Lancaster Rifle value

vmclees

Hello,
I have an original Lancaster PA rifle made by M. Fordney. Is there someone I can get in contact with that would know the value of the rifle?
Thanks

perry shooter

Condition is EVERYTHING if you post some detailed in focus close-up pictures there will be people that can help.

nord

http://americanlongrifles.com/

They don't sell, nor buy. Thus, no competition to GunBroker.

vmclees

I have pictures available for those interested. The rifle is a utility grade, no patch box or any other fancies. The finish is brown patina without any pitting. It has been converted to percussion, apparently many, many years ago, but still retains all of the other hardware. The stock has cracks but is still intact and is a semi curly maple.

mongrel1776

Even in a plainer grade, an original Melchior Fordney rifle is worth a premium. Lancaster rifles are roughly grouped into three types, based on approximate date of manufacture -- early (up to and during the American Revolution), golden age (roughly 1780-1810), and later period. In the early period names such as Andreas Albrecht, Jacob Dickert, and John Philip Beck will add $$$ to the price of a given rifle. During the golden age, Dickert and Beck, again, along with makers such as Nicholas Beyer, Henry Albright or Albrecht (Andreas' son), Isaac Haynes, and Peter Gonter command those premiums. In the later period, from roughly 1810 into the era of more-or-less mass production (about 1840-1850), Melchior Fordney's work is considered possibly the most influential and desirable of the various Lancaster products. Of course a plainer rifle won't fetch the price that one of Fordney's high-grade pieces would, but don't let anyone pull the flea market tactic of telling you that a plain, later-period Lancaster ain't worth but a few dollars, no matter who made it.

You could contact the folks at the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association, who publish the monthly "Muzzle Blasts". They routinely run articles by George Shumway, James Whisker, and Wallace Gusler, three of the foremost living authorities on the American longrifle. Any Fordney gun, particularly one not brought to the attention of collectors and other enthusiasts before now, would be of great interest to any of these gentlemen, and the NMLRA people would know how to get you in touch. Believe me, you would NOT be bothering these guys.

I'd love to see pictures. Obviously I'm a fan of these rifles.