Original Item: Only One Available. Recently acquired from an English estate sale this is a beauty. On our first attempt we erroneously described this as being Pre Revolutionary War, however, this attractive Flintlock rifle most likely dates from 1820-1830.
Notable Features include-
British Trade Percussion Lock marked WARRANTED.
Top flat of octagonal barrel marked “J. MOLL, Allentown”.
33 rifled barrel in about .50 cal
The stock is an amazing light colored Bird’s Eye Maple but extends half way up the barrel. There is a very unusual brass support for the ramrod extending from the front of the stock to the muzzle.
Multiple brass inlays over most areas of the wood stock including, animals, and a Federal style eagle over a shield containing stars and stripes on the butt stock cheek.
All mounts are brass and there appears to have been a solder(?) repair to the front of the trigger guard. Similarly a slither of wood has been replaced directly in front of the frizzen extending about 4″.
It has been suggested that the barrel may have originally been longer and that the Bird’s Eye Maple stock maybe a replacement. We have opened the butt trap and taken out the lock but the interiors of both indicate the wood stock to be of considerable age, so if this is a re-stock it almost certainly occurred early in the gun’s life.
This is a flintlock rifle that raises more questions than most, however, its beauty and uniqueness cannot be disputed.