xxSOLDxx Kentucky Rifle signed "J.Kuntz * Philada"and "LIBERTY"

This signed Jacob Kuntz rifle is considered one of the best uncarved Kuntz rifle in existence. This full stock rifle is mounted with beautifully grained tiger maple with a rich mellow deep brown original surface.  It is 57 1/2" overall with a 42" full octagon rifled barrel of approximately .45 cal. This is signed "J. Kuntz  Philad'a" on the top flat of the barrel.  In addition, the Kuntz-made lock is beautifully engraved and signed "JK" within an engraved cartouche on the lock plate.  Kuntz trained in the Lehigh Valley and moved his trade to Philadelphia in 1810 and this is one of his earliest rifles produced in Philadelphia and has most of the typical Lehigh county details and few if any Philadelphia features.  These details include stock profile, sheath type butt plate heel return, flat surfaced "V" shaped forestock, an engraved triangular shaped solid sideplate with Lehigh type rear finial.  The barrel is attached to the stock with three barrel keys mounted on beautifully rocco engraved brass escutcheons.  Nearly all of the metal parts are wonderfully engraved by Kuntz, considered the best rifle engraver during the Federal era of Pennsylvania riflemaking.  The barrel tang, breech, fore and aft of both the front and rear sights are beautifully engraved with acanthus leaf engraving and geometric style engraving.  The beautifully designed and executed brass four piece patchbox is outlined with "C" and "S" scrolls and floral and leaf engraved within to conform to the outer designs.  The brass patchbox finial has two piercings and is also beautifully engraved.  The most spectacular and meaningful engraving however is an open "S" scrolled banner with "LIBERTY" engraved within scribed prominently in the center of the patchbox lid.  There are two silver inlays, one an neatly engraved escutcheon plate behind the barrel tang and the other inlayed above the cheekpiece which is a "hunters star" within an oval, neatly engraved, typically seen on Northampton/Lehigh rifles.  **SOLD**

Condition:  Excellent with original wood and metal, original flintlock.  There appears to have been an old break and repair through the lock and sideplate area of the stock and some small wood replacement around the lock.  ADDEMDUM:  I have pulled the lock and barrel and can indeed confirm that there was a break through the lock and there is some minor wood replacement.  The lock is original though the forward cross screw is stripped.  The forestock has been expertly repaired from the middle barrel key where it appears that the stock was broken through.  The evidence suggests that all of the wood is original, but with glued splits going forward from there to the nose cap (one long split from the middle key through the nose cap following the ramrod channel).  There is a thin strip of wood measuring 3" long by 3/16" wide which is inletted into the forestock at the nose underneath the nose cap which is pinned to either side of the split to stabilize the forestock at the split end.  With the repair work at the forestock, it is possible that one or two of the barrel key escutcheons are replacements.  The barrel and forestock are the original length with no evidence of any shortening whatsoever.  None of the forestock repair work is visible or evident unless the barrel is removed.  Dave Lyman has informed me that he paid a restorer via the previous owner to do "minor repair work" on the forestock.  If you have further questions , please call.