Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 123

Lot 123:Wallace Gusler Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife

May 14th, 2021|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 123

Lot 123:Wallace Gusler Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife

May 14th, 2021|Rock Island, IL
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Estimated Price$7,500 - $12,000
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

1970 Dated, Engraved, and Relief Carved Flintlock Contemporary American Long Rife by Wallace Gusler, Master Gunsmith of Colonial Williamsburg, with Accessories, Including a Wallace Gusler Signed, Engraved, and Wire Inlaid Tomahawk

Wallace Gusler is one of the most influential American long rifle makers of the 20th century and began working on traditional muzzle loading firearms in the 1950s. By 1964, he was the master gunsmith at Williamsburg and tasked with researching traditional 18th century skills and methods for building rifles, and within just a few years, he was able to build rifles completely from scratch, including forging the barrels. The first modern gunmaker to do so. Such work is more advanced than nearly all 18th century gunmakers given most purchased at least some of their components already made, particularly barrels and locks. In his over sixty years as a gunsmith, he has passed down his knowledge to countless other American craftsmen, including through hands-on classes, instructional videos, and his writing. He officially retired in 2004 but has continued building. The rifle is signed "W+Gusler Wmsbg 1970" on top of the barrel and has "JA" on the upper left barrel flat at the breech as well as traditional blade and notch sights. Per Mr. Gusler, the “JA” marking refers to Jerry Abbott, then an apprentice in the Colonial Williamsburg Gun Shop. The lock has "CS" on the inside. The patch box has "R+S+Boylston" on the lid and scroll engraving. The sideplate has additional limited engraving. The full-length stock has nice molding terminating in carved scrolls on the forend, beautifully shaped raised flats, raised relief floral carving around the upper tang, scroll accents at the front of the comb, nicely shaped cheekpiece with molded edge, and raised and incised carving on the left side of the butt consisting primarily of a delicate scroll pattern. There is a block of wood spliced in the lock mortise that is original to the build. The brass head of the pipe tomahawk has "W Gusler Queens Lake 1999" signed along the top edge of the blade and has lovely scroll and floral carving including on the sculpted iron bit. The nicely figured haft has wire inlays and a horn mouthpiece. The powder horn has "RK" ("R" reversed) on the base plug, "TK" among the designs, and a carved map design. The beavertail possible bag/hunting bag has a "hair-on" flap, an antique knife, a carved powder measure, coordinating carved shot pouch, and a woven strap.

ConditionVery fine. The metal is mostly bright with some slight staining from oxidation on the lock and barrel and minor aging of the brass. The signature, engraving, and carving are crisp throughout. The stock has minor overall wear mainly from handling and storage at the hard edges, some fading from handling on the grasping area of the forend, and a very faint hairline on the right side just ahead of the lock. Mechanically excellent. The tomahawk is likewise very fine with minimal age and storage related wear and crisp engraving. The knife is fine and is well-worn. The horn is very fine and has an attractive antiqued appearance including some slight chips. The bag and other accessories are very fine and have wear minor age and storage wear including some faint age cracks in the bone that add to the antique appearance. This is a beautiful contemporary long rifle set that includes a highly desirable early rifle and an engraved tomahawk by Master Gunsmith Wallace Gusler of Colonial Williamsburg.
Details
ManufacturerAmerican
ModelFlintlock
TypeRifle
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge50
Barrel42 inch octagon
Finishbright
Stockcurly maple

Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views19947
Catalog page121
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 3583Angelo Bee Engraved Browning .410 Bore Superposed Shotgun
View Lot
Lot 3082Leonard Reedy Signed Flintlock American Long Rifle
View Lot
Lot 1501Angelo Bee Engraved and Gold Inlaid Browning Trombone Rifle
View Lot
Lot 1499M. Enright Engraved Browning Citori 725 Exhibition Grade Shotgun
View Lot
Show More