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FINE & VERY RARE CIRCA 1810 HENRY DERINGER

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
FINE & VERY RARE CIRCA 1810 HENRY DERINGER

“PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL” KENTUCKY RIFLE. Cal. 52. NSN. 58” overall, 42.5” octagonal, large bore smooth rifle marked “H. DERINGER / PHILAD”, fixed rear sight, inset silver front blade sight. Rebated flint lock also “DERINGER marked. Engraved patchbox with 8 piercings, checkered wrist, engraved & pierced brass escutcheon below cheek piece with vent pick holder, silver oval engraved eagle plaque on cheek piece, small vacant octagonal thumb plate, fine curly maple full stock, sculptured wear plate covers all wood between trigger guard and ramrod thimble, pierced toe plate covers all wood between buttplate and trigger guard.

This exact rifle is pictured on page 16 of Doug Eberhart’s 1885 text “The Deringer in America”.
Henry Deringer (1786-1668) had apprenticed in the rifle trade under John Young of Easton till his 21st birthday in 1807, The Young family had ties to the Virginia Manufactory where young Deringer would work one year till 1808 and then moved to Philadelphia where he began the manufacture of guns which this example was made in first few years there. Within 5-10 years Deringer was a major manufacturer of US military and fur trade longarms and that accounts for the rarity of his very few Golden Age Kentucky rifles. This is first Henry Deringer Kentucky rifle to come to auction we are aware. We can only find one other published and it is not as elaborate. Ron Gabel whose expertise is well known among Kentucky Rifle aficionados is aware of only 2 other examples in his 60 years of collecting.
Henry Deringer was a very wealthy man by the 1820s and was among the largest gunmakers in America, his Deringer single shot pistol was renown worldwide. His large manufactory made over 20,000 military rifles and 50,000 trade rifles in 30 years following the War of 1812 as quoted from Eberhart text. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of George Shumway article on early Henry Deringer arms from July 1985 Man at Arms. CONDITION: very good to fine overall, appears all original and complete with exception of restored keyway escutcheon, even the ramrod appears original with brass and steel tipped worm. Lock makings worn where pitting cleaned, barrel has dark smooth iron patina, brass mottled light to medium mustard patina. (01-21802/JS). ANTIQUE. $12,000-15,000.