art grade flintlock long rifles

[Harmonica Bob]

I am not ready to buy a real fancy longrifle, but something I may be willing to save up for. I know that artists and great craftsman have been building these fancy "art grade" rifles since the Golden Age. Are they that rare, that you don't see them for sale? Am I not looking in the right place? For me, it would need to be an investment. Is my budget of $2,500 realistic? Anyway, I love the fine rifle's I have owned for many years, but I don't have anything fancy. I would want one that was previously loved. Any ideas and auction sites are welcome. Thanks!

 

[Nameless Hunter]

Keep watching the classifieds on this site. Something should pop up in the sub $3000 range in the next 12 months that will catch your eye.

 

[TFoley]

I've found it very easy to locate beautiful work of art level flintlock rifles and wheellock hunting guns over the years. My main difficulty smacks me right there in the chops when I realise that paying for even one is way beyond my means.

My one and only foray into collectable long rifles lasted just under a year, when my ultra-rare Peter Gonter PA long rifle - subject of a long search and much wheedling - was stolen right off the display stand at a gun show.

I was too disheartened to ever repeat the experience.

Good luck, OP. There is no shortage of beautiful guns out there in the $5,000 -10,000 range. $3000? Hmmmm, not so sure.

 

[Rifleman1776]

That's a great budget. You can buy a beautiful rifle for that amount, but maybe without much carving or inlays. Those can always be added at a later date. Yes, there were many fine and fancy rifles built in the past. In fact, I heard on serious collector say those fancies are more available today than the plain, every day working rifle. The plain rifles were considered just tools and discarded when newer stuff came along. Fancies were kept as heritage and/or museum pieces.

 

[rich pierce]

Hard to say as it depends on everyone’s sense of what is an art grade rifle. There’s a lot of range between a nicely crafted, engraved and carved rifle for $3500 and a Jud Brennan and a Monte Mandarino. One could spend $12,000 on a contemporary gun. Your best deals are contemporary guns at auction.

I’ve seen contemporary masterpieces carried from show to show to show and not sell for $5500.

Plain Mandarino went for $3500 plus auction fees Contemporary Flintlock Fullstock Sporting Rifle by Monte Mandarino | Guns & Military Artifacts Flintlocks | Online Auctions | Proxibid

A high end Mandarino. $50k would almost cover it.