Rifle with flint lock, full stock of curly maple, silver and brass mountings, and octagonal barrel 42 inches long. This rifle has two very unusual features, it has a bona fide date 1796 engraved on the lid of the patch box and all of the patch box (except the lid) is made of silver. It was probably made in Lancaster County but there are no marks on the barrel to suggest the maker's name. The curve of the butt plate on this rifle shows the pattern that was used by gunsmiths in Lancaster in the 1790's.
Double rifle with flint lock, octagonal barrels, brass mountings, walnut stock, Wm. Antes engraved on the lock plate. The walnut stock, the flat butt plate, and the style of the patch box are evidences that this one of the earliest doubel rifles made in Pennsylvania. The barrels swing on a swivel so that they can be alternately fired by the one lock. The figure carved in the stock in front of the lock is thought to be Indian. Similar figures appear on other rifles made in Pennsylvania. The trigger guard is obviously missing.
Percussion lock rifle, curly maple full stock, brass mounted. Marked Drepperd, Lancaster on lock plate and top of the barrel. Courtesy of Phares Brenner.
Flintlock rifle, curly maple full stock, brass mounted. "Don't tread on me" is engraved on either side of the serpent in the patch box. W. Weiss on top of the barrel. Courtesy of Joe Kindig, Jr.
Percussion lock rifle, curly maple full stock, brass mounted, barrel 42 3/4" long, rifle overall 57 3/4" long. Marked Henry Ledford and George Waynick Jr.
The lock of this late seventeenth century New England gun has a "dog" safety catch which is rarely found on guns made in America. The lock is seven inches long and has three screws to hold it in place.
