WOW!!

This is an exceptional rifle by the well known Keith Casteel of Bruceton Mills, WV. The pictures do not do this gun justice. You really need to see it up close to appreciate all the work that went into this rifle. It was finished in July, 2007 and is #332. According to the letter from Keith that accompanies the rifle, it is the only wheel lock he made and will never make another as he was 71 at the time. He and other top builders have estimated the replacement/collectors value to be over twice the asking price today. It truly is a museum quality firearm. I apologize that some of the pictures are dark as it is very hard to photograph bright metals and still see the details otherwise. 

Here are some of the details:

The wood is a superb piece of French walnut with a beautiful grain. The sterling silver mounts and decorations were all handmade by Keith. The barrel is an original damascus forged barrel that may actually date to the late 1600s. Keith reworked the barrel by boring and rifling it to .56 caliber and re-profiling the outside. The bore is excellent. It comes with a Lyman style mold to fit. There is a touch hole liner. The rear sight is adjustable for different ranges by use of the screw on top. The lock is beautifully designed and functions perfectly with a very fast ignition time. The wheel cover is brass and is a feature used on high quality guns of the period to protect the shooter's hands and clothes free of the debris from firing. The nosecap is black horn and the patchbox lid is ebony. The spanner and extra pyrites are contained in the box. The star inlay on the cheek is made of horn and ivory. The double set triggers need to be set to fire.

This is a supreme example of the skill of a modern craftsman that equals any gun made during the period it represents. In the 1600s, a gun of this quality would have been the culmination of many specialized trades to produce the final product. Just to make a barrel was the result of 5-6 separate specialties. This is truly a wonderful example of "functional art".

Serious parties are welcome to make an appointment to look this rifle over in person. Layaway available.