Lot 3214

Silver Inlaid J. Haeffer Signed Flintlock American Long Rifle

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Silver Inlaid J. Haeffer Signed Flintlock American Long Rifle

Estimate: $4,500 - $6,500

Starting Bid: $4,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Well-Documented Engraved, Silver Inlaid, and Relief Carved J. Haeffer Signed Flintlock American Long Rifle This gun is featured on page 108 as No. 28 in "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age" by Kindig and discussed on pages 104-105 where it is described as "a very fine Jacob Haeffer rifle with his name and the Indian head stamped typically on the barrel. It has sixteen engraved silvery inlays including a very fine eight-pointed star on the cheek piece. It has unusually fine quality relief carving. For several reasons I believe this is probably the latest Haeffer gun shown. First, the butt plate is more concave than the other two. Instead of one large brass side plate, this rifle has two small plates. (I generally consider this a later detail.) And, the more elaborate patch box has six piercings, whereas the other two have no piercings at all. The engraving on this patch box includes much cross-hatching, which as I have said before, is rather typical of Haeffer's work. This is a high quality, very beautiful rifle." Kindig notes that both John and Jacob Haeffer were gunsmiths in Lancaster in the early 19th century. It features a smooth-bored barrel with dovetailed blade and notch sights, "*I*" ahead of an Indian head and then "*HAEFFER" signed on top towards the breech, and a single tang screw and four slides securing the barrel to the stock. The lock has some light foliate engraving. The gun is fitted with adjustable double set triggers suggesting it was originally rifled. As noted by Kindig, the stock is adorn by a series of silver inlays, including a wrist escutcheon inscribed with the initials "MW". The other mounts are brass, including the attractive four-piece patchbox with foliate engraving and two piercings on each side plate and the finial. The beautifully figured curly maple stock features fine molding along the forend and butt, incised and raised relief scroll carving, and a cheekpiece on the left.

Manufacturer: American

Model: Flintlock

BBL: 40 3/8 inch octagon

Stock: curly maple

Gauge: .54

Finish: brown/silver/brass

Serial NumberNSN

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The Joe Kindig Jr. Collection; The Collection of Edie & Bruce Smart; A Private Collection
  • Condition: Good as reconverted to flintlock with a mix of gray and brown patina and "antiqued" brown finish on the lock and barrel along with mild oxidation, attractively aged patina on the brass mounts and silver inlays, short front keys, distinct engraving and carving, and general mild wear including some minor chips and cracks in the stock. The trigger adjustment screw is absent, but the lock and set triggers mechanically function. Overall, the most embellished Haeffer rifle we've seen.

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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