Isaac Thompson

Isaac Thompson
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina ~ Dated 1820

Very fine and rare silver mounted, relief-carved, southern flintlock rifle. It is inscribed, “Made for Samuel Hannegan”, a wealthy planter from that area. The curly maple stock has great color and wonderful patina. It is extensively embellished with scrolls carved in relief on the buttstock, wrist and fore-end, along with fluted moldings up the ramrod channel. The engraved brass fore-end cap is retained with silver pins; the four brass ramrod pipes are filed to a unique faceted design. There are silver engraved escutcheon plates for each of the barrel wedges and a nice silver wrist escutcheon engraved with the initials “SH”.

Following the theme of the almost gaudy stylistic decoration, a silver plate for retaining the touchhole pick is neatly secured under the cheek piece that is embellished with a pierced and engraved silver inlay in the form of a stylized star. At the heal of the butt piece is found a silver inlay pierced and engraved and set over the comb. The well designed and extensively engraved and pierced brass patch-box is inscribed with the makers’ initials in the lid; a common North Carolina practice. One of the most elaborate features is an extended brass toe-plate inlaid with seven silver ovals, engraved in a pattern of engraved intertwining lines. The .40 caliber barrel is 48 inches long.

The Rifles