Morphy Auction: FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE ATTRIBUTED TO NICHOLAS BEYER from the Louie Parker Collection

 

This rifle is clearly the work of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania maker Nicholas Beyer. The octagon barrel is unsigned, which is unusual for Beyer rifles. Unmarked lock. Classic brass Nicholas Beyer furniture including a pierced 4-piece patchbox. Highly figured tiger maple stock. Relief carving on left side of buttstock, around barrel tang, and around wrist escutcheon continuing toward comb and on right side of buttock ahead of patchbox finial. There is an inlaid brass extension to the buttplate tang featuring an inlaid circle of mother of pearl. Another piece of mother of pearl is inlaid behind the star above the cheekpiece. Complete with period ramrod and an iron worm in the patchbox. 

CONDITION: Barrel retains an applied brown finish. Lock is a modern replacement, does not hold on cock or half cock. Brass shows scattered marks from use and a mostly pleasing mustard patina. Wrist has been broken and repaired. An attractive rifle with beautiful tiger maple. 

From the Louie Parker Collection.

LOT #2119:

Minimum Bid: $2,000.00

Estimate: $4,000 - $8,000

Copy and photos from Morphy auction here.

Firearms & Militaria

September 05 - 07, 2023 • 9:00 AM EDT

Golden Age Rifle by Nicholas Beyer

This rifle has a 46-1/2" inch oct to rnd smooth bore bbl signed in script by N. Beyer. The 4-pc brass engraved patch box is similar to rifle No. 93 in Kindig and the patch box latch is riveted in the upper corner of the lid with the release in the butt plate. The butt carving on the cheek piece side, silver cheek star and brass side plate are also identical to Kindig’s rifle No. 93. The relief carving at the tang is sharp and crisp and includes a rnd inlay secured by four pins. This is a clean, honest N. Beyer rifle in attic condition which has had no restoration. N. Beyer was one of the most prolific of the better rifle makers who worked as a gunsmith in Dauphin County circa 1807 – 1810. The ramrod pipes on this rifle are short with molded ends and the forward trigger guard extension ends with two fixed lines that form a molding. CONDITION: This is a clean, honest N. Beyer rifle in attic condition which has had no restoration and shows only signs of normal wear and use.  The front bbl pin is missing and there are several losses of wood on both sides along the barrel and around bbl pins.  There is an old period metal repair between the nose cap and the front ramrod pipe.  A small bit of wood is missing over the front of the lock plate.

Copy and photos supplied by James D. Julia, Inc.