Lot 116: Engraved and Silver Accented American Half-Stock Flintlock Rifle

The barrel has a hooked breech and is secured by a single wedge and has a brass blade front sight with large base and a notch rear sight with long decorative finial with light engraving. The rifle features primarily floral engraving. The highly figured bird's eye maple stock has nine silver inlays. The patch box has a dog above the lid and birds on the lid, and additional birds are on the plate on the left side behind the rounded cheek piece. The stock has a horn forend cap. The flintlock plate is drilled to be secured by one screw and has scroll and border engraving that continues under the frizzen spring. It is marked "A.W. SPIES/WARRANTED" at center indicating it came from the well-known New York dealer.

Very good with gray patina and mild oxidation on the lock and barrel, aged patina on the silver and brass furniture, chipped rear sight, generally crisp engraving, some loose pins, and mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has repairs at the breech and lock mortise, minor spots of wear in the otherwise crisp checkering, and beautiful figure. The set trigger needs some work; otherwise, mechanically functions intermittently.