This rifle is a commissioned piece made for my late father by one of the CLAs founding members, Wayne P. Watson. The rifle is made with a John Kuntz style stock. The wood is “curly maple,” and the barrel is a Getz barrel made in Beavertown PA. The rifle is a 50 caliber 1 in 66 round bottom rifling, swamped barrel 15/16 to 13/16 to 7/8 inch. The Navy rifle has multiple artistic details that highlight the story of the US Navy, including an amazing ivory carving from the first ship, the USS Alfred, captained by John Paul Jones during the revolutionary war. The ship’s ivory sails were shaved very thin and then overlapped with pure silver to represent the rigging. On the opposite side, the patchbox cover is ivory and it was scrimshawed by the artist to honor and remember the sailors of old who would scrimshaw the whales teeth and carvings they would make during long periods at sea. There is an antique 18th Century brass compass inlaid inside the sliding patch box cover. There are multiple sayings artistically added that are famous in meaning for the US Navy’s history, including, “Leadership, Unity, Service, Navigation,” “Don’t tread on Me,” “Don’t give up the Ship,” “Sir, I have not yet begun to Fight,” “Free Trade & Sailor Rights,” and “Any Where, Any Time.” It is also signed by the artist, Wayne Watson. This is a one-of-a-kind piece of art with magnificent craftsmanship and thoughtful detail honoring both the history of the longrifle and the US Navy. If you have any questions or need further info, please contact me via email: staceydferguson@gmail.com or phone: 919-604-5567. The price has been reduced from $20,000 to $8000 in the hopes of finding the right home for it. More pictures are available on a webpage: www.thenavyrifle.com.
