RELIEF CARVED FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE LITTLESTOWN GUNSMITH FREDERICK SELL.

Cal. 50. 60″ overall with 44″ full oct unmarked bbl. Bbl is fastened to the stock with 3 bbl wedges. Buttplate is 4-1/2″ high x 1-1/2″ wide. Brass 4-pc engraved patchbox with 5 piercings. The lid is released by pushing toward the butt what appears to be the upper segment of the hinge that overlaps the upper patchbox plate. There is one detail Frederick Sell used quite frequently on the lids of his patchbox, and to some extent it identifies his work even though no two are exactly alike. In about the center of the lid, he often engraved a C-scroll with various details flowing off each end, in this case two engraved 4-petal flowers similar to the 4-petal flower in the cheekpiece carving. Frederick Sell was a maker of quality patchboxes of widely varied design. The cheek side of the butt is profusely relief carved with C-scrolls and a 4-petal flower behind the cheek piece and small C-scrolls forward of the cheekpiece. There is an 8 pointed engraved silver star inlaid on the cheek piece and 3 relief carved semi circles under the cheekpiece. Sells characteristic relief carving extends around the comb and forward of the patchbox. The bbl tang area and the rear ramrod entrance pipe area are nicely relief carved. The curly maple stock has a silver thumb piece inlay and two silver tear drop inlays, one on each side of the wrist. The unmarked flintlock appears to have been reconverted. Brass sideplate is nicely engraved and is characteristic of the “Littlestown School”. Brass trigger guard is identical to the one pictured on page 407 of Kindig’s Thoughts On The Kentucky Rifle In Its Golden Age. Kindig considered Frederick Sell to be one of the great masters of Kentucky Rifle making. Frederick Sell is recorded as a gunsmith in York, PA in 1807, and in 1816 he purchased property in Littlestown. Frederick Sell is noted for his nicely scrolled triggers with a pierced detail to the rear, as found on this gun. Kindig writes he studied twenty-four Frederick Sell guns of which only six were signed. Accompanied by a notarized statement from the consignor indicating the firearm was purchased from the Joe Kindig collection in the 1960s. CONDITION: Very good. There is a 3″ age crack from the nosecap back on the right hand side and the flintlock has been reconverted. The stock was broken at wrist and repaired in period. The remainder of the rifle is in very good condition throughout with all nicely figured relief carving. 4-50167 RG103 (18,000-30,000) – Lot 2333

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2333	$28,750.00	RELIEF CARVED FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE LITTLESTOWN GUNSMITH FREDERICK SELL. Cal. 50. 60″ overall with 44″ full oct unmarked bbl. Bbl is fastened to the stock with 3 bbl wedges. Buttplate is 4-1/2″ high x 1-1/2″ wide. Brass 4-pc engraved patchbox with 5 piercings. The lid is released by pushing toward the butt what appears to be the upper segment of the hinge that overlaps the upper patchbox plate. There is one detail Frederick Sell used quite frequently on the lids of his patchbox, and to some extent it identifies his work even though no two are exactly alike. In about the center of the lid, he often engraved a C-scroll with various details flowing off each end, in this case two engraved 4-petal flowers similar to the 4-petal flower in the cheekpiece carving. Frederick Sell was a maker of quality patchboxes of widely varied design. The cheek side of the butt is profusely relief carved with C-scrolls and a 4-petal flower behind the cheek piece and small C-scrolls forward of the cheekpiece. There is an 8 pointed engraved silver star inlaid on the cheek piece and 3 relief carved semi circles under the cheekpiece. Sells characteristic relief carving extends around the comb and forward of the patchbox. The bbl tang area and the rear ramrod entrance pipe area are nicely relief carved. The curly maple stock has a silver thumb piece inlay and two silver tear drop inlays, one on each side of the wrist. The unmarked flintlock appears to have been reconverted. Brass sideplate is nicely engraved and is characteristic of the “Littlestown School”. Brass trigger guard is identical to the one pictured on page 407 of Kindig’s Thoughts On The Kentucky Rifle In Its Golden Age. Kindig considered Frederick Sell to be one of the great masters of Kentucky Rifle making. Frederick Sell is recorded as a gunsmith in York, PA in 1807, and in 1816 he purchased property in Littlestown. Frederick Sell is noted for his nicely scrolled triggers with a pierced detail to the rear, as found on this gun. Kindig writes he studied twenty-four Frederick Sell guns of which only six were signed. Accompanied by a notarized statement from the consignor indicating the firearm was purchased from the Joe Kindig collection in the 1960s. CONDITION: Very good. There is a 3″ age crack from the nosecap back on the right hand side and the flintlock has been reconverted. The stock was broken at wrist and repaired in period. The remainder of the rifle is in very good condition throughout with all nicely figured relief carving. 4-50167 RG103 (18,000-30,000) – Lot 2333 Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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RELIEF CARVED FLINTLOCK KENTUCKY RIFLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE LITTLESTOWN GUNSMITH FREDERICK SELL.