Flintlock Rifle with Case and Bullet Mould Made for Colonel Jacob Bates (1746–1836)
ca. 1820
Medium
Steel, silver, brass, wood, silver wire
Dimensions
Rifle (a); L. 55 3/4 in. (141.61 cm); L. of barrel 40 1/2 in. (102.87 cm); Cal. .51 in. (12.7 mm); Wt. 11 lb. 2 oz. (5046 g); bullet mould (c); L. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm); Wt. 5.6 oz. (158.8 g)
Classification
Firearms
Culture
American, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Christian A. Zabriskie, 1938
Accession Number
38.116a–k
Art Historical Context
This exquisite flintlock rifle, crafted around 1820 by Massachusetts gunsmith Silas Allen Jr of Shrewsbury, made specifically for Colonel Jacob Bates (6–1836), a notable figure likely from the Revolutionary War era given his lifespan and rank. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms Armor Department, it exemplifies early 19th-century American firearm craftsmanship, blending functionality with decorative artistry. The rifle measures an impressive 55¾ inches long, with a40½-inch barrel chambered for .51-caliber balls, and includes a matching case and bullet mould—tools essential for load...