Contemporary Makers: Morphy Auction: SIGNED JACOB DICKERT RELIEF-CARVED FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE from the Louie Parker Collection

Jacob Dickert was born in 1740 in Maintz, Germany and his family emigrated to America in 1748, finally settling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1756. Dickert had a shop on North Queen Street in Lancaster and was listed as a gunsmith in tax records in 1770, 1772, and 1776. He opened a rifle barrel boring factory with John Henry in 1774 on a lot in Manheim Township. Jacob Dickert later made contract rifles with James Gill for the U.S. government. This rifle probably dates from between 1790 and 1810. Octagonal barrel marked "J. Dickert" on top flat in script with a maker's mark in a cartouche. Notched engraved iron rear sight and brass front sight. Imported lock inscribed "Ketland & Co" in the center, double set triggers. Brass furniture includes a typical Lancaster style sideplate with beveled edges, a 4-piece patchbox with classic Lancaster daisy finial and engraved with scroll designs, and an engraved silver 8-point star above the cheekpiece. Rocker-panel engraved silver oval wrist escutcheon. Barrel retained by 4 barrel keys. Full-length partially figured maple stock of familiar Lancaster County form with thin relief moldings on both sides of forend and relief classic Lancaster "C-scrolls" behind cheekpiece. Both sides of wrist feature incised designs. Wooden ramrod appears to be period and correct. Barrel retains a mostly brown patina with excellent crisp signature. Lock is in its original flintlock configuration with strong and well-functioning mechanism. Brass retains a mellow mustard patina. Stock has a restored crack around top portion of wrist. Carving very strong. This is a fine example by an early Lancaster gunsmith who also made rifles that were used during the American Revolutionary War. Rifles by Dickert are scarcely encountered.

From the Louie Parker Collection.

CORRECTION: Tactile evidence suggests that an indeterminate portion of the barrel and forend, towards the muzzle, have been expertly restored. There is no visual evidence present; rifle has not been disassembled.