This classic American flint longrifle is made in the style of Jacob Dickert, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Jacob Dickert traveled from Germany to America about 1750, he studied under an unknown master, learning the gunmaker's art. He worked in Lancaster County from 1769 until his death in the early 1820's. He was an artist, producing decorated relief carved flint longrifles for his many customers. He also produced rifles for the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

This rifle was handmade and signed by contemporary maker R. Grunkemeyer. The curly maple stock is stained to a dark brown with golden undertones to display the closely spaced figure over the length of the stock. The original barrel mounted rear sight has been removed and a filler blank installed. A peep sight was installed in the flared tang of the breech. This rifle has a few marks on the frizzen face, and appears to have been well maintained. The Rice .50 caliber barrel is finished to a dark brown. Trigger reach is 13-1/2" to fit today's average size shooter. Weight is 8.7 pounds.

The Rice 46" swamped octagon makes this longrifle point easily, without being overly heavy. The swamped barrel is thickest at the breech, tapers to a narrow waist, and flares at the muzzle. The .50 caliber bore is cut rifled with seven lands and grooves. Grooves are cut .016" deep, with round bottom rifling, twist is 1 turn in 66 inches. Rice Muzzle Loading Rifle Barrels are set between centers and milled octagonal, insuring a centered bore, concentric with the exterior, with no "run-out". Each barrel is stress relieved in an atmosphere controlled electric furnace, to eliminate work hardening or barrel warp, and to dampen harmonic vibrations or barrel whip.

After the rifling has been cut, each bore is "ball burnished". A carbide bore-sizing die is pulled through the barrel, to insure bore dimension uniformity, eliminating any tight or loose spots inside the barrel. This critical procedure leaves the top of the lands smooth and polished, equaling the traditional lead lapping procedure. Rice barrels are Match grade quality, with bench rest capability. Rice barrels do not require lapping or extensive shooting to break-in.

The barrel has been finished to a dark brown. The barrel is signed R. Grunkemeyer on the top flat between the breech and previous location of the rear sight. A filler blank has been installed 12" ahead of the breech. The barrel mounted rear sight has been replaced with a small lollipop tang sight with a dovetail adjustment for windage. The front sight is a nickel silver blade with a brass base finished flush with the barrel.

The dense maple stock of this longrifle has scattered bands of figure. The raised and incised carving on the rifle has smooth lines, the backgrounds do have some areas that are not perfectly smooth that create a stippled effect. The stock is stained to a dark brown and nicely contrasts the burnished brass, and browned lock and 46" swamped octagon barrel.

The buttstock has a very Germanic appearance with a wide tall, buttplate, The early buttplate comb has five flats with a wedding band transition to round. The steel mounting screws are fitted with the slots neatly aligned with the barrel.
The daisy head patchbox features a side opening door, similar to a original by Jacob Dickert. The brass patchbox was cut from sheet brass, and the door is slightly domed to increase the storage area. The brass patchbox is hand engraved and has a nice burnished finish that matches the rest of the brass furniture. Correct steel screws are used to mount the brass patchbox and hardware. The patchbox release button is located in the comb of the buttplate, just ahead of the heel. The patchbox snaps open and closes tightly. A deep correctly cut patchbox cavity is hidden under the patchbox lid. The cavity contains a cleaning jag as well as some tow fiber. We note that the door has very close tolerances with the bezel and if any of the tow fiber is not fully inside the cavity the patchbox lock will not fully engage and hold the door secure. You should hear the spring engage with a "clatch".

The thumbnail flared tang of the breech plug is surrounded by attractive baroque style raised carving with a Fluer de Lys design. The attractive raised carving around the tang is repeated behind the ramrod entry pipe. The bottom view shows the triggerguard, which is correctly mounted with two pins, no screws. The triggerguard has crisp hand shaped flats. The toe is protected with a brass toeplate mounted with steel screws. A small nickel silver inlay mounts a rear sling swivel post. The forward swivel is correctly positioned to rest against a ramrod pipe. The ramrod pipes are shaped from sheet brass and the entry pipe has a raised thumbnail skirt. The ramrod is fitted with a steel tip with 8-32 threads for loading and cleaning accessories. We recommend keeping this well fitted ramrod with the rifle and using a 7/16" diameter field rod for general loading and cleaning. The cheek is angled to the rear, to recoil away from your face, an ingenious feature found on better rifles. The stock is decorated with raised and incised carving.

This rifle is fitted with a Jim Chamber's Classic Golden Age flintlock. This lock captures the styling used on many American longrifles. Most flint locks were imported from England or Europe, for use by American gunmakers. The lock is finished to a dark brown. This snappy lock sparks well and we recommend our 3/4" knapped English flints for use with this lock. A stainless steel vent liner is well centered on the pan of the lock. 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 double lever double set trigger is properly adjusted to allow the lock to be cocked, or the trigger set, in any sequence. Correct geometry gives this rifle a very smooth trigger release. Adjust the screw between the two triggers, inboard to reduce set trigger release pressure, our outboard to require a stronger pressure. The set trigger can provide very light release, perhaps an ounce or two, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather.

A used Lancaster County long rifle with curly maple stock, Jim Chambers lock, R.E. Davis trigger, and Rice swamped barrel. The rifle has a few minor handling marks on the lock and breech from firing, but appears to be well maintained. 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.