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This grand rifle is from the famous collection of Joe Kindig, Jr., and is one of the most recognizable works by the hands of George Schreyer with its heart shaped piercing in the finial of the well designed patchbox. It is rifle #170 in "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age", and still retains the numbered and coded "id" tag. In his book, Kindig comments, "The carving is good, and it includes one of his typical flowers to the rear of the barrel tang. The stock has a very well defined high comb. The engraving on the patch box is somewhat better than on many of his guns and there is a heart piercing in the head of the patch box. All in all, this is a very nice early rifle."
This classic Kentucky Rifle is also featured in George Shumways, "George Schreyer, Sr.& Jr.- Gunmakers of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania", rifle number #13.
Earl Lanning bought this lightweight "woods-runners" rifle from Joe Kindig in 1981 at the then enormous price of $14,000. Earl still contends that it has the best architecture and feel of any of Schreyer's work and admittedly has been a great influence in the design of his work through the years as a contemporary longrifle builder. It is indeed a pleasure to hold and shoulders very nicely with the sights immediately lining up to the eye. It has required no restoration and remains in original flint condition. The only repair has been the replaced frizzen spring. The original finish is untouched and in the same condition as the day when Joe Kindig bought it out of a house in York, Pennsylvania.
Its overall length is 61 inches; with octagonal to round barrel 45-1/2 inches long,.52 caliber, and weighs a slight 7 1/2 pounds. You can smell the Indian campfires when you caress this pleasing relic of America's heritage.
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