Signed “Rowe” Nathaniel Rowe, Emmitsburg, MD ca 1840

Product Description

Nathaniel Rowe is a celebrated gunsmith from Emmitsburg who learned his trade from the great John Armstrong. He made a few flintlocks after his apprenticeship but he mostly worked in the percussion period. His attention to detail was on par with Armstrong. A similar example is currently listed on Guns International.

This example lived a hard life, was repaired and kept on going. The brass repairs around the original lock and to the left of the barrel tang serve to stablize old cracks. Over years of use the lock wiggled in the mortice and a screw or nail was placed at the rear of the lock (now missing) for stabilization which was not uncommon. The rifled barrel is signed in script, is 34+ inches and about .45 cal. The usual iron tip is dovetailed into the top extension of the butt plate. Some minor wood losses at the pins for barrel and rear ramrod pipe. Nice curly maple, a horn front sight, nice incised carving, and typically nice engraving make this another example of Rowe’s fine workmanship.