Contemporary Makers: Morphy Auction: IDENTIFIED SILVER AND BRASS MOUNTED TENNESSEE FLINTLOCK RIFLE SIGNED "MADE BY ALFRED GROSS" OWNED BY CHRISLEY PETERS from the Louie Parker Collection

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Morphy Auction: IDENTIFIED SILVER AND BRASS MOUNTED TENNESSEE FLINTLOCK RIFLE SIGNED "MADE BY ALFRED GROSS" OWNED BY CHRISLEY PETERS from the Louie Parker Collection

This rifle is accompanied by a large file of research, provenance, photographs, copy of William Daniel Peter's will, letters from descendants, genealogy, and a book on Tennessee ancestry. Most importantly, the rifle descended in the Peters family until it was sold by them in 1994. There is a copy of a photo of the original owner, Chrisley Peters, holding what is clearly this rifle. There are several photographs of the last descendant of the Peters family (Charlie Peters) holding the rifle before it was sold in 1994. There is a photograph of Chisley Peter's gravestone as well. Chrisley Peters was born in 1810 in Carter County, Tennessee and died in 1908 in Sullivan County, Tennessee. According to descendent Carol Ann Booher "He was a mountain man who spent most of his waking hours out of doors. He was a great hunter. I have a photo of him with his rifle. Every time he shot a deer, he put a piece of silver on the rifle. The photo shows the whole rifle covered with silver." A copy of a newspaper article titled "Remarkable Life and Death of 98 Year Old Chrisley C. Peters" is included. The article states that Alfred Gross was a gunsmith and farmer in Sullivan County, Tennessee. He was born there in 1822 and lived until 1902. The 1860 census lists Gross as a farmer owning $2300 in real estate and personal property valued at $500. In 1863, he enrolled in the Owen White's Company of Sullivan County Reserves. In addition, he was an ordained Deacon of the New Bethel Presbyterian Church in 1882. The article states that "He naturally became an expert with a rifle. In the days of shooting, he was always on the spot. He never lost a shooting match in all his life". The period article in the paper also states "Only a few weeks before his death. he was able to go out with his old-fashioned silver mounted rifle and kill a bird at a distance of two or three hundred yards". The apparently very accurate rifle features a full octagon barrel with a brass front sight with silver blade. Buckhorn rear sight. The rectangular silver plaque own the top flat is stamped "MADE.BY.ALFRED.GROSS.WARRANTED". The rifle has double-set-triggers and the lock is stamp engraved, featuring a roller frizzen and stamped "JOS GOLCHER" in the center. There is a 2-piece brass patchbox on the right side, surrounded by a silver inlay around the entire perimeter. Brass buttplate, toeplate, nosecap, ramrod ferrules and sideplate. The trigger guard is iron with a brass overlay, as is unique to this maker and done with both solder and brass rivets. There are a total of 16 unengraved silver inlays with 1 missing behind ramrod entry ferrule. Figured tiger maple stock of classic East Tennessee form. Complete with its original ramrod with outlines of the ferrules on the wood.

CONDITION: Barrel retains a pleasing brown patina, rifling is very strong. The lock appears to be in its original flintlock configuration and retains a brown patina. Brass and silver inlays retain a pleasing dark patina and have not been cleaned. Stock retains its original surface and shows heavy saddle wear on area behind ramrod entry ferrule. One area below patchbox appears to be filled with old composite material. A very important and well-documented rifle with an incredible history.

From the Louie Parker Collection.