Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
447<br />
A .44 CALIBRE AMERICAN PERCUSSION PLAINS RIFLE<br />
BY J. FORDNEY, LANCASTER COUNTY, CIRCA 1840<br />
converted from flintlock, with heavy octagonal barrel rifled<br />
with seven narrow grooves, engraved with stars on the<br />
muzzle face, fitted with brass fore-sight, provision for an<br />
additional fore-sight, standing back-sight, and signed in full<br />
at the breech (now feint, partly obscured), plain tang drilled<br />
with two holes for a standing peep-sight mount, signed<br />
lock engraved with foliage and border ornament, double<br />
set trigger, highly figured maple full stock, cut with a trellis<br />
pattern of chequering at the grip (worn, the stock repaired<br />
in front of the lock), butt with raised cheek-piece inset with<br />
a German silver diamond-shaped plaque on the left and<br />
patchbox with plain brass cover and pierced mount on the<br />
right, brass mounts comprising small engraved oval sideplate,<br />
moulded trigger-guard, two-piece butt-cap (chipped),<br />
and three ramrod-pipes, and brass fore-end cap (later<br />
ramrod missing, areas of wear throughout); together with a<br />
contemporary cowhorn powder-flask and German silvermounted<br />
folding knife<br />
the first: 94.4cm; 37D in barrel<br />
(3)<br />
Two Jacob Fordneys are recorded in the Lancaster County<br />
tax list of 1834, one of which was killed by his neighbour,<br />
one John Haggerty with an axe. During the court case that<br />
447<br />
448<br />
followed Haggerty’s counsel claimed the defendant was<br />
insane: he frequently referred to his horse, which was<br />
known to climb trees, and to his goats, which occasionally<br />
climbed the trees to be with his horse. The horse caused<br />
him trouble so he wanted to kill it, but he was restrained by<br />
Fordney who he subsequently killed. See H.J. Kauffman,<br />
pp.229-232.<br />
£850-1000<br />
448<br />
A .42 CALIBRE AMERICAN PERCUSSION PLAINS RIFLE,<br />
MID-19TH CENTURY<br />
converted from flintlock, with heavy octagonal barrel rifled<br />
with seven grooves, fitted with German silver fore-sight<br />
and sprung blued back-sight, border-engraved lock<br />
decorated with a hound in a landscape on the tail, double<br />
set trigger, figured maple full stock enriched with dark<br />
stained stripes, shallow cheek-piece, brass mounts<br />
comprising flush-fitting solid side-plate, moulded triggerguard<br />
with heart-shaped finial, two-piece butt-cap, and<br />
three ramrod-pipes, and brass fore-end cap (ramrod<br />
missing, light wear throughout)<br />
96.5cm; 38in barrel<br />
£550-650<br />
205
Change language