Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military auction! This is a very nice "Pennsylvania" percussion hunting rifle, often referred to as a "Kentucky" rifle. The design developed in Pennsylvania, and then spread down the Ohio River Valley to Kentucky, where it was very popular. This is a nice well-used example, with a lovely "Flame" figured full stock and patinated all brass mounts. The buttstock in particular has a lovely "bow" shaped curve, and has a nice cheek piece on the left hand side.

The rifle features a 44 inch barrel with a bore of .52", one of the larger sizes seen for Pennsylvania rifles. It does look to have been bored out or just worn out a lot, and we can no longer see any rifling on the interior. Overall length is 59" and the barrel is octagonal for about a third of the length closest to the breech, with the rest being round to keep the weight down.

As with many rifles produced during this period, it is fitted with a "trade lock", which were sold throughout Pennsylvania, usually marked with the name of the maker, or the store that sold them. This allowed the maker to save a lot of time when making the gun, and there were many makers who were not skilled lock makers. Many of these locks were imported from England as unmarked locks, which would then be marked by the retailer. This lock has been cleaned quite a bit, so there are only traces of a "WARRANTED" marking, and there are no other markings on the rifle whatsoever.

The rifle is in overall very good condition, with wear commensurate with age and service. It features a simple rear notch sight with a front brass blade sight, with no signs of the sights having been replaced. We checked the lock and it is functional, however it does not hold at half cock. It is still in the original flintlock configuration, not converted to percussion as so many were over the years. We checked the bore, and it definitely looks to have been smoothbored to use as a fowling piece. It has light rust overall, and definitely saw extensive use.

The stock is just lovely, showing the flame figuring throughout, and it has a lovely color. There are some chips, cracks, and small chunks missing around the lock, and there is also a split along the grain about 10 inches long on the right forestock. There is a rod stored under the barrel, but it is just a period wooden replacement and not a proper ramrod.

A very nice Pennsylvania Flintlock rifle in very nice condition. Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1830
Caliber: approx .52"- worn bore
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 44 Inches
Overall Length: 59 Inches
Action type: Side Action Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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