From the 1760s to his death in 1822 Jacob Dickert was both a military contractor and a respected Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, gunmaker. Dickert was born in Germany in 1740 and arrived in the colonies in 1748 with his parents. He is believed to have made weapons for the Continental Army and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during the Revolution, but his first known contract is dated 1792. He owned a gun barrel boring mill a few miles from his gun factory in Manheim Township. He later took his grandson on as an apprentice and then business partner. Dickert's rifles are rare and highly sought after today. Dickert Pennsylvania militia rifles are described on pages 308-312 of George D. Moller's book "American Military Shoulder Arms Volume II", with this exact rifle photographed on page 310. The book states, "This very plain brass-mounted Jacob Dickert rifle is attributed to Pennsylvania militia purchase during the War of 1812." This rifle has George Moller's subtle "GDM" collection mark ahead of the toe plate. The barrel has traditional low profile blade and notch sights and is signed "J [crossed tomahawk and arrow touch mark] Dickert" behind the rear sight (see page 81 of "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age"). Eight-groove rifling. The muzzle section is turned down to tapered round ahead of the forend tip for a socket bayonet. Moller notes that the bayonet (now absent) used with it may have been friction fit or secured by a set-screw. The lock is signed "SWEITZER" (backward Z). It has a plain single trigger and is mounted with brass furniture including a simple patch box. The curly maple stock is nicely figured but plainly finished and has an incised line border on the cheek rest. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Good as professionally reconverted to flintlock configuration with gray patina on the barrel and brown patina on the lock, mild pitting at the breech. Brass retains an attractive aged patina. Stock is also good as refinished with a few repaired cracks visible on the left of the forend, a repaired split at the wrist, a chip behind the upper tang, an absent section at the toe, and general mild wear. Mechanically fine.