We are pleased to offer a longrifle of this fine quality. This rifle is signed on the top flat of the barrel by experienced and talented muzzleloading gunmaker, J. Klein. Made in the popular Lancaster County, Pennsylvania style, stocked in curly maple, the figure has attractive stripes and modest swirls, from muzzle to butt. Stained to a attractive amber brown, with gold undertones common to rifles from the Lancaster region. The stock is expertly raised carved with smooth clean backgrounds. The brass furniture has aged to a natural mellow patina from handling, firing, and cleaning. The barrel and large Chambers Golden Age flintlock are finished to a dark brown. The rifle has a 13-5/8" trigger reach for today's average size shooter. The rifle weights 9.3 pounds, and holds quite steady if you can manage the weight.
The 44" length .50 caliber cut rifled barrel is light weight at the muzzle end, due to the taper and flare of the swamped octagon barrel. The thick breech makes the barrel very strong. The thin waist saves weight, and the muzzle flares to bring the front sight to the same sighting plane as the rear sight. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. The bore is rifled with seven lands and grooves with a slow twist for a tightly patched round ball. The muzzle has been slightly coned to ease loading. The front sight is a nickel silver blade with a brass base dovetailed 1-1/2" behind the muzzle. The flat top rear sight is dovetailed 10" ahead of the breech. The barrel is finished to a smooth chocolate brown. The top flat is signed James Klein behind the rear sight.
The stock is a lovely piece of maple, hard and dense with narrow stripes of figure best viewed in bright daylight. The buttstock has the classic angular lines of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The stock has a few small handling marks, which appear appropriate with the patina on the brass. The buttplate comb is finished with broad flats and a wedding band transition with light floral engraving around the screw. The buttplate comb has some streaks from water with black powder residue wetting it during cleaning. The lock panels gently taper widest at the rear, an architectural detail found on early flint longrifles. The flared tang of the breech plug is decorated with a small amount of floral engraving. The raised carving around the tang is very well executed with smooth lines and well cleaned background. An oval nickel silver inlay decorates the top of the wrist and is engraved with the initial PEK. Raised carving is found at the transition from the comb to the wrist that flows down both sides of the buttstock.
The brass patchbox is shaped and engraved in the style of Isaac Haines, with a simple floral motif on the domed lid, and finial. Correct steel screws are used to mount the brass patchbox and hardware. A hidden button release is found in the center of the brass toeplate. The button is disguised as the middle screw and when pushed it allows the door to pop open revealing a deep cut cavity for storing flints, jags, or other shooting accessories. A line of raised molding runs along the toe line from the buttplate to the trigger creating a slimming effect along the buttstock.
An engraved brass toeplate is fitted to the stock to protect this fragile area that commonly acquires marks during use, while loading and cleaning. The flower finial is shaped and engraved to match the finial found on the patchbox. The toeplate is mounted with two steel screws. The middle screw is actually the patchbox release button. The triggerguard is hand filed with crisp flats and has a nice mellow aged patina. Incised carving decorates the forearm directly in front of the triggerguard and flows upward to highlight the lock panels. Incised carving surrounds the tail of the ramrod entry pipe and transitions into a raised molding along the edge of the ramrod channel. The ramrod pipes are brass with raised rings on the ends and paneled bodies. The tapered ramrod is fitted with a brass tip at the front and an iron tip at the rear. Both tips are thread 10-32 for loading and cleaning accessories. A brass muzzle cap protects the end grain of the stock. The side panel is neatly shaped and fitted with a classic square tail Lancaster County sideplate with light engraving. The cheek piece is expertly hand carved and surrounded by decorative raised and incised scrolls in the style of Isaac Haines. The carving is well done with smooth clean backgrounds. An engraved nickel silver hunter's star decorates the center of the cheek.
Ignition for the rifle is provided by this Jim Chamber's Golden Age flintlock. Notice the slightly taller cock, top jaw and jaw screw, which sweep the frizzen from a higher point with more velocity, for better sparking. The result is a good sparking lock that will surely ignite your priming charge. We recommend our 3/4" knapped flints for best performance in this lock. The lock is browned to match the barrel. A stainless steel vent liner is well positioned on the side of the barrel. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash. The single trigger is properly pinned to give good leverage against the sear resulting in a crisp, clean pull.
Very neatly assembled by contemporary builder Mr. Klein, this is a fine piece of American folk art of the best quality. We are delighted to receive and offer consignments of this quality. The lucky buyer will own a treasure that will last a lifetime, and his heirs will raise toasts to his good taste, far into the future. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
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Ten day inspection begins at delivery. Send your approval. Else return it for same day refund, if not delighted. Postage is your only risk.