Quillwork Sheath by Lally House

Photographed at the 2015 Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show by Jan Riser.

Powder Horn by Jeff Bottiger

Photos by Jan Riser.

George Schreyer Style Rifle by Eric von Aschwege

I was inspired to build a rifle in the style of George Schreyer's work after seeing a rifle of his in the Kindig exhibit at the Reading Public Museum. Studying photographs and original Schreyer rifles, it is my belief that there were many hands in Schreyer's shop that stocked and decorated the rifles we attribute to him. Compared to other gunsmiths, there appears to be a much broader range in quality of stocking, shaping, and decoration amongst Schreyer's work.  For example, some of Schreyer's carving shows a naivety of design and sculpting, while other pieces are the result of a masterful eye and hand.  I don't believe that this is merely the progression of skills, age, and eyesight.  As Shumway also noted in his Schreyer monolog, it is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish what may be his earlier work from his later pieces based on carving, stock design, and hardware used.

This rifle was built around a 46" .50 caliber barrel with a 1" breech.  The lock is a conglomerate of several different commercial castings, with highly customized brass hardware.  Stocked in sugar maple, the overall rifle is not a copy of any particular Schreyer, but is a blend of some of my favorite features found on his pieces.  The patchbox is reminiscent of C scroll designs by other York county gunsmiths, but the semi-pointed finial is distinctly Schreyer's hand.  The patchbox engraving is modeled after Schreyer's work, with a fairly standard finial, but evolves into a non-typical blend of shading and circles on either side of the patchbox door.  The barrel is held with four brass captured keys, inserted from the lock side in keeping with Schreyer's work.  The patchbox release is built into the buttplate instead of being screwed to the stock.  The catch spring is riveted to the buttplate itself, with a captured pushrod following the inside contour of the buttplate.  The stock is scraped, stained with aquafortis, and then burnished prior to sealing and finishing.

Copy and photos supplied by Eric von Aschwege.

Strap by Kris Polizzi

Photographed at the 2015 CLA Show by Jan Riser.

Cowan's Auction Items

Sioux Beaded and Quilled Hide Moccasins from a Minnesota Collection

Thread and sinew-sewn softly tanned hide; designed with bands of red and yellow quillwork across vamps; soles bordered with a lane of dark blue, greasy yellow, rose, and clear beadwork; high cuffs, length 9.5 in., late 19th century  

Est $600 - $800

Northern Plains Woman's Dentalia Shell Cape

Thread-sewn and with 10 rows of dentalia shells separated by thin rows of clear cane beads; lower hem of yoke ornately designed using brown ribbon and roundels formed of brown beads; beaded fringe terminating with brass bells that hang intermittently along lower edge; muslin lined, length 16 in. x width 30 in., 4th quarter 19th century

Est $1500 - $2500

Sioux Child's Beaded Hide Bonnet from a Minnesota Collection

Thread-sewn and beaded using colors of red white-heart, greasy yellow, dark blue, white, and pea green; lined with polka-dot fabric, length 5.5 in., ca 1900

Est $800 - $1200

Sioux Beaded and Quilled Possible Bag from a Minnesota Collection

thread and sinew-sewn with beadwork along sides in colors of white, pea green, dark blue, and greasy yellow; thin horizontal rows of quillwork and vertical rows of wool pompoms decorate front of bag; red horsehair filled tin cones further embellish sides and closing flap, length 15.5 x 23 in.
late 19th century 

Est $1000 - $1500

Northern Plains Quilled Hide Strike-a-Light Pouch with Contents from the William H. Jensen (1886-1960) Collection

softly tanned thread-sewn hide with plaited red and white quillwork along sides; quilled buffalo head is situated in center of one side of pouch and cross on opposite; tin cones hang from quilled hide thongs, height 3 in. x width 4.25 in.; contents include a hand-forged striker, belemnite fossil, three stones, and a small piece of wood., mid-19th century 

Est $3000 - $5000

Plains Porcupine Hair Roach from the Historic Glen Isle Resort, Bailey, Colorado

Composed of red-dyed fur enclosing a crest of two-toned porcupine hair; blue and white braided yarn center; hide thong ties, length 17 in. , early 20th century

Est $800 - $1000

Copy and photos from Cowen's.