View full screen - View 1 of Lot 333. Very Fine and Extremely Rare Carved and Figured Maple, Engraved Brass, Silver Inlaid and Steel Flintlock American Long Rifle, John Philip Beck (1751-1811), Lancaster County, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Circa 1780.
333

Very Fine and Extremely Rare Carved and Figured Maple, Engraved Brass, Silver Inlaid and Steel Flintlock American Long Rifle, John Philip Beck (1751-1811), Lancaster County, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Circa 1780

Estimate:

30,000 - 50,000 USD

332

333

336

Very Fine and Extremely Rare Carved and Figured Maple, Engraved Brass, Silver Inlaid and Steel Flintlock American Long Rifle, John Philip Beck (1751-1811), Lancaster County, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Circa 1780

Very Fine and Extremely Rare Carved and Figured Maple, Engraved Brass, Silver Inlaid and Steel Flintlock American Long Rifle, John Philip Beck (1751-1811), Lancaster County, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Circa 1780

Estimate:

30,000 - 50,000 USD

Lot sold:

94,500

USD

Very Fine and Extremely Rare Carved and Figured Maple, Engraved Brass, Silver Inlaid and Steel Flintlock American Long Rifle

John Philip Beck (1751-1811)

Lancaster County, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Circa 1780


The octagonal barrel engraved J x P x Beck, .52 caliber rifled bore, engraved INRI which stands for "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews" on underside of barrel.

Length 57 3/8 in.; Barrel Length 42 in.

In overall very fine condition. Some surface pitting to barrel near lock. Appears to retain all of its original pins. Lock reconverted with some surrounding grease and wear. Length from muzzle to tang 42 in.


The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.

Howard “Mac” Murray, Detroit, Michigan;
Philip Cowan, Schuylkill House, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania;
Alfred Clegg, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania;
Glenn E. Bryan, Melbourne, Florida.
Merrill Lindsay, The Kentucky Rifle, (New York: Arma Press and The Historical Society of York County, 1972) no. 19;
Patrick Hornberger and John Kolar, The Lancaster Long Rifle At the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum (Trappe, MD: Eastwind Publishing, 2012) no. 14, pp. 16-17;
Robert Kyle, "Lancaster Long Rifle collection is on exhibit at Pennsylvania Museum", Antique Week, August 13, 2012, p. 26;
John Kolar, "The Lancaster Long Rifle", Antiques And the Arts Weekly, (September 21, 2012), p. 30;
John Kolar, "Lancaster Long Rifles" Early American Life, (October 2012), p. 64.
York County Historical Society Exhibit, 1971;
Lancaster, PA; Landis Valley Museum, September-December 2012. The Golden Age of an American Art Form: The Lancaster Long Rifle.
This signed rifle by the celebrated gunsmith, John Philip Beck (1751-1811) of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, is one of the best extant in private hands with elaborate relief carved ornamentation and a shorter, sloping wrist that results in a more refined yet powerful profile. The pronounced curly maple stock, masterly carved with grand rococo C-scrolls, contains wire inlay on the crest of the comb and is juxtaposed with a square-form early Federal period silver eagle above the cheekpiece. The embellished four-piece feathered C-scroll-engraved pierced daisy-headed patchbox is another fanciful ornament that is visually compelling on the straight, thick curly maple stock. The hidden engraving “INRI” under the barrel, which translates to “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews” is perhaps the most interesting feature on this rifle and was likely commissioned by the first owner of the rifle. Not only was J.P. Beck the only gunsmith to have used this talisman, this rifle is one of only three known examples that contain the inscription, making it equally rare as it is visually stunning.