Lot 109

Well-Documented Engraved and Raised Relief Carved Leonard Reedy

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Well-Documented Engraved and Raised Relief Carved Leonard Reedy

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

Starting Bid: $25,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Well-Documented Engraved and Raised Relief Carved Leonard Reedy Golden Age Flintlock American Long Rifle The American long rifle, also popularly known as the Kentucky rifle, was the first truly American firearm and remains one of the most iconic. American rifles were developed in the 18th century with clear influence from Germanic jaeger rifles. Early examples are relatively plain. They gained particular fame during the American Revolutionary War thanks to reports of riflemen in action, including reports of them picking off officers from long range. After American victory, they became increasingly popular and many distinctive variations evolved in different locales or "schools" throughout the country, especially in Pennsylvania. This rifle has the distinct characteristics of Leonard Reedy's work and was identified as by Reedy by Womelsdorf school researcher and collector Henry Bishop who spent decades studying the Womelsdorf gunmakers Bonewitz, Reedy, and Fichthorn and is featured in his article "Master Apprentice Master" in the January 2010 issue of "American Tradition: The Journal of the Contemporary Longrifle Association". The carving details are very similar to the Reedy examples in Joe Kindig Jr.'s classic "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age" on pages 218-224 which Kindig notes is "indicative of L. Reedy." Reedy remains one of the most respected master riflemakers from the "Golden Age." He was born 250 years ago in 1776 during the American Revolution and was raised on a family farm in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Around 1790, he is believed to have moved to Womelsdorf with his uncle following his father's death and then apprenticed to John Bonewitz, becoming a master gunsmith prior to 1800. He continued to work with Bonewitz in Womelsdorf until 1809, and they then worked together in Pine Grove until around 1816/1817 when Reedy moved to Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, where he continued to work as a gunsmith as well as a justice of the peace until his death in 1837. While in the Womelsdorf shop, he would have also helped train Andrew Fichthorn Jr. In addition to his work as a gunsmith, Reedy enlisted to serve in the defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812. This beautiful early 19th century rifle's octagonal barrel has eight-groove rifling, a dovetailed brass blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, no visible markings, and is secured by four slides and the tang screw. The Germanic lock has a groove on the pointed tail. The single trigger has a scroll design. Aside from the lightly border engraved silver wrist escutcheon, the mounts are brass. The four-piece patchbox displays fine scroll engraving and has the release towards the center of the buttplate. The buttplate's heel extension is faceted and has a wedding band at the leading edge. The nose cap is secured by two pins. The full-length curly maple stock has a light Roman nose profile to the butt, incised double line molding terminating in scrolls along the forend, nicely shaped drop flats, raised relief scroll and checkered patterns at the top of the wrist, double line molding along the bottom of the butt, raised relief scroll motif ahead of the cheekpiece, incised border on the cheekpiece, a raised relief carved chevron and checkerboard design under the cheekpiece, and especially stunning interlacing raised relief carved rococo scrollwork at to the rear of the cheekpiece with a checkered panel.

Manufacturer: American

Model: Flintlock

BBL: 42 1/4 inch octagon

Stock: curly maple

Gauge: 54

Finish: brown/brass/silver

Serial NumberNSN

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The Ed Lauer Collection; The Robert Berryman Collection; The Henry Bishop Collection
  • Condition: Extremely fine overall with distinct engraving and relief carving, attractively aged patina on the brass mounts and silver escutcheon, dark brown patina on the reconverted original lock by Frank Kobilis and barrel, moderate flash pitting at the breech, fairly minor overall wear, and a few minor cracks in the stock which has beautiful flame figure along the length. The full-cock needs work, but the half-cock mechanically functions.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000