Signed “S M Shillito” Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania ca 1840

Product Description

Sam Shillito was born in Franklin County in 1793 and died there in 1852. He made highly decorated rifles as well as plain rifles. This example is above average in decoration. Shillito Sr. was an excellent engraver; his craft is seen on the patchbox, toeplate and inlays. The forestock inlays are decorative and do not act as escucheons.

There is no wood replacement but a long sliver of wood is missing along the fore arm. A brass plate has been added above the lock to protect the wood from the burning action of the percussion caps. The 38.5″ rifled barrel is about .40 cal. The percussion lock is original to the rifle and is by Henry Parker. Gunsmiths in the Winchester, Virginia area used silver inlays interspersed in the butt stock carving as well as silver acorn inlays. This style occurs on this example. The silver star inlay on the cheekpiece is engraved similarly to those on the Sheetz rifles of an earlier period in Shepherdstown. The curly maple is of excellent quality and is evident under an old undisturbed finish.