PETER GONTER SIGNED AMERICAN TRADE RIFLE

PETER GONTER SIGNED AMERICAN TRADE RIFLE

01-24780
Cal. .42 caliber.
NSN

61″ overall. 45″ octagonal barrel. Pictured and described on pages 88-89 of “The Fur Trade”, author Milton Von Damm: “This rifle, made by Peter Gonter, is another example of a Lancaster pattern trade rifle. Peter Gonter was a partner in the Dickert-DeHuff group of Lancaster gunmakers who were responsible for making rifles for the federal government, including rifles for US Indian Trade factories and for Indian annuity payments for treaty obligations between 1803 and 1811. Gonter also had personal contracts in 1803 to make 56 rifles for the Tellico and Chickasaw Factories in Tennessee. Specifications were not defined for barrel length or caliber but this gun falls within the range of the inspection certificates of accepted trade rifles.

This rifle has shown little use. The lock is marked DREPPERT, with a fan of 5 feathers at the lock’s tail. The top flat of the barrel is marked P. Gonter and includes scroll work. The brass furniture has a typical Lancaster step down sideplate, trigger guard, sheet brass rod holders and a nearly plain 6 inch patch box flanked by two straight fences attached with pins and a rounded trivium finial with two rounded ears. The stock has a thick wrist, 5 3/4″.”

PROVENANCE: from The Lifelong Collection of author Milton Von Damm.

STATUS: ANTIQUE