EARLY ANGSTAT KENTUCKY RIFLE

This is an interesting early Angstadt family smooth rifle with the early beautiful architecture of the early Lehigh School, exhibited only by Adam, the father and patriarch of the Angstadt dynasty of rifle makers, as well as his two elder sons, Peter and Joseph. Later Angstadt makers have a degraded form of the Roman nose. Son Abraham was trained in the Reading area and his rifles are unique in the pantheon of the Angstadt family makers in that they exhibit Reading characteristics.  Most rifles signed "A.A." are Abraham rifles.  

This rifle measures 56 5/8 inches in length with a full cherry stock. I have owned both signed Peter and Joseph Angstadt rifles with full cherry stocks, and I consider it a signature characteristic of early Angstadt's.  The later Angstadt's tend to use curly maple. The octagon to round barrel of this smooth rifle measures 41 inches and is .50 caliber. Early features of this rifle include:  1) the elongated arc of the butt and wrist area,  2) the oval shaped wrist which is wider than it is deep, 3)  a flat 1 5/8 wide butt,  4)  the 4 piece simple design of the brass patchbox,   5)  the lightly engraved rococo design on both the patchbox and the side plate as well as  6)  the stylized urn shaped trigger guard finial, and finally, 7)   the large .50 caliber bore.  Angstadt family features on this rifle are the snow flake engraving on the top barrel flat, the light rococo engraving on the patch box lid with what appears to be an "A A" integrated within the upper and lower scrolls, combined with stamped decoration.  Inlays of brass rather than German silver are also an Angstadt characteristic.

Condition:  Excellent as restored.  The lock is a replacement.  There are well executed strips restored on the foreshock and there is a crack in the butt running 5" from the buttplate.