IMPORTANT EARLY RELIEF CARVED GUN ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE FREDERICK FAINOT.

IMPORTANT EARLY RELIEF CARVED GUN ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE FREDERICK FAINOT. SN NSN. 39″ oct to round unsigned 52 Cal. smooth bbl. Brass two piece engraved patchbox with its bottom opening door characteristic of Fainot’s rifles. Fainot’s large one piece patchbox of early design, with side opening lid, is distinctive and easily recognized. Though the finial is somewhat daisy like with its five-petaled floral motif, the patchbox design bears little resemblance to classic Lancaster rifles. Fainot’s trigger guards are of the fowler-musket type, and his sideplates show strong European influence. Simple relief carving on both sides of the cheekpiece is deep and artistically done as is the carving behind the bbl tang. There is simple incised carving surrounding the rear ramrod ferrule and the three ramrod pipes are short and round with heavy molded ends. Gun has a very nice early hand-forged German lock. Gun has been illustrated in Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle, A Lancaster Legend by J. Wayne Hackart and Donald Vaughn on p. 77 as well as being illustrated in Rifles of Colonial America Volume 1 p. 344 Number 82 by Schumway. Fainot worked as a gunsmith in the borough of Lancaster from 1770-1803. The majority of his surviving guns are not signed. Bbl on this gun is short but heavy attesting to the fact it was much longer at one time and may have been rifled. Although the design of the patchbox is suggestive of the 1770’s and 1780’s, the nature of the carvings suggest a somewhat later period, probably the 1790’s. George Fainot was born in 1728 in France and immigrated to Canada in 1752. After spending some time in New York, he relocated to Lancaster in 1770 where he ran his gun shop till approximately 1783. In 1779, Fainot was one of sixteen local gunsmiths paid by the Continental Congress for gunsmithing work. He was also a supplier of arms to the Continental Army after the Revolutionary War. The architecture of Fainot’s work is clearly in the Lancaster style, but he chose to retain the influence gained from past experiences so that his work does not “fit the mold” of the Lancaster school. Specimens of Fainot’s existing works are rarely encountered today. PROVENANCE: See The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle: A Lancaster Legend, 1992, by Vaughn & Heckert, p. 77; see George Schreyer, Sr. & Jr., Makers of Hanover, York County, Penn., by Shumway, pp. 344, #82. Donald Vaughn Collection. Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Old wrist crack running near lock, also small crack to its rear. Both are minor and appear to be age related. Overall the gun is in very nice condition and seems to have all of its original finish. It is possible the lock may be a later replacement. This is an excellent example of a very hard to find early maker’s work. 4-49786 RG47 (15,000-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013

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
	2364	$13,800.00	IMPORTANT EARLY RELIEF CARVED GUN ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE FREDERICK FAINOT. SN NSN. 39″ oct to round unsigned 52 Cal. smooth bbl. Brass two piece engraved patchbox with its bottom opening door characteristic of Fainot’s rifles. Fainot’s large one piece patchbox of early design, with side opening lid, is distinctive and easily recognized. Though the finial is somewhat daisy like with its five-petaled floral motif, the patchbox design bears little resemblance to classic Lancaster rifles. Fainot’s trigger guards are of the fowler-musket type, and his sideplates show strong European influence. Simple relief carving on both sides of the cheekpiece is deep and artistically done as is the carving behind the bbl tang. There is simple incised carving surrounding the rear ramrod ferrule and the three ramrod pipes are short and round with heavy molded ends. Gun has a very nice early hand-forged German lock. Gun has been illustrated in Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle, A Lancaster Legend by J. Wayne Hackart and Donald Vaughn on p. 77 as well as being illustrated in Rifles of Colonial America Volume 1 p. 344 Number 82 by Schumway. Fainot worked as a gunsmith in the borough of Lancaster from 1770-1803. The majority of his surviving guns are not signed. Bbl on this gun is short but heavy attesting to the fact it was much longer at one time and may have been rifled. Although the design of the patchbox is suggestive of the 1770’s and 1780’s, the nature of the carvings suggest a somewhat later period, probably the 1790’s. George Fainot was born in 1728 in France and immigrated to Canada in 1752. After spending some time in New York, he relocated to Lancaster in 1770 where he ran his gun shop till approximately 1783. In 1779, Fainot was one of sixteen local gunsmiths paid by the Continental Congress for gunsmithing work. He was also a supplier of arms to the Continental Army after the Revolutionary War. The architecture of Fainot’s work is clearly in the Lancaster style, but he chose to retain the influence gained from past experiences so that his work does not “fit the mold” of the Lancaster school. Specimens of Fainot’s existing works are rarely encountered today. PROVENANCE: See The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle: A Lancaster Legend, 1992, by Vaughn & Heckert, p. 77; see George Schreyer, Sr. & Jr., Makers of Hanover, York County, Penn., by Shumway, pp. 344, #82. Donald Vaughn Collection. Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Old wrist crack running near lock, also small crack to its rear. Both are minor and appear to be age related. Overall the gun is in very nice condition and seems to have all of its original finish. It is possible the lock may be a later replacement. This is an excellent example of a very hard to find early maker’s work. 4-49786 RG47 (15,000-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013 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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