xxSOLDxx. KENTUCKY RIFLE Lehigh School CIRCA 1810-1820

This beautiful Lehigh Valley School rifle is reliably attributed to either Christian Claus or Henry Claus circa 1810-1820.  Christian Claus is listed as a gunsmith from 1795-1809 in Lynn Township, Northampton County, PA and Henry Claus is listed as a gunsmith in Lynn/Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County in 1821.  This rifle belongs to the sub-group "Allemaengel School of gunsmiths".  This rifle measures 59 3/4 inches overall with a 44" full octagon rifled .48cal bore barrel.  This rifle exhibits the beautifully graceful stock architecture of the best of the Lehigh school with the double arc of the butt stock, the delicate wrist which is wider than it is high and a long slim forestock.  The stock sports even tiger strip throughout its length. The stock also has 10 brass inlays, including a "man-in-the-moon" engraved cheekpiece inlay, an distinctive Lehigh Indian engraved on the full length wear plate forward of the trigger guard.  The bottom plane of the buttstock forward of the arrowhead finial of the toeplate has an "S" shaped inlay which is emblematic of the Claus family as is the folky distinctive design of the Indian head engraving on the wear plate and the stylized Federal eagle and shield engraved on the patchbox lid. **SOLD**

Condition:  Very Good.  There is a 1/4" x 5" sliver repair at the muzzle cap back (see pic).  The rifle has an in-period crack repaired forward of the wrist, through the lock mortise. The crack does not run through the stock but is visible and shows a small in-period brass repair to strengthen the crack.  I believe the flintlock is original but was probably damaged at this time and was replaced with a new lock.

References: 1).  KRA Bulletin Vol.25, No.3 "The Allemaengel Gunsmiths" by Tim Lubenesky;  2).  KRA Bulletin Vol.9, No.3, "Northampton County School" by S.E. Dyke.  3).  KRA Bulletin Spring 1983, No. 7 "Gunsmiths of Northampton and Lehigh Counties 1734-1847" by Samuel E. Dyke.  4). KRA Bulletin Vol. 16, No.1 "The Northampton County School of Gunsmithing" by Ronald Gable and Joseph Flemish.

**SOLD**