2355

VERY FINE RELIEF CARVED LEBANON SCHOOL SIGNED "N. BEYER" RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
VERY FINE RELIEF CARVED LEBANON SCHOOL SIGNED  N. BEYER  RIFLE.
NSN. 44-1/2" oct to round 56 Cal. smooth bbl signed in script "N. Beyer". Rifle displays N. Beyer's most typical patchbox, a long necked bird, sometimes called a pelican, with its beak in its feathers. Four pieced brass patchbox is engraved with one piercing and the patchbox latch is riveted in the upper corner of the lid with the release in the buttplate. Relief carving on the cheekside of the butt features back to back C scrolls behind the cheek and the carving is very similar to gun number 97 in Kindig's Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age, except this gun has no carving below the cheekpiece. Gun has nice featured curly maple throughout and a beautiful original honey colored stock finish. Gun is very nicely carved behind the bbl tang, around the rear ramrod entrance ferrule, and forward of the patchbox. Deep incised carving at the rear entrance ferrule extends into the forestock molding which runs the full length of the forestock on both sides. Each of the three ramrod pipes are rather short with heavy molded ends and the muzzle cap is fastened to the stock with three rivets. Front extension of the trigger guard terminates with two deeply filed lines forming a sort of molding. There is an oval silver inlay on top of the wrist and an eight-pointed silver star inlay lightly engraved on the cheekpiece. 4-1/2" brass toe plate is nicely engraved and there is a heart-shaped brass inlay between the toe plate and the trigger guard. Nicholas Beyer was one of the most prolific of the better rifle makers. More Kentuckys have been found made by him then by any of the other quality makers. Beyer is listed as a gunsmith in Dauphin County in 1807 and 1810 and he generally signed his guns in script on the bbl while utilizing the details of the Lebanon School extensively. Beyer introduced unusual variety in his patchboxes but all display distinctive craftsmanship. This gun represents a fine example of Nicholas Beyer's work. PROVENANCE: James Milton Collection. Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Lock may have been reconverted to flint. Fine gun of outstanding quality. 4-49837 RG45