Antiques Roadshow: Pennsylvania rifle valued by expert

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Master Gunsmith Robert Tilney was impressed with a 19th Century American rifle on a recent instalment of Antiques Roadshow. The guest spotted the gun in a “glorified junk shop in Nottingham” 40 years ago, having recognised it straight away as a Pennsylvania Rifle.

Understanding its historical background, he purchased the artefact for £500, which he admitted was “quite a lot in those days”.

However he was impressed once Robert revealed how much more it could fetch at auction.

Having instantly recognised the gun, Robert began: “So what we have here is a Kentucky Rifle, except it isn’t a Kentucky Rifle.

“It’s a Pennsylvania Rifle, but everybody thinks they’re Kentucky Rifles.

“It’s the sort of thing Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone would carry.”

Crockett and Boone, were American Frontiersmen and pioneers in the 1800s.

The guest said he knew it would have been “carried by Boone and Crockett, so I bought it”.

Robert pointed out the “very very distinctive” style of rifle with “lots of brass work decoration”, which was the style of German gunmakers who were in Pennsylvania at the time.

Robert continued to tell the guest: “Putting value on it is interesting, because it’s always going to be worth more in the States, because it’s part of their history.”

However, he added: “There are collectors of American firearms,” before revealing the huge valuation.

“I think you’d probably have to stump up £2,000,” the expert revealed. “It’s a very nice example of a Pennsylvania.”

Following the huge evaluation, Robert asked if the guest would hang on to it.

The guest admitted: “I don’t think I’ll part with it now, to be honest after 40 years,” making the decision to keep the collector’s item.

Robert agreed with his decision, saying, “You can’t do it, it would be criminal,” as he continued to admire the craftmanship of the gun.

Elsewhere in the episode, expert John Benjamin surprised two women when he revealed the staggering value of a “novelty” Victorian ring.

One girl explained: “So my mum was given it as a birthday present, from our great great aunt, she was gifted it at costume jewellery.”

John asked: “Right, that is a costume ring. I am going to ask a question, I want you to put it on, do you think that is costume jewellery?”

“It doesn’t have a lot of weight in it,” the girl replied.

However, John revealed: “It is an emerald! It is a splendid emerald from South America surrounded by old Victorian white cut diamonds mounted up in 18-carat gold, made in around about 1975 to 1980.”

He went on to add it could make around £4,000 at auction.

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