Christian Beck Flintlock Rifle, ca. 1810
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GUEST:
It belonged to my parents. It was given to them as a wedding present in 1926 in New York City by a friend who was a gun collector, and eventually it became mine.
APPRAISER:
Do you know anything about it?
GUEST:
We were told that it was carried by a British soldier during the Revolution, and that's really all I know.
APPRAISER:
It's a wonderful rifle. It has wonderful raised carving, which I'll show you, but the most remarkable part about it is it's in untouched original flintlock condition, which is very rare for a rifle, because rifles were used until they were worn out, and they converted most of the flintlocks to percussion, which was a more modern ignition, and this has never been touched by anybody. Now, let me show you... the name Christian Beck, who worked in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, from the late 18th century to about 1810. And here's the original... This is the original lock. It's missing the frizzen spring, but it's all there. Wonderful carving here and tremendous carving right here. It's just a remarkable rifle, made by an expert gunsmith, and I'm so happy to have seen it and that you brought it in. Where do you have it now in your house?
GUEST:
I'm embarrassed to say it's in the closet.
APPRAISER:
Well, you'd better get it out of the closet and put it on a wall and look at it. Do you have any idea of the value?
GUEST:
Oh, none at all.
APPRAISER:
Really?
GUEST:
None at all.
APPRAISER:
Well, I think, because of the condition and because of the quality of the carving and because of the gunsmith, Christian Beck, this should bring between $18,000 and $25,000.
GUEST:
That's amazing.
APPRAISER:
So get it out of the closet...
GUEST:
Yes, sir, I will, right away.
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