(Guilford County, North Carolina, 1797-1838)ÿ full stock flintlock rifle, hexagonal 48 in. barrel signed "I.J." at top behind steel rear sight, engraved swans neck hammer, frizzen, and lock plate, engraved two screw brass side plate with roman numeral "VI", ornate brass trigger guard with large bow and curled finial, brass powder pick holder below cheek rest, engraved brass patchbox with twisted star finial, engraved brass butt plate, octagonal brass ram rod holders, brass blade front sight, overall length 63-1/2 in. - Note: Isaac Jones was born in 1797 in either Tennessee orÿNorth Carolina. In 1811 as a fourteen year old orphan he was bound by the Guilford County Court to Master Gunsmith Craft Jackson to "learn the art and mystery of a Gunsmith". His apprenticeship was finished in 1818.ÿ Isaac Jones built a house and gun shop on Deep River where he lived and worked until moving to Indiana in 1838. This particular rifle was made circa the late 1820's.ÿ - Provenance: Collection of C. Michael Briggs
Condition
condition consistent with age and use, nicks and wear to wooden surfaces, 4 1/2 in. split and opening to underside of stock near trigger guard exposing ramrod likely due to use, 1-1/2 in. hairline cracks in forestock, restoration to hairline in barrel. with areas of pitting and oxidation throughout, other metal surfaces with oxidation, hairline crack to barrel tang, crack and repair to curved trigger guard finial, old loss to wood at bottom of buttstock,ÿ surfaces with good patinaÿÿÿ