J. P. Beck Rifle Need Help Please

[Ike Godsey]

howdy!

i am asking for help.
someone offered me a coustom build copy of a J.P. Beck rifle.

the rifle is new, unfired and well made (as far as i could see).
these are the specs:

J.B.Becks Long Rifle Cal. .54 Flintlock,
44" Colrainbarrel, swamped.
L&R Classic Flintlock,
Curly Maplestock "CM 3" (whatever that means)
Wooden Patchbox.
Overall ca. 150cm
weight: 3,74 KG.

the price he asks for is 2300,00€ which is about 2800 US$.

is it worth the money? any advice please?

thank you,

ike

 

[nchawkeye]

Nope, based on the pictures shown, that is not a $2,800 rifle...The builder might have used parts similar to what JP Beck used but he didn't have the skill needed to put them together...

Fairly sloppy work...

 

[Kenny54]

Noooo.... you can do much, much better for that money

 

[Dean2]

Let me wholeheartedly agree with the other 2 posters. Personally I would not pay $600 for that rifle. A Lyman is better shaped and finished by far as is any Pedersoli you will pick up.

Guys like Tip Curtis can make you a far better example for about half that much money and exporting them is no problem, as long as you can get the import paperwork done for where you are.

 

[excess650]

I wouldn't describe that as an early Lancaster, let alone a J P Beck. :barf: The lock panels are huge, there is no carving, and no engraving that I can see. The trigger guard might work...where are the toe and forend moldings? A single trigger would have been more likely than DST at that time. I can't see the cheek piece and the front edge of the comb isn't quite right....I see a low end flintlock worth about the price of the parts. :td:

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

I have to agree with everyone above. J.P. Beck was one of the "master" builders of the Pennsylvania longrifle and I am afraid that this rifle is at best an example of the work of a young man early in his apprenticeship to a master. Much too course and not well done, worth, on a good day, about half the asking price.

 

[galamb]

Here is a pic of a Beck done by Peter Alexander.

This is the type of quality a Beck would display (although to be fair this would fetch a higher price).

As a builder you need to know your limitations. I wouldn't personally attempt a Beck or an Armstrong unless I was a whole lot better at the craft.

If the builder of this had called it a "Lebanon" styled rifle and cut the asking price a bit, I could see it. But it looks as if he is trying to get someone to "pay for his practice" while he gets better.

 

[Ike Godsey]

@all:

thank you for your help. i just worte him and told him

"Thanks, but NO thanks."

again, thank you all, i know that i am on the right board :hatsoff:

ike

 

[Wes/Tex]

Good. I didn't get here earlier, but you got good advice and did the right thing. That rifle may have been a good shooter but it certainly was over-priced for what it was.

 

[Stumpkiller]

You've already made your decision - but here are examples of a well inlayed lockplate and a trim flat around it in that price range.

 

[Amikee]

Very true, but keep in mind that in Europe many bp guns are much much more expensive. For example CVA Hawken cost used but in very good condition about $800.00 in Germany, Uberti Walker about $725.00 in Poland.
Just the way it is.

 

[Dphar]

howdy!

i am asking for help.
someone offered me a coustom build copy of a J.P. Beck rifle.

the rifle is new, unfired and well made (as far as i could see).
these are the specs:

J.B.Becks Long Rifle Cal. .54 Flintlock,
44" Colrainbarrel, swamped.
L&R Classic Flintlock,
Curly Maplestock "CM 3" (whatever that means)
Wooden Patchbox.
Overall ca. 150cm
weight: 3,74 KG.

the price he asks for is 2300,00€ which is about 2800 US$.

is it worth the money? any advice please?

thank you,

ike

Not a Beck or even close.
Not properly shaped for an original Kentucky.
More like a mass produced reproduction.
Dan