In an included letter from R.L. Wilson, the rifle is described as a .40 caliber percussion rifle built by Alvin A. White in the 1940s shortly after he got out of the U.S. Army Air Corps for hunting whitetail deer. It is designed for a conical bullet with a cross-shaped patch. Wilson owned the rifle for over twenty years. The tapered octagon barrel has a blade front sight and a two-leaf rear sight dovetailed into the rib which is signed "A. A. WHITE MAKER ATTLE. MS." The breech end of the rib has another dovetail scroll engraving. The patent breech has a silver plug, scroll engraving, and dual gold bands. The standing breech has scroll engraving and a gold inlaid dog's head. The lock has scroll and border engraving, "A.A. WHITE" signed ahead of the hammer, a pair of gold inlaid fawns in a pastoral scene at the rear, and a gold inlaid doe in another scene below the bolster. The trigger plate has a pineapple finial. The furniture is mostly silver, including the ramrod pipes. The silver trigger guard is engraved with a detailed scene of a stag and doe along with scroll engraving. The patch box has a gold inlaid turkey in another scene as well as scroll engraving and a silver finial. The silver buttplate has a swan scene engraved by the heel and floral engraving on the tang. The expertly shaped and nicely figured walnut half-stock has a horn forend cap, silver wedge escutcheons, multi-point checkering on the forend and wrist, silver heart inlay on the bottom of the forend, and a crescent moon face in silver and a gold star inlaid on the cheek piece. The picture of Alvin White holding this rifle is signed from him to R.L. Wilson. Provenance: Alvin A. White, R.L. Wilson

Exceptionally fine with 90% plus original finish, crisp engraving and markings, some minor age and storage related wear including spots of slight oxidation, and dark aged patina on the silver. The stock is also exceptionally fine and has crisp checkering, smooth oiled finish, nice figure, and only a few minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A stunning custom-built personal rifle by one of the 20th century's most popular engravers.