburg]

If that's a reconversion, it's a fantastic job.  Period.  I'd be perfectly happy with it if it is, and this is coming from someone proudly designated a Curly, Larry or Moe by those who know all.

What makes you think the box lid may be a replacement?  Genuine question.

[Jdbeck]

Based on the patina down the length of the barrel compared to the lock, I’m pretty confident it’s the original flintlock. So rare to see! Similar unbridled pan like the George Washington rifle:

The doors patina is a little different and lacks the level of oxidation I would expect on the inside, also the latch mechanism that engages the lever is much smaller than the other Becks I’ve examined. Also there is a silvery metal “possible soder” around the hinge. Could be a repair that I’m seeing?
It may be correct, it just caught my eye.

[sbowman]

j.d. did you happen to measure the drop at the heel on that rifle or any others you have examined?  I am planning a Beck style build am and having a hard time finding the drop dimensions of the heel and comb in any of the publications that feature his rifles.

Steve

[Jdbeck]

I didn’t have a straight edge with me,just the calipers. It was about 2 5/16 inches. The architecture in the gun was very similar to like an Isaac Haines.

[Mule Brain]

Dad sent me a message asking if I had heard of a builder named Beck? I was like uh..... heck yes!

So that landed me here, gonna be a heck of an auction! 

Thanks for sharing all the additional info on it

[Eric Kettenburg]

With the caveat that we're just looking at photos, I don't see anything that is screaming 'replacement' for the box lid.  Possibly the hinge loosened up and it was soldered by way of repair at some point in the past but it sure does not look recent.  There appear to be some visible file/scratch marks on the outside that may reinforce the idea of a repair but the bottom line to my way of thinking - that looks like a very old box lid.

These photos are not the greatest in the universe, but imho the great aspect here is that overall this gun does not seem to have been diddled very much if at all.  I think all it could use is a little rust stabilization.  Anything more and it becomes just another effed-up plasticized real wife of the Jersey shore.