19th C. American Rifle Wood, Steel, Nacre Inlay – Leman:
North America, United States, Pennsylvania, Lancaster, ca. 1850s CE. A fine muzzle-loading percussion rifle by H.E. Leman, made of wood, steel, and nacre shell inlays (mother of pearl). The gun features a half-stock and octagonal barrel, a wooden ramrod, and a notched sight on the barrel. The maker’s mark: “LEMAN LANCTR P.A.” is stamped on the lockplate after the hammer. The nacre inlays are crescent shaped, rectangular, and rhomboid. What’s more, a circular inlay opposite the lock plate features an engraved hippocamp! The trigger guard and patch box lid are decorated with scrolling foliate motifs, and the stock is adorned with a burnished cross hatch pattern as well. Leman company manufactured many of their guns specifically for trading with Native Americans. The nacre inlays are quite beautiful. A very fine piece! Size: 51″ L x 4″ W (129.5 cm x 10.2 cm)
