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Winning Bid US $1260 First bid $500 Quantity 1 # of bids 11 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

HANDMADE BY JIM KLEIN & FROM MIKE CARRIK COLLLECTION, Replica 1792 Contract short rifle (Kentucky/Pennsylvania rifle). Cal: .54, MFG: 2004, S/N: None, Flintlock rifle, 36'' barrel.

History of the 1792 rifle from ''The Rifle Shoppe, Inc.'' article on US 1792 Contract rifles. '' At the end of 1791, the United States was very worried about the Indians on the frontier. With General St. Claire and the American Army so soundly defeated and almost annihilated by the Indians in November 1791. The Government decided to raise a standing army, but needed muskets and rifles desperately. In haste they let contracts to individuals, to make these arms as fast as possible to arm this new army. On January 4, 1792, the Secretary of War, Henry Knox wrote a letter to General Hand in Lancaster, Pennsylvania authorizing him to get with the area gunmakers and contract with them to make 500 to 1000 rifles as quickly as possible. On January 13, 1792, General Hand wrote back and said he received his letter of the 4th and he had already started the gunsmiths to work preparing the barrels, locks, and mountings and should have some rifles ready in another week and was preparing a standard rifle to work from. After examining a number of guns from different gun shops he settled on a 44 1/2 inches barrel in 47 caliber. He sent Henry Knox a standard rifle about which Henry Knox then wrote back to General Hand on February 4th, 1792 and told General Hand he wanted the barrel shortened to 42 inches, the caliber changed to .49, and said the standard rifle was not very well stocked, that the lock needed a fly and that well seasoned maple wood must be used. Between April 1792 and December 1792, 1,476 rifles were delivered by 11 different gunsmiths (that is 15 guns per month per maker). George Moller shows records in his book that these were issued out as fast as they were finished. The Government still needing more rifles, contracted for more of the same rifle in February 1794. By November 1794 they had 2,000 more finished by 17 gunsmiths in 9 months (that is 14 guns per month per maker). Some of these were rejected and sent back to the gunsmiths to rebuild. Most all the 1792 contract rifles were shipped to Schuykill Arsenal at Philadelphia and issued out from there. The 1792 Contract Rifle was just a plain Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle with a 42 Full octagon barrel in .49 caliber with a patch box. It would have no military styling at all. None of these rifles were ordered with sling swivels. Many of these were also sent to the Indian Trade Department for gifts to the Indians. All 1792 US Contract rifles were manufactured with full octagon barrels''.

History on This Replica: This rifle was Hand built by Jim Klein for Mike Carrick to display in his Lewis & Clark expedition display. Lewis & Clark obtained 15 rifles from Harpers Ferry in 1803 for their expedition & most evidence points to them being 1792 Contract rifles. In Lewis' journal he mentioned that the rifles were ''prepared'' for the expedition. There is no notes on what was actually done to the rifles, but experts believe that they were shortened to make them handier on the boats, & the rifling was refreshed, slightly increasing the caliber. This rifle was made 6'' shorter to replicate the shorter rifles they were believed to carry & made a .54 Caliber for modern ammo availability. This rifle was specifically made for Mike to Display in Bismarck in 2004.

Michael Carrick is well known gun Historian & writer for the Gun Digest Reloaders Manual, The Gun Report Magazine, Muzzle Blasts Magazine, and other specialized publications relating to antique firearms collecting. He is also well known for his collection & displays of the weapons Lewis & Clark took on their expedition.

CONDITION: The cheeked, straight wrist black walnut stock is excellent with only minor scuffs & handling wear. Brass patch box in the right cheek that's opened by a button on the upper buttplate extension. The barrel has toned to a even chocolate brown patina. The lock appears to have been cleaned, is bare metal with faded/buffed markings. Brass parts have a light patina. The top of the barrel is marked ''J KLEIN''. The lock plate is marked ''HARPERS'' over ''FERRY'' over ''1803'', a American great eagle over ''US''. The bore is excellent. It's bright & mirrorlike with little to no wear. The barrel holds a brass blade front sight with a fixed V-notch rear. The stock carries a brass buttplate. Rifle has both sling loops & a brass tipped wooden ramrod. Muzzleloader, No FFL Req - Value: 1000 to 3000

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Payment Details See Payment Instructions and item description, or contact seller for more information.

Payment Instructions See item description or contact seller for more information.

Price

HANDMADE BY JIM KLEIN & FROM MIKE CARRIK COLLLECTION, Replica 1... Item # 4427 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $1260

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