Beschreibung:

.470 bore diameter, 46" octagonal-to-round barrel. 18" from breech are some nice turnings separating octagonal-to-round. Buckhorn-style rear barrel sight; blade front sight. Hand-forged lockplate signed JA, initials for "John Armstrong," in beautiful script engraved letters. Flat-style lockplate with a slight tit at the rear of plate. Flat-style hammer, faceted pan and frizzen, frizzen spring with finial on tip and roller on the frizzen spring. Single pig-tail-style trigger. Finely striped maple full stock. Nice C-scrolled raised carving on the left side of stock behind the cheek piece. Also running forward under the cheek piece up to the wrist. Raised carved C-scrolls behind the tang. Molding around the lock and the opposite side with inlaid silver hearts at the rear of molding. Raised caving forward of the locks and also behind the rear ferule. Incised carved lines and moulding from the toe of the stock up through the back of the triggerguard and from the rear ferule running parallel with the ramrod and barrel. Brass buttplate, brass triggerguard, ferules and nosecap. Engraved brass four-piece patchbox, also with three piercings; engraved toeplate. Engraved sideplate; engraved silver eagle on cheek piece. Silver thumb plate. Barrel held to stock by four wedges. This rifle is in original untouched flint. John Armstrong (1772-1842) was born, by his own indication, in "Liberty Township," although the exact location is unknown. Albert Sullivan, of the Emmitsburg Area Historical Society, thinks it is close to Hanover, PA. He also thinks, because of elements common to both gun makers, that Armstrong may have apprenticed with George Schroyer of Hanover. He apparently came to Emmitsburg, Maryland to begin his own career just before the turn of the century. By 1808 he purchased land for his home and shop. According to John Helman (History of Emmitsburg, Maryland), as quoted by Kauffman (1960: 177): John Armstrong was an early settler of the Town. His name appears on the plat as owner of No. 1 and No. 2 lots. His reputation as a gunsmith was good, and he made rifles and shot guns. When he died his business was continued by his former apprentice, Nathaniel Rowe who retained Armstrong's reputation. Kauffman goes on to note that: The guns of John Armstrong are outstanding in a number of ways. His products can usually be identified by either of two patch box designs which he used. Variations of the two patterns were used by other craftsmen of the area, but none are exactly like Armstrong’s. His carving is of high quality, and the designs of his silver inlays are similar to his carved designs. His guns are long and slender, and show evidence of superior workmanship throughout. His locks are a particularly distinctive part of his products, for they were probably made by him, as many are signed J.A. on the outer surface of the lock plate. They are long and slender with bevels around the edges and with lines filed across at the tail end. (1960: 177) References: Kauffman, Henry J. The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle. Masthof Press, 1960. Sullivan, Albert Manley. John Armstrong of Emmitsburg and his Rifles. Emmitsburg Area Historical Society. (accessed 9/10/2012) Condition: This rifle has a unique crispness that is hard to describe. The stock has a sharpness with a used look but untouched patina. Barrel and lock with nice dark brown patina. All brass has dark untouched patina. The carving in this rifle has a great crispness to it. Stock with areas of wear to the finish and areas of original finish with nice patina covering the entire stock. This is truly a great example of the trimness and the quality of the workmanship John Armstrong executed when he made his rifles. His rifles stand out as among the "greats" of the "Golden Age" of gunsmiths.