VERY RARE, ELEGANT AND ONLY SIGNED JACOB SELL KENTUCKY FLINTLOCK PISTOL EXTANT WITH INLAYED SILVER BUST OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, CIRCA 1790

VERY RARE, ELEGANT AND ONLY SIGNED JACOB SELL KENTUCKY FLINTLOCK PISTOL EXTANT WITH INLAYED SILVER BUST OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, CIRCA 1790.

01-24556
Cal. 48
NSN

7 1/4″ octagonal to round barrel with wedding band transition, front site has brass blade on heart shaped base. Top flat with signed silver inset “Jacob’ Sell”. Brass mounted with recognizable Sell engraved side plate and trigger guard. Lock with chamfered and very slightly arched plate and rebated tail features serpentine cock, inset faceted pan, bridled friction frizzen and feather spring with high spear finial. Maple stock with bird’s head grip extends to muzzle and attaches to side bolt without escutcheons. Stock has very finely styled and carved beavertail moldings around lock and side plate. Molding around the barrel tang terminates in very fine raised carved acanthus scroll which is found on other fine guns made by Jacob Sell, the elder. Oval silver thumb plate inlayed in grip having a finely engraved and primitive Folk bust of George Washington. Molding along ramrod channel is raised on front but terminates with incise carved scroll. This is also found around trigger guard finial. Brass mounts are similar to those found on Sell rifles and are also engraved in the same style. The mounts consist of butt cap, trigger guard, classic long side plate and ramrod, pipe and thimble. See illustrations on page 398 and 394 of “Thoughts on Kentucky Rifle” second edition by Joe Kindig, Jr.

Jacob Sell, the elder, (1741-1825), lived his entire life in Adams County, PA in the first established town, Littlestown. He is the most important rifle maker of the Littlestown School. His golden age rifles are among the most beautiful appointed in carving and engraving amongst the most sought-after golden age makers. Not only is this the only signed pistol, but the only attributed pistol of Jacob Sell we are aware of. Sell and his father, Abraham, were both gunsmiths and both fought in the Revolutionary War for local Adams County troops.

STATUS: ANTIQUE