Ferdinand 175th commemorative long rifle to be auctioned
A one-of-a-kind collector’s custom Kentucky Long Rifle built by Ferdinand native Marvin Kemper will be up for bid as a fund raiser for the Ferdinand 175th Celebration.
The Kentucky long rifle will include a number of details to convey the fact it is a Kemper gun (ie; stock architecture, patchbox design).
When Marvin was asked to design a special Kentucky Long Ri fle for Ferdinand’s 175 birthday, he decided to mimic the style of Peter Berry, a Berks County, PA gunsmith in the 1790s. Because his mother’s maiden name is Berry, he feels an affinity with the early gun maker who o ften used what might be considered a modified Roman nose in his designs.
The town’s 175th logo will be crafted from silver inlaid into brass on the patchbox (unless Kemper changes his mind — this is a work in progress) and will include sterling silver and brass motifs, as well as the town’s skyline graphic.
This high grade rifle with a tapered and flared 45 caliber rifled barrel and premium Germanic flintlock will be on display during the 20th annual Gun and Knife Show at the Ferdinand Community Center on Saturday and Sunday, January 24 and 25.
This is the largest gun show in the area with 130 tables — an appropriate place to premiere Marvin’s latest masterpiece. However the gun will not be raffled. It will be sold via a silent, online auction that opens following the gun show
On-line bidding for the unique Kemper rifle will open following the Gun and Knife Show beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST on February 9, 2015. Bidders must register on-line at gunbroker.com to participate. Once registered at gunbroker.com, search for “Ferdinand 175th Kentucky Long Rifle”.
Not computer savvy? Ferdinand 175th Fund-raising co-chair Lee Begle says anyone who wants in on the action but is not technically proficient can place a bid by giving him a call at 812-630-5200. Bidding will close February 22 at 6:00 p.m. EST following Ferdinand Day at the Dubois County Museum.
The on-line sale of this gun will help provide funding for Ferdinand’s 175th celebration with events scheduled throughout the year and a special celebration June 18-21 at Ferdinand’s 18th Street Park.
