C1830-40 Western Pennsylvania flintlock longrifle by Jonathan Funkhouser of Beaver County - $1250.00
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C1830-40 Western Pennsylvania flintlock longrifle by Jonathan Funkhouser of Beaver County. Jonathan and his father Abraham are listed by the KRA without further information. Only dates of birth and death found online. Abraham lived from 1787-1886 and Jonathan from 1810-1875. Barrel is signed in an early style script "J Funkhouser" with additional flourishes. Flint battery is a simple trade lock marked WARRANTED. 43-3/4" barrel of .38 caliber bore and 7/8" width. This simple but skillfully made rifle would have been produced when Beaver County was a minimally populated place just downstream from the start of the Ohio River. Metal parts have a brown patina with some expected pitting in the barrel breech area. Curly maple fullstock is good with a light but attractive figure, has 6 diamond-shaped barrel pin escutcheons, a cross-shaped inlay in front of the triggerguard, and an oval cheek piece inlay. The butt has a lateral crack in the grain showing on both sides, with the toe plate possibly having been added to stabilize it. Handmade antique, possibly original ramrod has a carved cleaning jag on one end, with the other end being proud of the barrel, which is often the case. Mechanically good, sold as a collector item only, not warranted safe to shoot.
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