EXTRAORDINARY DOUBLE SIGNED OHIO LONGRIFLE BY JAMES & WILLIAM CLARK.

EXTRAORDINARY DOUBLE SIGNED OHIO LONGRIFLE BY JAMES & WILLIAM CLARK. This beautiful curly maple rifle is a museum piece of the highest order. The rifle is signed “James Clarke” in a silver inlay set into the top flat of its 43 ½ inch full octagon .40 caliber rifled barrel. The rifle features twenty-five well designed and executed, engraved silver inlays and silver wire decoration surrounding the ornate and unique cheek piece inlay. The Philadelphia lock by “Longstreth & Cooke” was originally flint and later converted to percussion by the gunsmith in the 1840’s or 1850’s. The outstanding quality of this rifle is evident in the exceptional relief carving forward of the lock and side plate panels and in the intricate decoration of the forend stock side panels. The 4 ½ inch high and 1 3/8 inch wide butt of the rifle is nicely incised carved. The rifles patch box, carving, and decorations are closely related to the work of John Armstrong. The engraved silver side plate is engraved “William Clarke” in script. James Clark was born January 11, 1784 near Cumberland Maryland. His father Jacob Clark Sr. was born in England and came to America just prior to the American Revolution. Jacob enlisted with Colonial William Smallwood’s first Maryland Regiment in January of 1776. He served at Long Island with the rank of sergeant and was, for a time, a prisoner of the British. James Clark apprenticed to the gunsmith George Rizer of Cumberland. He completed his apprenticeship in 1805 after which he relocated to Lebanon Ohio. James and his wife Charlote had four sons, one of which was William Clark who, with two of his brothers, was also involved in the manufacture and sale of firearms. This rifle is unique in having been engraved with the names of two members of the same gunsmithing family, James and his son William and is perhaps the only American Longrifle with this feature. It is likely the rifle was made by James for his son. This rifle was most probably made circa 1818 after which James moved to work in the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry. It was while at Harpers Ferry he collaborated with the Sheets family of gunsmiths in Shepards Town. The Clark family became the most important and prolific gun manufacturer in early Ohio. Surviving rifles by James Clark all show the work of a master tradesman with their graceful architecture and long slender fore stocks. The more ornate the rifle, the finer the curly maple stock. This rifle was featured in numerous books and articles including the September 2011 issue of Muzzle blasts; the 1998 issue of the Association of Ohio Long rifle Collectors; and a soon to be published book on Ohio history. CONDITION: The excellent curly maple stock is sound plus throughout. The lock was professionally converted to percussion in period. There is a break through the forward side plate screw hole that is old and barely noticeable. The entire rifle shows no sign of any restoration or repair under black light inspection. There is no question this rifle stands as one of the best remaining examples of the art and quality of Ohio gunsmithing. 4-46079 RGG1 (35,000-55,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	2237	$46,000.00	EXTRAORDINARY DOUBLE SIGNED OHIO LONGRIFLE BY JAMES & WILLIAM CLARK. This beautiful curly maple rifle is a museum piece of the highest order. The rifle is signed “James Clarke” in a silver inlay set into the top flat of its 43 ½ inch full octagon .40 caliber rifled barrel. The rifle features twenty-five well designed and executed, engraved silver inlays and silver wire decoration surrounding the ornate and unique cheek piece inlay. The Philadelphia lock by “Longstreth & Cooke” was originally flint and later converted to percussion by the gunsmith in the 1840’s or 1850’s. The outstanding quality of this rifle is evident in the exceptional relief carving forward of the lock and side plate panels and in the intricate decoration of the forend stock side panels. The 4 ½ inch high and 1 3/8 inch wide butt of the rifle is nicely incised carved. The rifles patch box, carving, and decorations are closely related to the work of John Armstrong. The engraved silver side plate is engraved “William Clarke” in script. James Clark was born January 11, 1784 near Cumberland Maryland. His father Jacob Clark Sr. was born in England and came to America just prior to the American Revolution. Jacob enlisted with Colonial William Smallwood’s first Maryland Regiment in January of 1776. He served at Long Island with the rank of sergeant and was, for a time, a prisoner of the British. James Clark apprenticed to the gunsmith George Rizer of Cumberland. He completed his apprenticeship in 1805 after which he relocated to Lebanon Ohio. James and his wife Charlote had four sons, one of which was William Clark who, with two of his brothers, was also involved in the manufacture and sale of firearms. This rifle is unique in having been engraved with the names of two members of the same gunsmithing family, James and his son William and is perhaps the only American Longrifle with this feature. It is likely the rifle was made by James for his son. This rifle was most probably made circa 1818 after which James moved to work in the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry. It was while at Harpers Ferry he collaborated with the Sheets family of gunsmiths in Shepards Town. The Clark family became the most important and prolific gun manufacturer in early Ohio. Surviving rifles by James Clark all show the work of a master tradesman with their graceful architecture and long slender fore stocks. The more ornate the rifle, the finer the curly maple stock. This rifle was featured in numerous books and articles including the September 2011 issue of Muzzle blasts; the 1998 issue of the Association of Ohio Long rifle Collectors; and a soon to be published book on Ohio history. CONDITION: The excellent curly maple stock is sound plus throughout. The lock was professionally converted to percussion in period. There is a break through the forward side plate screw hole that is old and barely noticeable. The entire rifle shows no sign of any restoration or repair under black light inspection. There is no question this rifle stands as one of the best remaining examples of the art and quality of Ohio gunsmithing. 4-46079 RGG1 (35,000-55,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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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