Son of a Master | Straight Rifled | Christian Beck Flintlock Golden Age American Long Rifle

This rifle is distinctly signed "C. + Beck" on top of the barrel for riflemaker Christian Beck (1782-1861), the son of John P. Beck (see following lot). He is noted as having apprenticed under his father and then worked in his shop in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, for a few years before moving to nearby Jonestown. The barrel is straight rifled allowing use of ball or shot and is equipped with traditional dovetailed blade and notch sights. The underside of the barrel has the "INRI" (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum/Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) inscription seen on some of his father's rifles as well as a few by Nicholas Beyer. There is also an old illegible handwritten document in the barrel channel towards the breech end. The inside of the lock plate has an "IEF" stamp. The mounts are brass, including the engraved "whale tail" patchbox. "M + B" appears lightly scratched on the trigger guard finial. The stock features fine molding along the forend and butt, incised scroll carving at the ramrod entry point, nicely shaped drop flats, and raised relief scroll carving at the barrel tang and butt. Bishop first saw this rifle at the 1999 Kentucky Rifle Association meeting in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, when it was part of the Steve Hench Collection and later acquired it from Rudy Gleichman. It was featured in the article "Which Christian Beck Is It? Part II" by Van Pitman in the Kentucky Rifle Association Bulletin, Volume 40, Number 1, Fall 2013.

Check out History Fix, a history-focused streaming service owned and operated by living historians and history buffs.