An extremely fine U.S. Model 1817 flintlock rifle by R. & J.D. Johnson
The 36 inch tapered round barrel with brown lacquer finish and seven groove rifling in .54 caliber; breech marked US/P/JW with a small X above the 1825 dated tang; muzzle engraved with a single line circling the bore. Casehardened lock marked U.S./R. & J.D. Johnson, the tail marked 1825/Middn Conn. Casehardened frizzen spring and trigger. Barrel bands and counterplate in-the-white, the counterplate screws fire-blued. Browned triggerguard, patchbox lid and buttplate; patchbox retaining shank wormer and J-shaped combination screwdriver/cock jaw tightener. Oil-finished walnut stock, the counterplate flat with JW cartouche and further marked at the rear with small JW. (Joseph Weatherhead) Brass-tipped ramrod.
Condition: Excellent. Retaining 95-96% brown finish overall. Lockplate, frizzen spring and trigger retain 90% plus partially darkened casehardening. Many screws retaining their fire-blued finish. Excellent wood with few minor marks.
See Illustration
