Beschreibung:

This extraordinary rifle is certainly the work of Jacob Kuntz of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jacob Kuntz was born in Lehigh County and worked there between 1788-1811. After that, Kuntz moved to Philadelphia where he continued to work as a gunsmith. Sometime after the War of 1812, this rifle was taken to England and the lock was converted to percussion by John Manton around 1835. Manton was the most important gunsmith working in London at that time. The gun was further altered around 1861 when the barrel was changed by Alexander Henry of Edinburgh, who was known as the best barrel maker working in Scotland at the time. Recorded in Henry's records is ".385 gauge, front sight patent No. 389, 2-1/2 drams No. 6 38" Barrel fitted to American Stock", which is most likely this Kuntz rifle. In 1861, the Queen hosted a shoot which became an annual tradition. It is possible that this rifle was updated and refined to be used at this shoot. The silver thumbpiece is now engraved with the coat of arms of an Irish family. The rifled octagon barrel features a Damascus finish and an engraved hooked patent breech with an engraved floral clean out valve of silver and a case hardened breech section with scroll engraving. The barrel tang is also ornately engraved with scrolls. The barrel is inscribed "PATENT NO. 389 GAUGE 385. ALEXR HENRY 8 ST. EDINBURGH". The rifle has adjustable fire blued target sights. The rear sight is a flip-up adjustable sight. The flat lock was made by Manton and is masterfully engraved with scrolls and floral designs, including the hammer with a dolphin engraved on the top. There is a dragon also engraved at the front of the lock and is inscribed "JN MANTON & SON / PATENT". There is a sliding fire blued half cock safety at the rear tang. The rifle has a single target trigger. The ornate brass furniture include a large profusely engraved and pierced four piece patchbox, engraved "Philadelphia" on the lid. The surrounds are engraved with shaded foliate scrolls, florals, and drums. The finial is a detailed, shaped lion at rest with an American eagle perched on its head and biting its muzzle. The eagle is clutching three arrows and the lion is wearing a collar. The teeth and claws of the lion are all separate pieces of inlaid silver and his tongue is an inlaid piece of copper. There is a full length pierced and engraved comb wearplate decorated with graduated diamonds with floral engraving. There is also a pierced strip of decoration on the left side of the buttstock against the buttplate, pierced and with an engraved en suite. The ornate toeplate is pierced and inlaid with horn and also houses the horn patchbox release. A flower is engraved around the screw and there is a full extension that extends beneath the trigger guard and features pierced and with an engraved scroll decoration along the entirety of the toe. There is also a full forearm wear plate extending from the ramrod entry ferrule to the front tang of the trigger guard, which is engraved with foliate scrolls and detailed borders. There are silver inlays on both sides of both of the barrel keys. The sideplate around the single lock retaining screw is of solid silver and is pierced and engraved with foliate and floral scrolls. Above the cheekpiece there is a large eight point pierced star surrounded by an oval, and engraved with shading and decoration. The wrist escutcheon is engraved with and Irish family crest. The semi-full length highly figured maple stock shows Lehigh Valley influence and was shortened at the time the barrel was replaced. It now has a multi-faceted brass nosecap and a checkered wrist which was also probably done when the rifle was in Europe. There is a bone inlay molded on top of the cheekpiece and a brass pick holder below. The rifle is carved with ornate foliate designs on both sides above the ramrod entry ferrule and on both sides in front of the lock and sideplate. Rifle is complete with a brass and wood target ramrod which appears to be or