Relief-carved antique long rifle headlining Nov. 14 sale
An intricately engraved long rifle a rare, signed Peter White version, is one of several rifles and handguns in Pook & Pook’s Nov. 14 auction.
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. -- Building on its first dedicated sporting sale in May, Pook & Pook, Inc.’s November catalog highlights the artistry in this often functional category. Detailed engravings, inlays, and carvings abound on older firearms, while newer offerings often feature decorative accents, accessories, or original cases. Filled with militaria, firearms, sporting art, and Native American items, Pook & Pook, Inc.’s Sporting Sale (Nov. 14) has something for bidders of every price point.
The auction opens with long guns, including Pennsylvania long rifles from renowned makers Johannes Derr, Jacob Dickert, Peter White, and J. D. Gill. The rare, signed Peter White example is accompanied by another relief-carved long rifle that is the epitome of White’s Bedford County school. The desirable Jacob Dickert rifle has little extraneous ornamentation, but this makes its characteristic daisy finial patchbox and long tiger maple stock that much more striking. Also of note are two finely detailed AyA No. 2 shotguns with elaborate full scroll engraving.
The shotguns’ intricate decoration is rivaled only by a scroll engraved Colt Model 1849 presentation pocket revolver. One of several handguns up for auction, this piece is in rare company, including a Colt Second Model Dragoon revolver, a U. S. Model 1805 Harper’s Ferry flintlock pistol, and a U. S. Model 1855 pistol carbine with its original shoulder stock.
Pook & Pook, Inc.’s handguns, including several commemorative and 20th century examples, are followed by a group of historic militaria, sporting accessories, and artwork. Original oil paintings by
Richard Bishop are a highlight, as are several duck decoys. A signed copy of Joel Barber’s Wild Fowl Decoys kicks off a collection of carved and painted decoys, including the work of Virginia artist William Gibian. His preening wood duck drake is a lovely example sure to elicit interest amongst Southern collectors.
November 14th’s sale concludes with over sixty lots of Native American artwork. Baskets, weavings, and pottery, as well as stone and wood carvings, close a strong second foray into dedicated sporting auctions.
Interested bidders are encouraged to contact Pook & Pook, Inc. at info@pookandpook.com or (610) 269-4040 with questions regarding condition reports, in-house, phone, or absentee bidder registration, or to purchase a catalog. Catalogs can also be viewed online at www.pookandpook.com or www.bidsquare.com, where online bidding is also available. A gallery exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, November 7th, from 12:00pm-5:00pm and Wednesday, November 11th through Friday, November 13th, from 10:00pm-4:00pm. Bidders may also preview items on Saturday, November 14th, the morning of the auction, from 8:00am-9:00am. The sale begins at 9:00 am.
