Scarce Engraved and Silver Inlaid Pill Lock Conversion American Long Rifle with Horse Head Patch Box This rifle has a "R KNOX" hallmark on the top of the barrel near the breech and has a T. Ketland & Co. imported lock converted for pill priming around the 1820s. Few pill lock rifles survive. A small "pill" of fulminate would have been placed at the breech and secured via wax or grease. Information on "R. Knox" is not readily available, but he may have been the same Robert Knox that partnered with William Walker Marston in the mid-19th century. The patch box has pierced side plates and the horse head finial used by several gunmakers in Pennsylvania, including Henry Albright. Abraham Schwietzer, and Melchoir Fordney, as well as some others in New England such as Silas Allen. The stock has engraved silver wedge escutcheons, silver moon and heart inlays near the lock, an oval thumb plate, hunter's star on the cheek piece, four diamond inlays on the left side of the butt, two more diamonds between the toe plate and the trigger guard, a final diamond by the buttplate tang, molding and wavy line incised carving on the forend, wavy borders along the bottom of the butt, and scroll accents at the comb. Some of these designs were common in Lancaster. Manufacturer: Kentucky Model: Percussion BBL: 43 3/4 inch octagon Stock: maple Gauge: 50 Finish: brown Grips: Serial Number: NSN Class: Antique Condition: Good as converted to percussion with mixed dark brown patina on the barrel, dark gray patina and mild pitting on the lock, mild pitting on the barrel, some scattered patches of mild oxidation, vice marks, aged patina on the brass and silver, and minor marks. The stock is very good and has some typical scratches and dings, slight chips, attractive figure, and mild tension cracking on the left flat. Mechanically fine.

  • Condition: See Description

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by Rock Island Auction Company
December 3, 2016 9:00 AM CST
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, IL, US 61201

Rock Island Auction Company

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