KENTUCKY RIFLE FLINTLOCK Signed "J D"

1This excellent late golden age Kentucky rifle measures 57 1/2 inches overall, with a 42 1/4 inch full octagon barrel in .42 caliber.  The rifle's full stock is an even high grade curly maple throughout the entire length of the stock and has back-to-back "C" scrolls incise carved behind the cheekpiece, well designed "S" scroll carving forward of the cheekpiece and beautifully designed rococo volutes carved at the entry ferrule.  In addition, the brass mounted rifle has 11 silver inlays including a large Federal period American eagle engraved on a large silver oval over the cheekpiece. There is a silver escutcheon behind the barrel tang with the initials "G L" neatly engraved. There are 8 silver "S" shaped escutcheons marking the barrel keys on either side of the stock.  In addition, there is a fancy brass inlay running along the comb of the stock and a 4" tombstone shaped wear plate between the trigger guard and the entry ferrule.

There are several Kentucky rifles surviving with "J D" engraved on their barrels, and a lot of guesses as to which rifle maker the "J D" rifles were made by.  The most likely maker of this rifle is John Driesbach Sr. who worked in Mifflinburg area of Northampton County (after 1813, Union County), Pennsylvania from 1789 until 1826. There is a "J D" signed rifle in Kindig's "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifles in its Golden Age", No. 72, Pgs 194-195 which is unattributed.  However, an article in Muzzle Blasts November, 1965 issue by George Shumway features this same rifle and sites Dallas Ewing's research on Union and Snyder County riflemakers as attributing the Kindig rifle to John Driesbach Sr. In addition to the general design of the pierced sideplates, the engraving and carving have very similar design features to my listed rifle herein.  Ewing's research as reported by Shumway shows that "The Roman nose butt stock profile is almost invariably found on these rifles" and "A double "C" scroll design was most frequently used for th On The KENTUCKY RIFLEe (incise) carving".

References:  1) THOUGHTS ON THE KENTUCKY RIFLE... by Joe Kindig Jr. No 72, Pgs 194-195.  2)  MUZZLE BLASTS magazine, Nov. 1965, "A Longrifle of Note" by George Shumway.  3). KRA Bulletin Vol.42, No.2 "The Illusive J.D." by Steve Hilbert.

Condition:  Excellent.  The lock is a high grade roller frizzed trade lock marked "London Warranted", is original to the rifle, and is in its original flint condition.  The stock has an old historic finish. The brass is unpolished. There is a 1" crack at the toe and there may be y a 6" x 1/4" sliver repair to the stock on the lock side of the forestock from the muzzle cap back.  If there is a repair, I cannot spot the seam, but the finish looks a little "muddy" leading me to suspect a repair.