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brothers’ work, “Is it without a doubt the best pre-1850 American firearm I’ve ever seen,” and this rifle is certainly every bit as fine and even more fascinating.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The barrel retains 85% of the
extraordinary “National Treasure” flintlock rifle undoubtedly once owned by “Old Hickory”: President Andrew Jackson.
Estimate: 75,000 - 120,000
may be the work of Richard Bates Inshaw who was active in New York in the early 1830s and engraved arms for Samuel Colt in the Paterson era before moving to work for Ames in Chicopee, Massachusetts, in 1836. A comparison to the Inshaw rifle in the Chicopee Historical Society’s collection and shown on pages 68-71 of “Colt Factory Engravers of the Nineteenth Century” by Houze is warranted. Houze is recorded as saying the rifle, which is believed to have been a “masterpiece” example of the Inshaw
original brown finish and has aged patina and verdigris on the German silver bands, minor oxidation, and general minor wear. The lock has brown and mottled gray patina, crisp engraving, and mild wear. The German silver furniture displays crisp engraving, minor aging, and light wear. The stock is very fine and displays attractive flame figure, minor dings and scratches, a tension crack at the lock screw on the left, and light overall wear. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive, fresh to the market, and