original rifles

[the skrat]

does anybody know what an original rifle from the golden age is worth. like the kind you see in kindigs book from some of the famous makers. do any more of these old guns surface or are they all found and do any ever come up for sale?

curly maple

 

[arilar]

Curly Maple,
I am not sure where U.P. is located but I assume somewhere in U.S.A. Because I am living in Sweden I dont know much about your originals regarding value. What do you mean by "Golden age" and what famous makers do you have in mind??
ARILAR

 

[Slowpoke]

Just because somethings old... doesn't mean it's worth much. Take for instance most of us here.. LOL
Rifle built back then were tools and little more. Just as a hammer is to a carpenter, the longrifle was to the average Gent.
The rifle found in those books range from $20K to $200K depending on the maker. Most of our longrifles are going over sea to private collectors with deep pockets. (Squire)

SP

 

[robinghewitt]

Most of our longrifles are going over sea to private collectors with deep pockets. (Squire)

Gee Slow Poke, everyone knows you're as rich as old Croesus

Personally, I have never spent more than **obscenity stripped** on a gun.

 

[Slowpoke]

Gee Slow Poke, everyone knows you're as rich as old Croesus

And what has that gotten me..... the "good" wife decide that I should stay home and tend to the house and Lauren. Who by the way just had her first birthday and celebrated it by try to pull the Christmas tree over on herself. :cry:

SP

 

[shunka]

Here's a couple of examples for you for sale on gunderson's
at "small prices":

a caplock kentucky Pretty C1820 fullstock curly maple \ maker mark "BAYERS" - Fine - $1650.00

a caplock double fowler

extrafancy Armand, Paris gold embellished 20 gauge - Very Fine - $2450.00

here is some of the high-priced spread:

Inventory


Kentucky Rifle by John Ford - John Ford, Harrisburg, Dauphin County Circa 1810-1820 Original finish Full octagon barrel Finely engraved brass hardware Fine incised carving on cheek piece side (Excellent)$5000-$7000

J Shell Kentucky Rifle - John Shell, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Percussion Full Stock Kentucky Rifle One of the finest examples of John Shell known to Exist, being Number 422 on the top barrel flat Full engraved circular or oval patchbox with the traditional "Peeping Indian" by John Shell (Excellent)$7000-$10000

G Gumpf Kentucky Flintlock Longrifle - This rifle is signed on the top barrel flat, profusely engraved, including the patch box, trigger guard, toe plate and ornate nose cap The cheek piece has a handsome engraved silver spread wing eagle and two additional silver star inlays or ornaments (presumably good-luck symbols) attached instead of decorative carving on this particular Longrifle Pictured and described in "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle, A Lancaster Legend" by J Wayne Heckert and Donald Vaughn Also fully pictured in "Gunsmiths of Lancaster County" on page 114 by Wood and Whisker 60-5/8"L, Barrel 45"L, Rifled bore 50"Diam Weight 11lbs (Excellent)$15000-$20000


If I had that kinda money to throw around, for these prices I would rather buy a new-made Hershel House or equivalent - then I know I would have a great shooter that was beautiful to boot...

best
Shunka

 

[arilar]

Shunka,
I am still curious. "Golden Age"????. Does it connect with gold-rush"? Eager to learn. Wanna share the secret?
ARILAR

 

[Slowpoke]

Avilar,
The Golden Age is generally accepted to be the period from the end of the American Revolution to the turn of the 19th century. The advent of percussion ignition, interchangeable parts, and an emerging American industrial complex during the first half of the 19th century pretty much made custom made flintlock rifles, and therefore the classic American longrifle, a thing of the past.

SP

 

[Stumpkiller]

The Golden Age is generally accepted to be the period from the end of the American Revolution to the turn of the 19th century.

I'd heard it coincided with the Federal Period: 7/04/1776 to 1830. (The "Early Industrial" period comes next - percussion rifles become common and other evils occur then).

 

[Slowpoke]

it coincided with the Federal Period: 7/04/1776 to 1830.

What's thirty years between friends. I suppose you can call it renaissance, golden age, time of enlightenment. Whatever you decide to call it, it was a revolutionary and advancement in the field of gunbuilding.

SP

 

[arilar]

Thank fellows, "Golden Age", now I get it. Can understand a desire to have one of those pieces in yours hands.
ARILAR

 

[Gary]

The Golden Age refers to a period shortly after the American Revolution (or around the Federal Period) where the American flintlock rifle reached its pinnacle of development. Besides being a functional rifle, it had evolved into its long, slender and graceful form which was accented by mould lines along the bottom of the curly maple (or other hardwood) stock and from the entry pipe to the muzzle cap. Intricate rococco relief carving featuring acanthus leaves, C-scrolls, S-scrolls and other patterns adorned the stock. These were further highlighted by silver wire inlays. Nor was the patchbox neglected and its pattern was often times unique to its maker. Like other metal parts (sideplate, lock), it was highly engraved - though not to the quality one would expect on a gun meant for a King.

 

[the skrat]

arilar the u.p. stands for upper puninsula of michigan. michigan has 2 parts that are connected by the mackinac bridge the longest suspension bridge in the world. by the way the up was settled by a lot of peaple from the scandinavian countries they came here to log our virgin pine forests and were noted for being the best loggers. the u.p. was settled in the late 1800 so i do not believe there are many origanal rifles up here. thanks for all the info guys i have always been curiose what these rifles are worth but never knew who to ask being as all my freinds are center fire peaple. i agree for the money a new rifle is better but i would love to hold and study an original because i want to build a golden age rifle and its hard to see and understand the finer points with only pictures.

thank you curly maple.

 

[Terry Zboril]

Howdy Curly,
I always thought it was Da Yoopers what first settled the U.P.. I know Dey made it as far as Texas!
:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :applause:
Regards,
Terry

 

[brushbuster]

i can tell you this much,the john trout rifle shown in "my guns" in the photo section is an origional circa 1855 to 1875 according to the squire was purchased for 2400.00 by my father in law from collecters firearms in houston texas this gun will always be my greatest treasure of my collection. the lancaster and york rifles come next then the rest :thumbsup: :redthumb: :thumbsup: :redthumb: :m2c:

 

[arilar]

Curly maple,
Thanks for all the info. I now realize that Michigan alone have the same population as the whole of Sweden!! I share your interest for original weapons but my main field is of course Swedish weapons. I have to stick to originals because I must get a license for every gun produced after 1890 no matter if its muzzleloaded! The police is also hard to convience why I need more than one percussionrifle or more than one flintlockmusket. Also, its very expensive getting a custom-made replica of a Swedish rifle.
ARILAR :: :thumbsup: