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Desirable John Moll Signed Golden Age Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle with Uniquely Detailed, Engraved,

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Desirable John Moll Signed Golden Age Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle with Uniquely Detailed, Engraved,
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Desirable John Moll Signed Golden Age Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle with Uniquely Detailed, Engraved, Patch Box

Golden Age Pennsylvania Flintlock rifle signed by John Moll. The rifle was probably made by John Moll II of Allentown, Pennsylvania, circa1815. The rifle has a 44-inch octagon barrel of approximately .45 caliber with dovetail mounted brass front and iron rear sights. The top barrel flat is signed "John * Moll". The tiger striped maple, pin-fastened, stock has a plain brass forend cap, three faceted brass ramrod pipes and flat-faced, beveled side plate with arrow shaped finial. The curved buttstock has the classic, Golden Age, 'Roman Nose', comb with shallow cheek piece, flat bottom and wide, curved, buttplate. The brass trigger guard has a prominent finger spur and square finials. The lock plate is flat with beveled edges and has an integral iron pan with prominent fence. The hammer is flat faced with curved edges. The lock and hammer have an engraved, single line, border. The lock plate is marked with the makers' name but the marking is illegible. The rifle has a plain, hickory ramrod. The stock features an elaborate, four-piece, engraved, brass and ivory or bone patch box and four inlays. The patch box lid is engraved with a rampant lion wearing a crown flanked by simple scrollwork. The patch box head is similar in shape to that found on other John Moll rifles that date from the early 1800s and is engraved with single line borders and cross-hatching. The upper and lower patch box side plates are ivory or bone and are secured with four iron pins. The upper stock wrist is inlaid with a silver thumb-piece engraved with the initials "JJ" and scalloped borders. An engraved, silver, eight-pointed, star is inlaid on the top of the cheekpiece. A stylized silver head wearing a liberty cap is inlaid on the underside of the stock in front of the trigger guard. An elliptical-shaped bone or ivory inlay is located on the bottom of the stock. Simple, two-line borders are carved along the bottom edge of both sides of the stock and forearm.

Manufacture: Unknown
Model: Kentucky
BBL: 44 inch
Stock: maple
Gauge: 45
Finish: brown
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN

Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration. The barrel and lock have a dark brown, untouched patina. The portions of the barrel and tang adjacent to the flash hole have moderate-heavy firing wear. The barrel signature is clear. The stock has an attractive patina and remains in good overall condition. There is a crack on the right side that runs from the bottom edge of the lock plate to the edge of the trigger guard finial and two smaller cracks on the left side of the stock that run from the barrel channel to the top of the side plate. The edges of the stock bordering the lock plate, side plate and tang are worn. The upper tang and the buttplate toe and heel screws are replacements and the original screw in the toe of the buttplate is missing. There are small cracks in both sides of the upper edge of the buttplate and the heel is no longer flush with the stock. The brass patch box, buttplate, trigger guard, side plate and ramrod pipes have an attractive patina. The engraving on the patch box and the three silver inlays is crisp. This is a good looking, high quality, Golden Age Pennsylvania flintlock rifle made by a recognized and desirable Allentown, (Northampton County) Pennsylvania, gunmaker in the early 19th Century.