2385

KUTZTOWN “PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH” CARVED PETER ANSTAT RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 16,000.00 USD
KUTZTOWN “PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH” CARVED PETER ANSTAT RIFLE.
NSN. This rifle has a 41 ¾ inch octagon to round smooth bore .60 caliber unsigned barrel. The barrel shows elements of engraving, particularly at the rear sight and barrel breech. The rifle has a four piece brass patch box whose finial exhibits a three pedaled flower often used by Peter Anstat. The flint lock is marked “T. Ketland & Co.”. The Roman nose architecture of the stock along with the broader than high egg shaped wrist are typical of Peter Anstat’s work. The rural area of Maxatawney Township Pa. is considered by many to be the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country, and Kutztown is its largest town. The plain maple stock has a reddish tint finish and is profusely incised carved, having a serpentine line along the entire fore-stock beneath the straight line molding. The lock and side plate panels are carved around their perimeters. An important feature is the desirable carved “Indian Head” forward of the trigger guard. This is a much sought after decoration normally found on quality rifles if the Lehigh/Northampton County area. In his book Kindig notes he considers Peter the most interesting gunsmith of the Anstat family. Although the elusive “Indian Head” carving is very seldom found outside Lehigh/Northampton county, Kindig states it is present on four of his Peter Anstat rifles. Of further interest is the unique and dramatic incised carving behind the sculpted cheek piece which presents the three-dimensional appearance of a butterfly or moth in flight while the barrel tang cross hatched carving is Angstat’s typical Kutztown “Dutch” style. The brass side plate is engraved in the Kutztown school style with traditional asterisk designs and the stock features relief Beaver tails to the rear of the lock and side plate panels. The circular brass cheek piece inlay with Peter’s classic “Chicken Track” engraving is held in place by a wood screw in its center, common in the region just north of Kutztown. CONDITION: The flint lock is a re-conversion,.ÊÊThe rifle has an original ramrod.ÊÊThe rear ramrod ferrule has been extended in period through the incised carving surrounding the pipe.ÊÊThere are stress age cracks forward of the lock and side plate. 4-49678 RG11