OUTSTANDING RIFLE SIGNED BY FAMOUS LANCASTER GUNSMITH MELCHOIR FORDNEY, MURDERED BY JOHN HAGGERTY.

SN NSN. 44″ full oct .45 Cal rifled and engraved bbl signed “M Fordney”. Overall 60″, butt is 4-3/8″ x 1-1/2″. Curly maple stock is finished dark and is nicely checkered in the wrist. Checkering is nicely decorated with brass nails. Triangular silver inlay behind bbl tang is surrounded by triangular incised carving. Rifle has a 4-pc brass nicely engraved patchbox with chip carving between patchbox side plates and lid. Patchbox finial, lid and sideplates are engraved similar to rifle number 40 in Kindig’s Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in it’s Golden Age. Flintlock plate is stamped “BAKER & MOSS”. There is an 8-pointed silver star inlay on cheek. Stock is nicely chip carved along buttplate on the cheekpiece side. Bbl held to stock with 4 bbl wedges. Melchoir Fordney was one of the finest of the Lancaster gunsmiths. Fordney was a very good engraver who executed his engraving in varying depths to create the effect of shading. In addition to his gunsmithing talents Fordney is remembered because he was murdered by a religious fanatic, John Haggerty, with an axe. The murder occurred in Fordney’s gun shop. Haggerty was found guilty of murder in the first degree and was hanged, despite much evidence that he was insane. PROVENANCE: Frank Sujansky Collection. CONDITION: Fine. Forend is broken in two places behind nosecap on right hand side and one place on left side which includes a 1-3/4″ x 3/8″ wood replacement. Lock appears to be a reconversion. 4-49426 RG17 (18,000-22,000) – Lot 2337

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
	2337	$20,700.00	OUTSTANDING RIFLE SIGNED BY FAMOUS LANCASTER GUNSMITH MELCHOIR FORDNEY, MURDERED BY JOHN HAGGERTY. SN NSN. 44″ full oct .45 Cal rifled and engraved bbl signed “M Fordney”. Overall 60″, butt is 4-3/8″ x 1-1/2″. Curly maple stock is finished dark and is nicely checkered in the wrist. Checkering is nicely decorated with brass nails. Triangular silver inlay behind bbl tang is surrounded by triangular incised carving. Rifle has a 4-pc brass nicely engraved patchbox with chip carving between patchbox side plates and lid. Patchbox finial, lid and sideplates are engraved similar to rifle number 40 in Kindig’s Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in it’s Golden Age. Flintlock plate is stamped “BAKER & MOSS”. There is an 8-pointed silver star inlay on cheek. Stock is nicely chip carved along buttplate on the cheekpiece side. Bbl held to stock with 4 bbl wedges. Melchoir Fordney was one of the finest of the Lancaster gunsmiths. Fordney was a very good engraver who executed his engraving in varying depths to create the effect of shading. In addition to his gunsmithing talents Fordney is remembered because he was murdered by a religious fanatic, John Haggerty, with an axe. The murder occurred in Fordney’s gun shop. Haggerty was found guilty of murder in the first degree and was hanged, despite much evidence that he was insane. PROVENANCE: Frank Sujansky Collection. CONDITION: Fine. Forend is broken in two places behind nosecap on right hand side and one place on left side which includes a 1-3/4″ x 3/8″ wood replacement. Lock appears to be a reconversion. 4-49426 RG17 (18,000-22,000) – Lot 2337 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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OUTSTANDING RIFLE SIGNED BY FAMOUS LANCASTER GUNSMITH MELCHOIR FORDNEY, MURDERED BY JOHN HAGGERTY.