Hands on with a J.P. Beck Signed Smoothbore Flintlock American Long Rifle | Art in Firearms HIstory

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John Philip Beck (c. 1751-1811) was active in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and is known to have manufactured a wide variety of firearms, including muskets for the Committee of Safety during the American Revolution in addition to his well-known long rifles. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation calls him "one of the superior builders of Pennsylvania long rifles" and notes, "He was instrumental in establishing the regional style, and his rifles are often embellished with bold rococo scrollwork and beautiful engraving."
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This rifle is probably relatively early work by Beck and features a beautifully engraved patch box with the "whale tail" finial seen on some other Beck rifles as well as elaborate incised and raised relief carving on the stock. The barrel is smoothbore and may have been originally rifled or be original as a "smooth rifle." Several of the known Beck "rifles" are smoothbores of similar caliber. The barrel has traditional blade and notch sights and is signed "Jx Px Beck" in script. The surname resembles "Beuck," but this is consistent with other Beck signed guns. The lock is unmarked. The furniture is all brass. As noted, the patch box has attractive engraving. The lid has an intricate floral pattern, and the sideplates and finial have scroll patterns. The sideplate is not engraved. The stock has molding along the ramrod channel terminating in incised scrolls and a floral scroll pattern at the entry pipe. The bottom of the stock ahead of the trigger guard also has an incised floral scroll pattern. The flats have the large tear drops typical of Beck's work, and there is a raised relief and incised scroll pattern carved at the barrel tang. The bottom of the butt has molding, and the wrist and butt have a mix of incised and raised relief carved scroll patterns, including classic "C scroll" patterns on the left side behind the cheek rest.
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[@markoharoldoronearmedpoohb7816]

J.P. Beck is one of my favorite builders, his lines and styles just speak to me! Pennsylvania Longrifles are awesome!

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Amen!

[@steveschainost7590]

With regard to 'smooth' rifles vs. 'rifled' rifles: Some years ago, I was interested in that question and tallied all the longrifles in Kindig. Joe Kindig presented data on some 262 arms. Of these, 143 were smoothbore and 119 were rifled. Of the smoothbores, 98 were .46 to .55 caliber. Of the rifles, 98 were between .41 and .55 caliber (43 were .41 to .45. 32 were .46 to .50. 23 were .51 to .55). Of interest, another three were double barreled. Two doubles had one smooth barrel and one rifled barrel. The third double had two rifled barrels (.38 and .52).

[@AbbieOates]

Look at the tiger striping under that finish, really a wonderful looking piece. I think a smoothbore has more utility even if it lacks the accuracy of a rifle.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Agreed, the smoothbore was a very useful tool. To a trained marksman they can be very accurate as well.

[@stephenmiller1328]

I'm working on a JP Beck now, and I'm finding out just how unique JP Beck was, a lot of details, that makes it very unique, one notable feature was the three rivets on the nose cap.

[@peghead]

In my opinion, a smoothbore would have put protein on the table more consistently than a rifle alone. In woodlands such as we have in the eastern part of the country, squirrels, rabbits and fowl would be much more plentiful than deer and bears ( I don't think wild hogs were widespread in the 18/19th century).

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Great perspective, thank you for sharing!

[@TurkeyCreek-ek8mj]

What an interesting and inspiring piece of Beck's work. Thanks Ethan. TC

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@noapologizes2018]

A beautiful example of an American Long Rifle. Builders such as J.P. Beck were the da Vinci of gun makers. It's a pity that this part of history may be lost in time. Not enough young people interested.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I think there are a lot more young people interested now than ever. The future is bright.

[@mylife6453]

This is very nice to a classic long rifle in a great video.Thanks

[@joemolf3894]

I’ve just took my JP Beck stock out of the box. It C profile using a nice Rice barrel 50 cal with rifling LOL. Any way last time I built a rifle it took me a year longer than I expected. Just couldn’t get to. Hopefully this one will go a little smoother. Beautiful flintlock. Nicely presented Ethan thanks for showing us!!!

[@Snap4590]

Thanks for the video. The shelf in the patchbox is to support the catch. The catch goes through the butt plate and is driven into the end of the shelf.

[@beckflintlocks]

Absolutely love holding the originals!

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

It's a pretty great feeling. I hope the video does it justice!

[@thesquirreltail4570]

The next long rifle I am going to make will be a Beck inspired rifle thanks for the great video

[@ROE1300]

Beautiful long gun. Thank you for sharing.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

You are very welcome!

[@Bhartrampf]

I used to have a smooth bore 50 cal rifle, it had a Remington barrel, and silver inlays and was full octagon, short sights, converted to percussion, half stocked, sadly the maker was ground off before I got it. Loaded like a shotgun, it was death on rabbits. I regret ever selling it. It was a really cool gun.

[@robertwilliamson922]

No. You did not have a rifle. You had a smoothbore. A smoothbore with no rifling is not a rifle.

[@Bhartrampf]

@@robertwilliamson922 well, ok, it was a 50 cal rifle, then the rifling was removed to make it a smoothbore. In the literature they called it a smooth bore rifle, because it wasn't a shotgun or a trade gun and was built as a rifle. Some were even built on purpose, for meat hunters (the guys who got paid for it), because it could be loaded really heavy for buffalo, on down to shot for birds. So, how ever you want to call it, it was a heavy full length octagon barrel that could have rifling, but didn't and was stocked the same as a Ohio rifle and not a shotgun. So, as confusing to your brain as it may be, a smoothbore rifle is what it is. Rifle configuration, but Smooth bore. And yes, I do know that a actual rifle has rifling. I also know that a actual smooth bore is made like a shotgun.

[@robertwilliamson922]

@@Bhartrampf It’s really quite simple: No rifling? Not a rifle. In order to be a rifle, it has to have rifling.

[@Bhartrampf]

@@robertwilliamson922 ok, what ever you say

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

Very Lovley...

[@johnndavis7647]

Being that it's a straight barrel and not a swamped barrel leads me to think that it was made as a smooth-rifle.

[@michaelconquergood9556]

Keep up the good work and you'll be the next ian

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Ian is certainly one of a kind, but thank you for the kind words.

[@uriah-s97]

Wow!

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

I love it. Truly beautiful piece. No rifling, plain sideplate. Yeah. I agree that the man who commissioned this musket/ smooth rifle was a bit less than wealthy and didnt quite have the silver to pay for rifling or extra engraving. Really interesting to see the working class offerings of one of the finest gunsmiths of the 18th century.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

Don't know about that? I'd bet whom ever paid for this gun ransomed some serious value in cion, service, or trade, knowing it would pass through the generations! this is no fur trading, Indian or war horse musket.

[@robertwilliamson922]

Why are you calling a smoothbore a rifle ..if it does not have rifling ?

[@davefellhoelter1343]

No That is ART! As a builder I see the WORK! Never mind the WORK with tools of the day! I think you passed the Patch Box and how the catch was joined to the lid? Looks to me like an economy of casting without a sacrifice in quality.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I couldn't agree more, it's a beautiful work of art. Sorry about glossing over that - the catch is a very traditional peened and cleaned catch pin

[@chestersmith1615]

I'd love to have a gunsmith build me this gun

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

Beautiful works of art. Ethan I have an old Navy arms Zouave with a dead barrel. Inside is very dark, heavy pitting and not much rifling left. Should be able to use it as a Fowler right?

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

There is documentation showing that shot out or rusted out rifles were cleaned up and used a smoothbores. Might be good to get a second opinion from a local gunsmith if you have one to make sure it's still safe.

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading Will do thanks Ethan.

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading Took your advice with that Zouave. Gunsmith put a scope in the barrel. He said to use a heavy cleaning solvent and a stiff nylon brush, in his opinion he said it was buildup from the type of lube the previous owner used. Probably 80/90 from the smell. It cleaned up nice. Back to the range.

[@burnsboysaresoldiers]

Gosh i want a pa long rifle. How do you think about SITTINGFOX for a traditional or early Lancaster rifle or smooth rifle.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I’ve not ordered from sitting Fox myself but you should definitely get a PA Longrifle though!

[@burnsboysaresoldiers]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading my family is from Lancaster and chester counties so yeah definitely. I’m thinking an eary Lancaster style 20gauge smooth rifle. I know you can get 50yrd “minute of deer” accuracy with a smooth rifle and easier to clean

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

Before you buy one check out the channel Red Eagle Trapping Red. He does an entire series on the sitting fox.

[@michaeltrowbridge3221]

An absolute work of art but I have to ask, why are you wearing gloves? I know the obvious would be so you do not get the oils from your hands all on it but have you thought about the oils and dirt on your face?

[@docr8197]

It's not a whale tail , it a rooster !

[@Il_Principessa]

It looks like a baker rifle interesting

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Could be the Baker's cousin?

[@alifr4088]

"Smoothbore flintlock american *longrifle* " I think the correct term for this is "smoothbore flintlock american *long musket* "

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I thought so too at a time, but the term "Smooth Rifle" goes back to the 1730s korns.org/gunsmiths/misc-files-1262020/smooth-rifle-gun-2-20-2022.htm0s at least -

[@robertwilliamson922]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading. It can’t possibly be a rifle if there is no rifling in the barrel.

[@robertwilliamson922]

“…Smoothbore American Flintlock Long Rifle”. I’m not sure how it can be both a smoothbore, and a rifle….at the same time. There’s no such thing as a “…smoothbore rifle”. If it has rifling…..it’s a rifle. If there is no rifling….it’s a smoothbore. Not a rifle.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

“The term "smooth rifle" is currently used to describe dual-purpose smoothbore muzzle loading long guns that incorporate rifle characteristics, including front and rear rifle-type open sights, thick-walled barrels, and rifle-style (versus fowler or musket-style) stock architecture” korns.org/gunsmiths/misc-files-1262020/smooth-rifle-gun-2-20-2022.htm#:~:text=The%20term%20%22smooth%20rifle%22%20is%20currently%20used%20to,and%20rifle-style%20%28versus%20fowler%20or%20musket-style%29%20stock%20architecture.

[@robertwilliamson922]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading No rifling? Not a rifle. Period.