BEAUTIFUL RELIEF AND INCISED CARVED WESTMORELAND COUNTY FLINTLOCK UNSIGNED KENTUCKY RIFLE BY J. EARNEST.

Cal. 45. Overall length 56-1/4″, 4-1/2″ x 1-1/4″ buttplate. 40-1/2″ full oct unsigned smooth bbl. This rifle has heavy and nicely formed relief carving on the cheek side of butt similar to rifle #50 in Kaufmann’s book The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania. The outstanding football shaped brass cheekpiece inlay is 3-1/4″ x 3″ with scalloped edges and one piercing in the center containing two teardrop shaped silver inlays. The engraved brass patchbox has a Q-shaped finial and three piercings. All these features are nearly identical to the signed J. Earnest rifle #150 in Kaufmann’s book. The flintlock is secured by only one bolt instead of the usual two, as is the identical sideplate on the rifle #50. There are several other flintlock rifles by Earnest with “one-screw” flintlocks. The curly maple stock is fastened to the bbl with 4 bbl wedges. The rifle has double set triggers. Gun has very attractive incised carving around bbl tang with an engraved silver thumbpiece inlay. Jacob Earnest first appears in the Hempfield Township tax records, Westmoreland County, in 1826. In 1827 and 1828 he is still listed is a single man with the occupation of gunsmith. His last listing in Hempfield Township appears in 1830. Then Jacob Earnest’s name appears in the Salem Township tax records for 1830, 1831,1832 and 1833 with the occupation of gunsmith. The last year is listed as a gunsmith on the tax records is 1835. He died in 1884. This rifle would appear to date from the late 1830’s or early 1840’s. PROVENANCE: Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Generally good. Several lateral repairs to forestock wood with last 4-1/2″ wood being replaced. One bbl wedge is missing. This rifle had been cracked at the wrist and repaired. Some wood replaced around the lock. 4-49890 (20,000-40,000) – Lot 3346

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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
	3346	$20,125.00	BEAUTIFUL RELIEF AND INCISED CARVED WESTMORELAND COUNTY FLINTLOCK UNSIGNED KENTUCKY RIFLE BY J. EARNEST. Cal. 45. Overall length 56-1/4″, 4-1/2″ x 1-1/4″ buttplate. 40-1/2″ full oct unsigned smooth bbl. This rifle has heavy and nicely formed relief carving on the cheek side of butt similar to rifle #50 in Kaufmann’s book The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania. The outstanding football shaped brass cheekpiece inlay is 3-1/4″ x 3″ with scalloped edges and one piercing in the center containing two teardrop shaped silver inlays. The engraved brass patchbox has a Q-shaped finial and three piercings. All these features are nearly identical to the signed J. Earnest rifle #150 in Kaufmann’s book. The flintlock is secured by only one bolt instead of the usual two, as is the identical sideplate on the rifle #50. There are several other flintlock rifles by Earnest with “one-screw” flintlocks. The curly maple stock is fastened to the bbl with 4 bbl wedges. The rifle has double set triggers. Gun has very attractive incised carving around bbl tang with an engraved silver thumbpiece inlay. Jacob Earnest first appears in the Hempfield Township tax records, Westmoreland County, in 1826. In 1827 and 1828 he is still listed is a single man with the occupation of gunsmith. His last listing in Hempfield Township appears in 1830. Then Jacob Earnest’s name appears in the Salem Township tax records for 1830, 1831,1832 and 1833 with the occupation of gunsmith. The last year is listed as a gunsmith on the tax records is 1835. He died in 1884. This rifle would appear to date from the late 1830’s or early 1840’s. PROVENANCE: Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Generally good. Several lateral repairs to forestock wood with last 4-1/2″ wood being replaced. One bbl wedge is missing. This rifle had been cracked at the wrist and repaired. Some wood replaced around the lock. 4-49890 (20,000-40,000) – Lot 3346 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 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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BEAUTIFUL RELIEF AND INCISED CARVED WESTMORELAND COUNTY FLINTLOCK UNSIGNED KENTUCKY RIFLE BY J. EARNEST.