This Pennsylvania rifle is in original flintlock configuration, full length and stocked to the muzzle. The four-piece patchbox has a plain, unengraved door, wavy edges to the side plates, and an oval opening to the symmetrical finial. The only applied decoration is a simple narrow edge line on the finial that transforms into a checked border after the first side branch of the finial and extends along the side plates. The finial is secured by three screws; the side plates, by six pins. The cheek rest, however, is decorated with an inset eight-pointed silver star (with extended points at left and right) and an oval silver escutcheon plate on the wrist. The brass sideplate is flat, a simplified Lancaster shape with squared end and relatively straight upper edge. The brass triggerguard has a handrail, and houses double set triggers. There is a hand plate between the triggerguard tang and the rear entry pipe, and there are two ramrod thimbles. All the brass has a nice, mellow patina.

The barrel is smooth metal for the most part forward of the breach and brown in tone. Both sights are in place- a blade front sight and fixed V-notch rear sight mortised into the barrel. The breachplug tang and the area around the vent show some corrosion. The lockplate shows a thin, crusty rust from the base of the cock down to the lower edge, and under below the frizzen, inside the frizzen spring and on the lower edge. The floral decoration and lock maker markings, however, are clearly visible. The wood has a warm brown tone and even striping. There is a check on the comb of the stock and a divot on the lower right wrist, and some other small dings and handling marks. There is some burnout next to cock and along the upper rear edge of the lock apron. There is clearly a repaired break in the wrist, but the wood is stable. The crack is closed, but visible, running up from the trigger plate, behind the lock apron and up over the wrist just forward of the escutcheon plate and onto the side flat. The forestock shows a splice between the upper thimble and the nose cap. Lastly, there is a bit of burnout near the cock and along the upper rear edge of the lock apron.

The bore is dusty and dirty, but the rifling is good and the action works fine. The lock has floral decoration on the rear of plate and the cock. Forward of the cock the lock is marked A/ ARMSTRONG / PHILADELPHIA for Allen Armstrong, listed by Sellers, with his name appearing on pistols and Pennsylvania rifles. The barrel is signed in script, “F. Orwan” by Frederick A. Orwan, 1775-1859, the brother of gunsmith Charles Orwan, whose name also appears on Pennsylvania rifles. The family appears to have come from the Lancaster area. Frederick lived in Perry County, Pennsylvania, at least to 1852, but died in Chemung County, NY, where his brother Charles was living, in April 1859.  He is known to have received a firearm related patent in 1815.

This is not a high art or show piece, but a real hunting rifle of the early 1800s and has some nice lines. [sr] [ph:L]

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