CURLY MAPLE HIGHLY INLAID FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLENTOWN GUNSMITH JOHN MOLL.

Cal. 40. 56″ overall. 3-3/4″ x 1-5/16″ buttplate. 40-3/4″ full oct bbl marked “ALLENTOWN” in script. 1-5/8″ brass plate inlet into top bbl flat. This gun has 20 silver inlays which include a desirable silver “Indian head” forward of the trigger guard and an engraved eagle inlay on each side of the forestock. The cheekpiece inlay is an 8-pointed star within a circle highlighted by dark wood staining. The 4-pc brass patchbox is engraved and dated “1831” and has brass wire inlaid for sideplates which is separated from the door by dark stained wood. The finial has one shield like piercing also dark stained. The dark wood staining continues along the buttplate on the cheekpiece side and in the piercing of the sideplate. This dark staining is nearly always associated with the Hellertown Moll’s. The silver oval thumb piece inlay is initialed “JS” probably for the owner of the rifle and the flintlock is marked “M & W BUEHLER PHILADELPHIA”. The engraved brass sideplate is typical of the Moll designs of the 1830 period. The Moll family was active in the Allentown area for over 100 years and is very highly thought of in gun collection circles. The first John Moll is listed in the tax records in 1764 and this Moll had a son John Moll born in 1773, another son John J. Moll born 1776 and a third son Peter born in 1779. John Moll II carried on his father’s business on North 7th Street in Allentown during the War of 1812 while his brother Peter answered the call to arms. Peter and David Moll, Peter’s son, were making guns in Hellertown, PA as early as 1820. This gun gives all the appearance of being a Peter and David Moll Hellertown rifle, however, a second identical gun is known to exist which is signed “JOHN MOLL” on its bbl. The only rifles we are aware of that carry the Allentown marking and the Lehigh Country Indian Head design forward trigger guard are, in fact, by John Moll. CONDITION: 8″ of forend wood is replaced at the muzzle, a stress crack in the wood at the toe of the butt. A minor chip of wood is missing at the front end of the lock which probably was lost in period. 4-55452 (7,500-12,500) – Lot 1504

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

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
	1504	$9,775.00	CURLY MAPLE HIGHLY INLAID FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLENTOWN GUNSMITH JOHN MOLL. Cal. 40. 56″ overall. 3-3/4″ x 1-5/16″ buttplate. 40-3/4″ full oct bbl marked “ALLENTOWN” in script. 1-5/8″ brass plate inlet into top bbl flat. This gun has 20 silver inlays which include a desirable silver “Indian head” forward of the trigger guard and an engraved eagle inlay on each side of the forestock. The cheekpiece inlay is an 8-pointed star within a circle highlighted by dark wood staining. The 4-pc brass patchbox is engraved and dated “1831” and has brass wire inlaid for sideplates which is separated from the door by dark stained wood. The finial has one shield like piercing also dark stained. The dark wood staining continues along the buttplate on the cheekpiece side and in the piercing of the sideplate. This dark staining is nearly always associated with the Hellertown Moll’s. The silver oval thumb piece inlay is initialed “JS” probably for the owner of the rifle and the flintlock is marked “M & W BUEHLER PHILADELPHIA”. The engraved brass sideplate is typical of the Moll designs of the 1830 period. The Moll family was active in the Allentown area for over 100 years and is very highly thought of in gun collection circles. The first John Moll is listed in the tax records in 1764 and this Moll had a son John Moll born in 1773, another son John J. Moll born 1776 and a third son Peter born in 1779. John Moll II carried on his father’s business on North 7th Street in Allentown during the War of 1812 while his brother Peter answered the call to arms. Peter and David Moll, Peter’s son, were making guns in Hellertown, PA as early as 1820. This gun gives all the appearance of being a Peter and David Moll Hellertown rifle, however, a second identical gun is known to exist which is signed “JOHN MOLL” on its bbl. The only rifles we are aware of that carry the Allentown marking and the Lehigh Country Indian Head design forward trigger guard are, in fact, by John Moll. CONDITION: 8″ of forend wood is replaced at the muzzle, a stress crack in the wood at the toe of the butt. A minor chip of wood is missing at the front end of the lock which probably was lost in period. 4-55452 (7,500-12,500) – Lot 1504 Auction: Firearms - March 2015 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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CURLY MAPLE HIGHLY INLAID FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLENTOWN GUNSMITH JOHN MOLL.