The Bill Myers Collection by Morphy Auctions

 

Description

This well aged and distressed Allentown rifle has a very authentic look, feel and patina. The octagonal barrel has a brass front sight and a notched iron rear sight. The Germanic style lock is flat with beveled edges. Made in the Schimmel style with no buttplate, one round brass ramrod ferrule and no sideplate or nose cap. There is a small engraved silver eight point star secured by a screw in the center and inlaid above the cheekpiece. Brass Lehigh County trigger guard. Oval shaped two piece iron patchbox inlaid on the lid with a large "Allentown Indian" head. Stock of partially figured tiger maple and displaying fantastic classic Lehigh form. Made with brass wire repairs on forend and a leather re-enforcement around the single ramrod ferrule. Complete with a brass tipped wooden ramrod and a fitted fringed leather scabbard. 

CONDITION: Aged to appear original with much distress. Action is strong and functions well. A very attractive contemporary Lehigh rifle with a well used authentic look and feel. 

DMG Accessories: Scabbard Barrel Length: 41 - 3/4" Caliber/Bore: .48 Rifled FFL Status: Antique Manufacturer: Allentown Model: Flintlock Rifle Serial Number:

Est: $3,000 - $6,000

$1,500 0 bids

Morphy Auctions

September 29, 2021, 10:00 AM EST

Denver, PA, US

"Above is pictured a Lehigh Valley longrifle of the 1790s. This piece is stocked in an average piece of sugar maple with some mineral streaking on the cheek side of the butt, however it also displays a fair amount of curl throughout the entire piece. Typical schimmel wood! The rifle is very plain and representative of a "barn gun," the only evident brassware being a triggerguard and single ramrod pipe. The lock is a Chambers Deluxe Siler (which has been casehardened to a mottled blue/gray) while the .36 cal Green Mountain barrel has been drawfiled and left bright. Low, traditional sights have been mounted. The trigger, triggerplate and lock nails (2) have been forged of iron. True to plain-jane form the barrel has merely been drawfiled to a smooth finish and the brassware smooth-filed only w/ a bit of burnishing. The stock, having been scraped only, is of an amber color and has simply been coated with a beeswax/linseed oil mix. This is a low-gloss finish very different from that of a varnish and would be typical to the plainest arms. Overall, a very utilitarian arm of sharp and graceful architecture which represents a common "schimmel" of Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.

It obviously has since been heavily antiqued by someone other than me! Originally it was signed with an “EK” engraving with a deep engraved star between the two initials but this has been removed. A close look at the photos of the barrel top flat, between the sight and the breech, shows the heavy file marks where the signature was removed although some faint traces of the star engraving can still be seen. Also, the barrel has apparently been reamed and re-rifled. Admittedly, as a straight Green Mountain barrel, it was a bit muzzle heavy and I’d assume that being opened up to .48 cal renders it much lighter. Also I like the aging job as well as the box addition, and I think it’s more interesting now than when originally made!"

Eric Kettenburg

"Eric Kettenburg made the gun. I added a few thing to it and shot it for several years." 

Shawn Webster

"I owned this gun and know the man that carried it before me." 

Todd Daggett

"It was carried for some time by Oliver McCloskey and used extensively. " 

Art Riser

"This rifle was photographed at the 2015 CLA Show by Jan Riser from the table of Todd Daggett. More photos can be seen here."

Jan Riser

Copy and photos from Morphy Auctions here.

New Wheellocks by Brian Anderson

 

Photography supplied by Brian Anderson.

New Powder Horn and Restoration Work by Art DeCamp

Here are some pics of the North Georgia horn I made recently.  It was made after several examples I've seen and one in particular that was in my shop for some restoration work.  This particular horn has a two-piece antler tip that is pinned in place.

I sold this horn at the CLA Show this past weekend. 

Original Powder Horn

 Several horns apparently by the same "hand" that made the one I restored have been found, mostly with northern Georgia provenance.  Jay Hopkins feels these horns may be Moravian since they are similar to the banded horns with pinned antler and horn tips that are found in North Carolina near the Moravian colony there.  These are the ones that are called "Randolph County" horns these days.  Up to about the 1830's there was a Moravian Colony in North Georgia in the town of Spring Place which is just east of Dalton, Georgia in Murray County.  Thus there is some thought that these horns may have originated there.

The original was a bit of a wreck when it came to me for work.  It was heavily shellacked, but there was one band still with the horn that had decorative black paint on its edges.  The location of the pinned tip was quite obvious and one could easily see there were originally three additional bands on the horn when it was new.  The wood butt had nice turning that was well-defined and there was some evidence of decorative paint on it, too.  The first photo shows what I started with, and the next pictures shows the finished job.  I was careful not to try to "imagine" too much in executing the restoration and referenced several photos tips from horns from this shop before making the two-piece pinned antler replacement tip for this one.

Copy and photos supplied by Art DeCamp.

The Bill Myers Collection by Morphy Auctions

 

This may very well be the only hunting bag accompanied by a Tansel-Engraved powder horn. The single brown leather pouch has edges adorned with triangular cut fringes. The rounded flap also has an edge cut with triangular fringes en suite, along with pierced circles around the entire edge. The pouch is complete with its original leather carrying strap and a suspended Tansel engraved powder horn. The horn measures about 13" overall and has a bulbous turned wooden butt retained by wooden pegs and round nails. The spout has three relief rings. Top of main carved portion is shaped like an open mouth, as is typical on Tansel powder horns. The horn is engraved with a patriotic American eagle with wings spread and clutching arrows in its talons. There is a large American shield engraved on the eagle's breast. Other depictions include a cavalry officer on horseback being threatened by a rabid dog; a running doe and an "E. PLURIBUS UNUM" banner in block letters. On the left side of the carrying strap, there is a carved wooden percussion cap holder for 7 caps, front is carved with a double line incised border. There is also a suspended antler powder measure with turned tip. The accessories were also probably made by Tansel. 

CONDITION: Pouch shows some crazing and flaking, along with losses to fringed edges. There is a vertical stitched repair along the right side on the front of the flap. Carrying strap shows some cracking to surface. Powder horn shows heavy carry wear from bag on bag and some engraving is worn. There are a couple of cracks at the spout and one minor round hole due to insect damage on the front near the plug. Horn retains a pleasing brown honey patina. Nipple holder and measure are very good. A very attractive bag and horn. 

Est: $8,000 - $15,000

$4,000

September 29, 10:00 AM EST
Denver, PA

More information can be found here.

New Work by Ken Gahagan

 

Christian Oerter rifle delivered at the CLA Show.

Photos supplied by Ken Gahagan.

What's in the Bag, Charlie Brown?

 

Photography by Jan Riser.