These two strikers were made by Charles Miller. They were crafted to fit in a rather small antique striker box. The box is roughly 2.5 inches wide by 1.75 inches. It is .5 inches thick. The first striker is almost 2 inches wide. The holes just fit the tips of the first three fingers on my right hand. This allows for a firm grip without any skinned knuckles. The craftsmanship is outstanding with just the right combination of style and file work. Both strikers are extremely hot and throw a shower of sparks even with a rather dull piece of flint.
The little box is probably 19th century. I have been told that the springs on these later boxes had a clipped point rather than a pointed one. This information came from a dealer/collector friend who is very knowledgeable.
The second striker is crafted with a wooden handle made from boxwood. The wood and metal are both aged to perfection. I have no idea whether there were ever any strikers made with wooden handles. All I can say is it works so well that there should have been.
The box and one of the strikers will reside in a Joe Mills’ bag that goes with a big ole Hershel gun. The work of Charles, Joe And Hershel along with an original antique piece or two all look like they have been together for quite a long time. We are fortunate to have such makers who are continuing the longrifle tradition.
Copy by Art Riser and photos by Jan Riser.
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