Lock by John Ennis

 

Photo supplied by Robert Weil.

Poulin Auction: THE "VIRGINIA FANTASY" RIFLE BY THE AMAZING JOHN ENNIS

 

Lot: 3491

Estimate: $8,000-12,000

Price Realized: $12,100.00 USD

CONTEMPORARY KENTUCKY RIFLE BUILDER AND MAKER OF KNIVES, SPURS, ETC. Cal. 65. NSN. John Ennis is a self trained custom gun maker with roots in traditional handwork who built his first rifle at the age of sixteen. He taught himself engraving with the aid of James Meek's book "The Art of Engraving". To further the development of his talent he attended gunsmithing school in Colorado. He was a tool & die maker for the aerospace industry in the late 1980's. He started restoring antique rifles in the 90's. He also built complete rifles and branched into making custom spurs and knives. This beautifully finished rifle is not a copy of any particular style but it incorporates elements that Ennis favored. It has 42" swamped octagon barrel fitted with "U" notch rear and silver bead front sights. Top flat is engraved with very well done large shaded scroll with shell and acanthus highlights surrounding the initials "J.E.". Handmade early style flintlock with rounded plate has well filed serpentine cock, semi-waterproof pan, bridled friction frizzen and feather spring with flame finial. Lock and cock are engraved with large open scroll. Stock of curly grain hard maple is brass mounted. Mounts include early style trigger guard with foliate finial, wide buttplate with early style top tang and a unique two piece patchbox treatment with very attractive heart pierced finial and box cover with high "turtle shell" dome. Release is at center of buttplate. These fittings are also beautifully engraved with classic shells and scrolls as well as some floral highlights. Engraving on patchbox cover is of intertwined bow, quiver of arrows, tomahawk and cutlass. Silver wire inlay outlines patchbox. Stock is relief carved with Rococo tendrils of acanthus scroll and other stock elements around barrel tang and fancy beaded right hand cheekpiece. A silver heart is inlaid at face and there is a silver crest plate at top of grip. Stock extends to muzzle with brass cap and is pinned to barrel. Horn tipped rosewood ramrod with beautifully finished worm on tail, mounts through two octagonal beaded pipes and matching thimble. All workmanship is of the highest order, beyond reproach.

CONDITION: exceptionally fine retaining nearly all maker applied finishes to wood and metal. Barrel and lock retain over 95% original bright polish with some areas of light staining. Stock is exceptionally fine with only three or four light scratches in its original oil finish, brass is nicely toned. Bore is bright and shiny throughout, lock is crisp. Simply stated, this is a beautiful rifle. This rifle is pictured on page 80 of the September/October 2014 "Muzzleloader" magazine in an article on John Ennis entitled "Talent.Versatility.Excellence". 01-21924/MGM). 

The realized price has been added to items previously posted on the Poulin Auction.

Copy and photography from 2023 Spring Poulin's Auction here.

Poulin's Antiques and Auctions, Inc.

199 Skowhegan Road
Fairfield, ME 04937

Date(s) 5/12/2023 - 5/15/2023

Poulin's Auction: AN INCREDIBLE MASTERPIECE: JOHN ENNIS' THIRD RIFLE

Lot: # 3489

Estimate: 10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD

Price Realized: 

14,520.00 USD

Description: A HIGH ART KENTUCKY TYPE LONG RIFLE WITH SUPERB CARVING, ENGRAVING AND STYLE. Cal. 40. NSN. This wonderful rifle was unveiled at the 1983 Western Kentucky University gunmaking seminar. The instructors included Dr. Terry Leeper, Hershel House, John Bivins, Wallace Gusler and Lynton McKenzie. They and all others in attendance were blown away by the meticulous workmanship, attention to detail and incredible artistry exhibited by this stunning rifle. It has 40" octagon barrel fitted with exceptionally well done file decorated "U" notch rear and blade front sights as well as a decorative boss between rear sight and patent type breech plug with platinum touch hole. Patent breech has inset stamp of an urn surrounded by foliate and floral engraving. "Jno. Ennis" is in flowing script on barrel in front of rear sight. Manton style flintlock with rebated square tail is fitted with serpentine cock, waterproof pan, roller frizzen and feather spring with bulbous finial. Lock engraved with traditional feather bursts and scroll along with the initials "JE". Rifle is fitted with double set triggers. Stock made of a truly fine piece of hard maple with exceptional curly grain is brass mounted and has many silver inlays. Stock also exhibits superb raised carving. Decoration has a phoenix theme. The exceptionally fancy patchbox has a large perched phoenix as its finial. Patchbox cover is domed and sideplates are shaped with large acanthus scrolls. Patchbox shows many piercings and is beautifully engraved with classic motifs of bearded men, flowers and leaves. Matching toeplate has three piercings and phoenix finial. Traditionally styled sideplate is also scroll engraved. Silver inlays include a very attractive phoenix perched on a ring as decoration for cheekpiece. Silver swags act as decoration under cheekpiece, behind barrel tang and as escutcheons for barrel retaining bolts. Small silver inlays accent the carved mouldings around lock and sideplate as well as the exceptionally fine raised carved scrolls and acanthus around cheekpiece. Other features of note are the swirled flutes that are filed into brass nose cap and the fine fan carving at rear of trigger guard tang and left side of toe. Mouldings along ramrod channel end in graceful volutes. Hickory ramrod with horn tip and steel tail with worm is held by two multi-beaded and intricately faceted pipes and matching thimble. Ennis' mastery is also evident in the fine rich brown finish found on barrel and lock as well as temper blue found on patent breech and breech iron. 

CONDITION: exceptionally fine retaining nearly all of the maker's original finishes on both wood and metal. The rifle has seen a few minor marks gathered over the years, mostly found on right side of forend which has some denting and a small scratch of the top left barrel flat near breech. The bore shows considerable light rusting and frosting (should clean), lock is crisp. A truly stunning rifle! (01-21926/MGM). ANTIQUE. $10,000-20,000.

Copy and photography from 2023 Spring Poulin's Auction here.

Poulin's Antiques and Auctions, Inc.

199 Skowhegan Road
Fairfield, ME 04937

Date(s) 5/12/2023 - 5/15/2023

Poulin Auction Item: An Incredible Masterpiece: John Ennis’ Third Rifle A High Art Kentucky Type Long Rifle With Superb Carving, Engraving And Style

May 12, 13 & 14, 2023

Our 2023 Spring premier auction will host collections from across the country & bring them under one roof for an amazing multi-day auction!

 

This is an incredible opportunity to take advantage of the strength the current market is providing for fine firearms & militaria.

This wonderful rifle was unveiled at the 1983 Western Kentucky University gunmaking seminar. The instructors included Dr. Terry Leeper, Hershel House, John Bivins, Wallace Gusler and Lynton McKenzie. They and all others in attendance were blown away by the meticulous workmanship, attention to detail and incredible artistry exhibited by this stunning rifle.

It has 40″ octagon barrel fitted with exceptionally well done file decorated “U” notch rear and blade front sights as well as a decorative boss between rear sight and patent type breech plug with platinum touch hole. Patent breech has inset stamp of an urn surrounded by foliate and floral engraving. “Jno. Ennis” is in flowing script on barrel in front of rear sight. Manton style flintlock with rebated square tail is fitted with serpentine cock, waterproof pan, roller frizzen and feather spring with bulbous finial. Lock engraved with traditional feather bursts and scroll along with the initials “JE”. Rifle is fitted with double set triggers. Stock made of a truly fine piece of hard maple with exceptional curly grain is brass mounted and has many silver inlays. Stock also exhibits superb raised carving. Decoration has a phoenix theme. The exceptionally fancy patchbox has a large perched phoenix as its finial. Patchbox cover is domed and sideplates are shaped with large acanthus scrolls. Patchbox shows many piercings and is beautifully engraved with classic motifs of bearded men, flowers and leaves. Matching toeplate has three piercings and phoenix finial. Traditionally styled sideplate is also scroll engraved. Silver inlays include a very attractive phoenix perched on a ring as decoration for cheekpiece. Silver swags act as decoration under cheekpiece, behind barrel tang and as escutcheons for barrel retaining bolts. Small silver inlays accent the carved mouldings around lock and sideplate as well as the exceptionally fine raised carved scrolls and acanthus around cheekpiece.

Other features of note are the swirled flutes that are filed into brass nose cap and the fine fan carving at rear of trigger guard tang and left side of toe. Mouldings along ramrod channel end in graceful volutes. Hickory ramrod with horn tip and steel tail with worm is held by two multi-beaded and intricately faceted pipes and matching thimble.

Ennis’ mastery is also evident in the fine rich brown finish found on barrel and lock as well as temper blue found on patent breech and breech iron.

Copy and photography from Poulin.

David Dodd Rifle with Jan Riser Hunting Pouch with Art DeCamp Powder Horn

Handmade Cock and Frizzen by John Ennis

Photography by Robert Weil.

Detail of John Ennis Patchbox

Photo supplied by Robert Weil.

Entirely Handmade Cowboy Spurs by John Ennis

These are not 18th century, but need to be shown due to the quality of the work.

For more work by John see here.

Photos supplied by Robert Weil.

Work by John Ennis

An amazing reconversion back to flint by John Ennis.

The cock, frizzen, frizzen spring, and pan made entirely from scratch.

French Dragoon Pistol by John Ennis

Assembled by John Ennis from a Rifle Shoppe kit. 1763 French Dragoon Pistol, the rare 12" barrel version. Beautifully finished in every detail, this would please even the most discriminating collector or shooter. 

John Ennis Belt Buckle

1730's English Dragoon Pistol by John Ennis

 

assembled from RS parts all correct w/  proof stamps

absolutely perfect fit, Beautiful color, Very shinny finish

A master piece!!  Gorgeous

Photos by Jamie Ennis.

John Ennis Pistol

The barrel, breech, lock plate, tang and trigger group came from Track of the Wolf back in the late 70's early 80's. It got shelved until recently for unknown reasons and about a year ago or so I started to work on it.  I made the hammer, entry pipe, the lock internals, stock fore cap, wedge and escutcheons, thumb inlay, lock bolt plate, overlay in front of the lock bolt plate, sights and the grip cap with the cap box trap. I altered the breech considerably.  I rebuilt the trigger assembly. I engraved it in the English style. Shall we call it a gentleman's St. Louis or Philadelphia pistol?

The pistol is 58 cal.

Copy by John Ennis with photos by Jamie Ennis.