3428 VERY RARE, ELEGANT AND ONLY SIGNED JACOB SELL

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 7,500.00 USD
Estimated at 15,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
KENTUCKY FLINTLOCK PISTOL EXTANT WITH INLAYED SILVER BUST OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, CIRCA 1790. Cal. 48. NSN. 7 1/4" octagonal to round barrel with wedding band transition, front site has brass blade on heart shaped base. Top flat with signed silver inset "Jacob Sell". Brass mounted with recognizable Sell engraved side plate and trigger guard. Lock with chamfered and very slightly arched plate and rebated tail features serpentine cock, inset faceted pan, bridled friction frizzen and feather spring with high spear finial. Maple stock with bird's head grip extends to muzzle and attaches to side bolt without escutcheons. Stock has very finely styled and carved beavertail moldings around lock and sideplate. Molding around the barrel tang terminates in very fine raised carved acanthus scroll which is found on other fine guns made by Jacob Sell, the elder. Oval silver thumbplate inlayed in grip having a finely engraved and primitive folk bust of George Washington. Molding along ramrod channel is raised on front but terminates with incise carved scroll. This is also found around trigger guard finial. Brass mounts are similar to those found on Sell rifles and are also engraved in the same style. The mounts consist of butt cap, trigger guard, classic long sideplate and ramrod, pipe and thimble. See illustrations on page 398 and 394 of "Thoughts on Kentucky Rifle" second edition by Joe Kindig, Jr. Jacob Sell, the elder, (1741-1825), lived his entire life in Adams County, PA in the first established town, Littlestown. He is the most important rifle maker of the Littlestown School. His golden age rifles are among the most beautiful appointed in carving and engraving amongst the most sought-after golden age makers. Not only is this the only signed pistol, but the only attributed pistol of Jacob Sell we are aware of. Sell and his father, Abraham, were both gunsmiths and both fought in the Revolutionary War for local Adams County troops. CONDITION: fair to good. Barrel is in original flint configuration with tiny brass bushing which dates to period of manufacture. Brass has fine toned patina, mechanically functional, pitted smooth bore. The gun had been restored sometime in the past but because of its importance, would benefit greatly from a high-quality restoration by one of the great current long rifle conservators. Included in this lot is a letter from noted Kentucky rifle collector and scholar, Steven Hench. We requested that Mr. Hench give us his impressions of what an in-depth quality restoration should include. Please see the photographs of his letter for more details. PROVENANCE: from Ex-Dave Kleiner, Adams County, PA. (01-24556/JS). ANTIQUE. $15,000-30,000.