This neatly fitted .32 caliber Allentown - Bethlehem Lehigh Valley longrifle is signed L. Bryner. This classic golden age era fullstock flint rifle has a Herman Rupp an early Allentown - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania rifle maker influence. This rifle is decorated with incised carving, has attractive shaping with a slender profile and well fitted parts. Stocked in curly maple, stained to best reveal the nicely contrasting figure from muzzle to butt. The rifle is used with a few small handling marks and some patina on the bright finished barrel. This slender rifle was apparently made for a lady and has a 11-3/4" trigger reach. The rifle weighs 6.9 pounds and points very naturally with the balance point just ahead of the rear sight.

The .32 caliber barrel is 13/16" straight octagon by 33-1/4" long. The bore is cut rifled with eight lands and grooves and the style of the rifling appears to be from Green Mountain Barrel Company. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. A silver blade front sight is mounted in a slot on the barrel. The simple fixed rear sight is dovetailed 7-3/4" ahead of the breech. The barrel is finished armoury bright and has a few speckles of patina. The barrel breech is accented with hand engraving and signed Larry Bryner between the breech and rear sight.

One of the defining characteristics of the Bethlehem school is the "roman nose", which refers to the convex comb and the concave wrist to toe. A third arc extends from the bottom of the lock panel and creates a step at the rear of the triggerguard. Another unusual feature of found on Rupp rifles, the barrel typically has more than half their height above the edge of the barrel channel, which gives the forend a slender profile. The buttplate has a modest curve the engage the shoulder. The oval wrist flares into the lock panels. The lock panels taper widest at the rear in early longrifle fashion. The nickel silver patchbox has a cam over center door. Lift the door to reveal a small cavity for storage. The patchbox is very neatly hand engraved and mounted with traditional steel screws.

The slender toe of the rifle is fitted with a brass toeplate and a nickel silver inlay hand engraved Patience Barker. The triggerguard bow is hand engraved with a floral design. The forearm has a very slender profile that just wraps the barrel. The lock panels are framed with incised moldings. Additional incised moldings extend down the forearm and surround the skirt of the ramrod entry pipe with a Fluer de Lys design. The ramrod pipes are shaped with small incised rings. The 5/16" diameter ramrod has a antler tip with no provisions for accessories. We highly recommend leaving this well fitted ramrod with the rifle and using a dedicated loading and cleaning rod for firing and cleaning. The muzzle end of the stock is fitted with a formed sheet brass muzzle cap. The lock panel is shaped with a slender profile. The sideplate is shaped with sweeping curves and a pointed tail, and is hand engraved. Incised lines run from the toe to the triggerguard. The cheek piece is shaped with a molded edge and inlaid with a oval and inlay below the cheek. Behind the cheek the stock is decorate with incised carving and a Sacajawea dollar.

Sure fire ignition is provided by a small Siler flintlock. The lock has a Germanic influence with a octagon pan and pointed tail with a filed vertical molding. The lock is finished to a dark brown. We recommend our 5/8" knapped English gun flints for use with this lock. The barrel has a direct drilled vent hole and is well positioned and centered on the pan. Double lever double set triggers by the late Drew Hedgecock are tuned to allow the lock to only be fired from the set position. The rear trigger bar is holding up the lock sear and you must set the trigger before the lock can be cocked into the half or full cock positions.

This small longrifle is neatly fitted and highly decorated with engraving and incised carving. All the carving is very neatly executed. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.