Dennis Kelley Cap & Ball Kentucky Rifle 42” Muzzleloader 50 Cal Curly Maple
SOLD FOR: $2,726.00
LSB#: WY240913RL014
Make: Dennis R. Kelley
Model: Kentucky .50 CAL
Serial#: NSN
Year of Manufacture: Modern
Caliber: .50 Caliber Ball
Action Type: FlintlockMuzzle-Loaded Rifle
Markings: The top flat of the rifle is Marked “D.R. KELLEY”. Ornate filigree adorns the rifle as well as the push-button patch box.
Barrel Length: 42” Octagonal
Weight: 8 Pounds
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch Buckhorn style sight dovetailed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The stock is a one-piece Curly Maple with a brown lock plate, brass butt plate, finely shelved cheekpiece, fluted thimble pipe tubes, and original wood ramrod installed into the forend. There are very light handling marks throughout. There are no chips or cracks in the stock. The LOP is 13.5” from the front trigger to the rear end of the buttstock. Overall the stock rates in excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Browned and Brass
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with strong rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. 10/10 bore rating in this writer’s opinion.
Overall Condition: The rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are some light handling marks; but nothing of notoriety. The markings are clear. The screw heads are sharp and remain serviceable. There is white polish in some of the slots. Overall, the rifle is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action does function correctly. The hammer is strong and the trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: The rifle comes with a, leather sheath, a wooden ramrod, and a worm in the patch box installed.
Our Assessment: In early America rifles were traditionally considered the weapon of choice for soldiers and hunters, but rifles also saw wide use across the frontier. Whether used to feed your family back east or as a weapon of last resort in a dangerous backcountry, one shot from a flintlock rifle could spell the difference between the here and the hereafter.
Bidders on this auction will have the perfect opportunity to own a fine flintlock rifle by gunmaker and artist Dennis Kelley; Kelley’s interpretation of a Kentucky Long Rifle. The rifle is built around a rifled .50 caliber barrel and is fitted with a “Durs Egg” Lock, by L&R.
This hand-crafted rifle is stocked with an exceptional example of curly maple and sports a rich amber patina. Artist Dennis Kelley has been creating black powder firearms for 45 years, and his vast experience at the workbench is on full display in the straightforward execution of this outstanding longarm.
This Kentucky Long Rifle is a .50 caliber, flintlock muzzle-loaded rifle. The rifle gives us an example of almost every type of skill that can be applied to these amazing art pieces. The artistry shows engraving, inlay, embossment, wood carving reliefs and cuts, stippling, brass and silver work, and steller inlet skills.
Some of the finer more notable sections of artwork are the hand-engraved Turkey guarding the push-button patch box, and the silver filigree adorning the stock and wrist of the rifle. There are a few feathers throughout the gun, but my favorite is the feather in a halo high on the cheek of the stock. This rifle is one of the artist’s ultimate examples of expression and should be appreciated as more than just a rife. This is functional art. It pays homage to a version of the classic North American hunting rifle, popular with outdoorsmen and hunters throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite some handling and storage wear, this is an expertly hand-crafted rifle with a Curly Maple stock, and it remains in excellent condition. This is a fine Kentucky Long Rifle crafted by a true expert of an artisan that you rarely get to see come to market. So bid high and bid firm. I highly encourage you to take a look at the condition in our high-quality photos. Good luck with your bid. -K.F.
