Friday, January 3, 2020

Morphy Auctions: The Susquehanna Collection

CARVED FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE SIGNED JACOB DICKERT.


This rifle is featured as gun number 19 on page 85 of "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age" by Joe Kindig, Jr. Jacob Dickert was born in Germany in 1740 and migrated with his parents to Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1748. His family moved to Lancaster in 1756. He worked in Manheim Township, Lancaster County beginning in 1776. This rifle probably dates between 1790 and 1810 and has 10 silver inlays. The rifled octagon barrel is deeply signed "J. Dickert" along with a cartouche of a crossed arrow and tomahawk. Oversized iron front sight and decorated iron rear notched sight. Flat lockplate with beveled edges and molded tail. Classic brass four-piece Dickert patchbox with an engraved daisy finial. Classic Lancaster sideplate with beveled edges and a faceted triggerguard. There are rocker-panel engraved silver inlays around each barrel key on both sides, as well as a silver-inlaid and engraved eight-point star above the cheeekpiece. A small oval-shaped silver wrist escutcheon is engraved with rocker-panel borders. Plain maple stock of classic Lancaster form with incised simple scrolls on both sides of wrist and behind the cheekpiece. 

CONDITION: Barrel has been cleaned and retains a light grey patina with sharp edges and a crisp signature. Lock is a very good professional reconversion and retains a grey patina, does not hold on cock. Brass and silver retain a mellow patina. Stock is very good showing no repairs or restoration, a few scattered marks from use. A very nice signed and published Dickert rifle. 

PROVENANCE: Ex. Joe Kindig, Jr. Collection.


Barrel Length: 43 - 1/2""

Caliber/Bore: .47 Rifled

FFL Status: Antique

Manufacturer: Jacob dickert

Model: Flintlock Kentucky Rifle

Serial Number: NSN

Minimum Bid: $7,500.00

Estimate: $15,000 - $30,000




















IMPORTANT AND DOCUMENTED ENGRAVED NEW YORK POWDER HORN OF FRIETRICH LEPPERT.


This very well documented powder horn is pictured on pages 196-197 of "Folk Art of Early America, The Engraved Powder Horn" by Jim Dresslar. It is also shown in "Engraved Powder Horns from the Collection of James E. Routh, Jr." from the exhibition in the Georgia Museum in March of 2000. The powder horn measures about 17" in length with a tapered body and bulbous spout section with a large relief ring at the tip. There is another relief ring closer to the engraved section. The engraved portion has a scalloped edge and depicts folk art Germanic designs including a man smoking a long pipe, a Georgian house, foliate and floral motifs and scrolls, a ring near the top in inscribed "FRIETRICH LEPPERT 1782". The neatly engraved eight-line inscription is entirely in German and translates to "When mine hour has come I shall go my way to Lord Jesus Christ. He will not allow my soul, which I entrust to His keeping, to go unaccompanied on my last journey". The convex wooden plug retains an early coat of red paint and is inscribed with a large "M" in the center. There is a horn flange for sling attachment, which is decorated with a scalloped edge. It is also believed that Frietrich Leppert was also the engraver of this horn, as another example in this sale is done by the same hand and is also dated 1782 and signed "FL". The names of both men on the horns appear on the roster of the Tryon County Militia 1st Regiment. Both fought in the Herkimer's Battle in 1777, also known as the Battle of Oriskany, named for the swampy creek flowing into the Mohawk River six miles below Fort Stanwicks. The horn is complete with a file of information, including a handwritten note signed by Jim Routh, dated 1986; information on Leppert; copies of books listing him in the New York Revolutionary War records; a handwritten letter from Walter O'Connor discussing the three known horns engraved by Frietrich Leppert; and copies of a book showing that Leppert and Schreibber are both listed as prisoners of war during the Revolution and listing them both as members of Camp Bell's regiment of the Tryon County Militia. 

PROVENANCE: Ex James E. Routh, Jr. Collection.

Minimum Bid: $13,000.00

Estimate: $25,000.00 - $50,000.00












PATRIOTIC IVORY HANDLED DIRK WITH BLUED BLADE INSCRIBED LIBERTY.


This fine dirk measures 8-1/2" overall with a 4-5/8" tapered diamond section blade with long blued panels on each side with early gilt decoration. One side features stars, floral and foliate motifs and is inscribed "Liberty". The other inscribed "Draw me not without reason / Sheath me not without honour." Moroccan leather washer between blade and oval-shaped brass guard. Ivory grip with refined shell at the top in relief on both sides and a decorated brass ferrule at the base. The dirk is complete with its original brass sheath with stud on the front and traces of silver-plated finish. 

CONDITION: Very good, overall. Blade retains perhaps 85-90% original polished and blued surfaces. About 50% of gilt remains, the remainder thinned the silver. Some minor wear from sheath. Brass mounts retain a dark unpolished patina. Grip excellent with a few dark spots and a hairline age crack on one side. A very nice early 19th century Patriotic dirk.

Minimum Bid: $500.00

Estimate: $1,000. - $2,000.

Number Bids: 1










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