3490 FINE HANDMADE REPRODUCTION OF A THIRD QUARTER

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 14 @ 17:57UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 3,000.00 USD
Estimated at 6,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
18TH CENTURY BRITISH FLINTLOCK RIFLE BY COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG LONG TIME JOURNEYMAN GEORGE SUITER WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES. Cal. 60. S# NSN. The gun shop at Colonial Williamsburg has been hand building guns and rifles since the early 1960's. Barrels are forged, bored and rifled, locks and all other parts are completely handmade. George Suiter has been working in the shop for over thirty years. This attractive creation styled after a Circa 1775-80 rifle by John Twigg, arguably the finest gunmaker of his time, has 32" deeply swamped octagon barrel gold inlaid "WILLIAMSBURG" and with forearm and hammer poincon on top flat. Barrel is fitted with one standing and one folding leaf rear and post front sights. Touch hole is gold lined. Lock, with slightly arched long plate with rebated and pointed tail, is fitted with serpentine cock, golded lined rounded pan, bridled roller frizzen and feather spring with fleur de lis finial. The lock chamfers are decorated with ovolo mouldings and there is file decoration behind pan, center of lock plate is engraved "GEO." "SUITER". Stock is of lightly figured European walnut, extends to muzzle and is iron mounted. Buttplate has 5" well shaped top tang, chamfered 6" sideplate has fancy filing, trigger plate has 1770 style husk finial and trigger guard is double beaded. Mounts are engraved with traditional style scroll and some rudimentary game scenes; with wild boar chased by a hound on sideplate and a stags head on trigger guard bow. Stock features flatted toeline with racy sweep, raised carved scrolls with shell finial around barrel tang and square checkering at grip. Right side of stock is fitted with sliding patchbox cover. Stock attaches to barrel with three captive sidebolts without escutcheons. Hickory ramrod with bone tip and steel tail mounts through two beaded pipes and matching thimble. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: leather bound folder with letter from George Suiter outlining the care and authentic methods used in the creation of this extraordinary rifle, its case and accessories. Gun is housed in a brown leather covered mahogany case has brass furniture type bail folding handle on top, key lock and dual pivoting closure. Interior is lined in dark blue cloth and has George Suiter's Williamsburg label in lid. Case contains nutcracker type round ball mould engraved "25" & "G. Suiter", horn bodied brass powder flask was also handmade by Suiter and is stamped "GS" on top. Open compartments contain a red leather flint wallet, two walnut handled turn screws, dusting brush and key. There are two covered compartments with mahogany covers and brass knobs; one containing a wad punch, the other an assemblage of well made main spring vice, powder measure and cleaning implements that fit hickory and steel cleaning rod which sits in a long open compartment. Also in the case is a 1781 dated Virginia issued Continental currency note for $150. CONDITION: exceptionally fine, does not appear to have been fired although there are a few flint strikes on frizzen. There are some minor handling marks in wood. Bore is bright and shiny, lock is crisp. Case is also very fine with some minor marks on exterior. Interior cloth has a few rubs (one through in lid). Accessories are generally very fine. (01-21994/MGM). ANTIQUE. $6,000-12,000.