Contemporary Flintlock Musket with Folkloric Hunting Motifs

John B. Derrick (American, b.1936)

About .60 caliber. 31" two stage octagonal to round barrel. SN: NSN. Bright metal finish. Full length walnut stock has a large swept schuetzen-style butt with carved rococo molding around upper tang, and two carved elk horn fittings depicting grotesque figures, one with shield carved J.D./Fecit. Forearm features inlaid wire scroll to both sides, as well as elk horn fittings to both sides. Flintlock smoothbore musket with neoclassical notch rear sight and brass blade front sight. Item features elk horn fittings to both sides of forearm depicting hunting scenes, including seven fittings on left side showing rabbits riding hunting dogs and six fittings on right side that show Venus lounging on a lute followed by a single hunter in pursuit of game. Other forearm fittings include two fish and two rosettes carved from elk horn on left side face of sideplate area. Forend cap with punch dot and scroll carvings. Wrist features a single fish to wrist on right side and hunter dressed as a wolf on right side of wrist, both made of elk horn. Face of buttstock on left side shows a neoclassical style crest with four different perched birds, carved from elk horn. Buttstock also shows elk horn sea serpent fittings to top of both sides, surrounded by scroll wire inlay. Comb and bottom edge of stock are fitted with elk horn panels carved with German knotwork. Ramrod thimbles are also carved elk horn. All fittings have details accented by ash or soot. Brass buttplate and bright triggerguard are plain. Included with item is a wood ramrod with carved elk horn tip showing a grotesque devil figure.