Signed “H E Leman” Henry Leman, Lancaster, Pennsylvania ca 1830

Product Description

This example of Henry Leman’s work is extremely rare. He made it soon after or during his apprenticeship with Melchoir Fordney in his teenage years. He was born in 1812. Most of his production was government contracts for trade rifles. They were much different than this civilian example. This example closely resembles Melchoir Fordney’s work is it should; however Leman’s Lancaster style Kentucky rifles are almost non-existant; this being the only specimen I’ve seen.

Joe Kindig Jr. had collected this rifle and kept it in the shop with numerous other rifles; it was not in the main collection. The rifled barrel is 42.25 inches and about .44 cal; it was never shortened. The lock is reconverted and probably the original lock. A narrow sliver the entire length of the forestock on one side has been expertly restored. A barrel wedge is missing. It appears the rifle was made with a single trigger; set triggers were added later during its period of use. The trigger guard has been altered to accomodate the change.