RELIEF CARVED FLINTLOCK RIFLE BY JACOB EARNEST GRANDSON OF “INDIAN EVE”.

RELIEF CARVED FLINTLOCK RIFLE BY JACOB EARNEST GRANDSON OF “INDIAN EVE”. This rifle has a 41 1/2 inch full octagon barrel faintly signed Jacob Earnest. The Curly Maple stock features fine and detailed relief carving on the cheek piece side of the butt. The four piece brass patch box is beautifully engraved and is a fine example of the Q finial design. The flint lock is secured by two lock bolt screws. The cross hatched raised area under the cheek piece, an Earnest characteristic, is also sometimes found on rifles made in Maryland. A very similar rifle by Earnest is pictured on page 112 of “The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania”. Jacob Earnest was born January 2, 1805 and first appears in the Hempfield Township tax list as a gunsmith in 1827. His rifles are considered to be among the finest made in Westmoreland County, Pa. Jacob Earnest was a grandson of -Indian Eve- Ernst of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Her story merits repetition here. A few years before the Revolution, Eve’s husband was murdered by a roving band of Indians. She was taken into captivity and was kept until 1780, having been a captive about 12 years. While a captive she had a son Henry by one of the Indians. She was kept near Ft. Detroit and sold eventually to the British. After the Revolution she was exchanged, walking back to Pennsylvania to try to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Henry was adapted to the Indian way of life and would have preferred to remain with them. Henry moved to Westmoreland County, married and, on 2 January 1805, his son Jacob was born. PROVENANCE: Accompanied by a copy of a handwritten account of “Indian Eve and the Jacob Ernest Gun” CONDITION: The flint lock has been reconverted using military parts. There is a nine inch wood sliver replaced along the left side of the barrel. Fore end wood has been replaced from the muzzle about 5 ½ inches. The wood under the lock has been refinished and there has been some restoration in the wrist. 4-46316 RGG7 (9,000-15,000)

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
	2244	$6,325.00	RELIEF CARVED FLINTLOCK RIFLE BY JACOB EARNEST GRANDSON OF “INDIAN EVE”. This rifle has a 41 1/2 inch full octagon barrel faintly signed Jacob Earnest. The Curly Maple stock features fine and detailed relief carving on the cheek piece side of the butt. The four piece brass patch box is beautifully engraved and is a fine example of the Q finial design. The flint lock is secured by two lock bolt screws. The cross hatched raised area under the cheek piece, an Earnest characteristic, is also sometimes found on rifles made in Maryland. A very similar rifle by Earnest is pictured on page 112 of “The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania”. Jacob Earnest was born January 2, 1805 and first appears in the Hempfield Township tax list as a gunsmith in 1827. His rifles are considered to be among the finest made in Westmoreland County, Pa. Jacob Earnest was a grandson of -Indian Eve- Ernst of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Her story merits repetition here. A few years before the Revolution, Eve’s husband was murdered by a roving band of Indians. She was taken into captivity and was kept until 1780, having been a captive about 12 years. While a captive she had a son Henry by one of the Indians. She was kept near Ft. Detroit and sold eventually to the British. After the Revolution she was exchanged, walking back to Pennsylvania to try to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Henry was adapted to the Indian way of life and would have preferred to remain with them. Henry moved to Westmoreland County, married and, on 2 January 1805, his son Jacob was born. PROVENANCE: Accompanied by a copy of a handwritten account of “Indian Eve and the Jacob Ernest Gun” CONDITION: The flint lock has been reconverted using military parts. There is a nine inch wood sliver replaced along the left side of the barrel. Fore end wood has been replaced from the muzzle about 5 ½ inches. The wood under the lock has been refinished and there has been some restoration in the wrist. 4-46316 RGG7 (9,000-15,000) 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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