EXCEPTIONAL RELIEF CARVED GOLDEN AGE ADAM ERNST YORK COUNTY KENTUCKY RIFLE.

Revised: 10/2/2013

Last 8 1/2″ of barrel is stretched.

EXCEPTIONAL RELIEF CARVED GOLDEN AGE ADAM ERNST YORK COUNTY KENTUCKY RIFLE. SN NSN. Rifle has a 43″ full oct-swamped 45 Cal. rifled bbl signed “A. Ernst” in script. Bbl is fastened to the stock with four bbl wedges. Rifle has a four piece engraved brass patchbox with six piercings. Rifle is profusely carved on the cheek, the side of the butt, from the C scrolls at the rear, forward under the cheekpiece, to the attractive wrist carving. Rifle is nicely relief carved behind the bbl tang and forward of the lock and sideplate. Buttplate is 2″ wide. This gun is one of only a very few early Golden Age rifles that feature a brass lock plate, the only other we are aware of is gun number 64 in the Kindig book that he attributed to being an early Moll. Stock is finished dark but there is evidence of nice curl throughout. Rifle features a very fine fore-stock molding on each side from the rear ramrod ferrule to the nose cap. The brass sideplate is engraved and features Eister’s characteristic horns around the rear screw. Front finial on the trigger guard exhibits the characteristic Ernst molded detail indicating A. Ernst’s hand and his association with George Eister. Another detail very similar to George Eister’s work is the elongated release for the patchbox lid in the toe plate. Rifle has an oval silver cheekpiece inlay engraved with the American eagle which is not characteristic of Ernst’s work. This very rifle is pictured in The Kentucky Rifle by Merrill Lindsay, 1972 and in Accoutrements III by James R. Johnston on pp. 11-13. Adam Ernst worked in Adams County and York County between 1805 and the time he died in 1857. It is believed he learned the gunsmithing trade from George Eister of York. His use of brass for the lockplate is unusual and the plate may have been made in York by Ernst or one of his apprentices. The rifle with its set trigger mechanism would suggest manufacture circa 1810 or later. This rifle is a masterpiece example of Ernst’s work. Exhibition: 1972 The Museum of the Historical Society of York County. PROVENANCE: See Accouterments III, by Johnston, pp. 11-13; see The Kentucky Rifle, 1972, by Lindsay. Collection of Dr. Douglas M. Sirkin. CONDITION: Rifle in exceptionally fine condition throughout. Minor 2″ crack near trigger. 11″ of wood has been professionally replaced from the muzzle end. This is a very fine example of Ernst’s work. 4-49950 RG40 (30,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2352	$37,375.00	Revised: 10/2/2013 Last 8 1/2″ of barrel is stretched. EXCEPTIONAL RELIEF CARVED GOLDEN AGE ADAM ERNST YORK COUNTY KENTUCKY RIFLE. SN NSN. Rifle has a 43″ full oct-swamped 45 Cal. rifled bbl signed “A. Ernst” in script. Bbl is fastened to the stock with four bbl wedges. Rifle has a four piece engraved brass patchbox with six piercings. Rifle is profusely carved on the cheek, the side of the butt, from the C scrolls at the rear, forward under the cheekpiece, to the attractive wrist carving. Rifle is nicely relief carved behind the bbl tang and forward of the lock and sideplate. Buttplate is 2″ wide. This gun is one of only a very few early Golden Age rifles that feature a brass lock plate, the only other we are aware of is gun number 64 in the Kindig book that he attributed to being an early Moll. Stock is finished dark but there is evidence of nice curl throughout. Rifle features a very fine fore-stock molding on each side from the rear ramrod ferrule to the nose cap. The brass sideplate is engraved and features Eister’s characteristic horns around the rear screw. Front finial on the trigger guard exhibits the characteristic Ernst molded detail indicating A. Ernst’s hand and his association with George Eister. Another detail very similar to George Eister’s work is the elongated release for the patchbox lid in the toe plate. Rifle has an oval silver cheekpiece inlay engraved with the American eagle which is not characteristic of Ernst’s work. This very rifle is pictured in The Kentucky Rifle by Merrill Lindsay, 1972 and in Accoutrements III by James R. Johnston on pp. 11-13. Adam Ernst worked in Adams County and York County between 1805 and the time he died in 1857. It is believed he learned the gunsmithing trade from George Eister of York. His use of brass for the lockplate is unusual and the plate may have been made in York by Ernst or one of his apprentices. The rifle with its set trigger mechanism would suggest manufacture circa 1810 or later. This rifle is a masterpiece example of Ernst’s work. Exhibition: 1972 The Museum of the Historical Society of York County. PROVENANCE: See Accouterments III, by Johnston, pp. 11-13; see The Kentucky Rifle, 1972, by Lindsay. Collection of Dr. Douglas M. Sirkin. CONDITION: Rifle in exceptionally fine condition throughout. Minor 2″ crack near trigger. 11″ of wood has been professionally replaced from the muzzle end. This is a very fine example of Ernst’s work. 4-49950 RG40 (30,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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