This Abraham Schweitzer (1769-1831) rifle is signed "A ?Schweitzer" on top of the wedge fastened barrel towards the breech and has a faint lock maker's mark on that appears to read "Ketland/&Co." The rifle has been featured in multiple books and articles and is pictured on page 334 of "Kentucky Rifle Patch boxes and Barrel Marks" by Chandler and page 92 of "Gunsmiths of Adams, Franklin and Cumberland Counties, Pennsylvania" by Whisker. It is equipped with standard blade and notch sights and has a single trigger. The rifle has a desirable horse head finial on the patch box which is also nicely engraved with rococo designs including a C scroll on the patch box door that coordinates well with the carving ahead of the finial and along the left side of the butt ahead, below, and to the rear of the relatively shallow cheek piece. There are also swirl patterns near the ramrod entry pipe and additional rococo designs at the breech. The toe plate has some light engraving, and the other components have some molding. While Schweitzer was active in the Chambersburg area and his rifles display various designs and included designs from the earlier period and other areas including the Lancaster and Emmitsburg Schools.

Fair as reconverted to Flintlock configuration and extensively restored. The barrel has an even brown over some tooling marks and light oxidation and pitting and appears to have been shortened about 1 1/2 inches from the breech end possibly as part of a reconversion. The lock is in similar condition. The brass components display attractive aged patinas. The stock is fair. The foremost 20 inch section of the forearm has been replaced, the wedges are loose, and there are some other small pieced chips. The carving on the butt remains clear, and most of the original maple has attractive, tightly striped figuring. The lock functions well, and the signature on the barrel is legible.