AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: D. Bowman on April 27, 2014, 08:25:51 PM

Title: New find
Post by: D. Bowman on April 27, 2014, 08:25:51 PM

bought at local auction(South Central Pennsylvania) Full stock curly maple,36 inch 7/8th straight barrel 36 cal. I thought the forged tang sight was cool. the 3/16th thick sight has a dove tailed center section to slide the aperture for windage. The rifle has a unique side plate and i was hoping that might be a clue to region or builder.
Any thoughts???
http://s964.photobucket.com/user/dbowman62/slideshow/percussion%20rifle

Title: Re: New find
Post by: mr. no gold on April 28, 2014, 12:51:10 AM

Nice find! Thank you for showing it around, here. There will be a lot of appreciative people. My sumise is that it is a W. PA, Ohio, or WVA made gun. It has traits that would fit any of these state regional schools. And, that seems to take in a lot of territory, but it is a faily tight circle of an area where rifles of this kind were made. This was probably made rather late in the century, as well.
I take it that there is no name on the barrel? Looks like a great little untouched full stocked target gun and one to like a lot. Thanks again.
Dick

Title: Re: New find
Post by: D. Bowman on April 28, 2014, 01:13:25 AM

There is a name stamped on the bottom flat near the breech. Barrel makers name i assume. but it is unreadable(---mes---own) is what i can read. With some carefull cleaning maybe more will appear.

Title: Re: New find
Post by: Shreckmeister on April 28, 2014, 11:25:51 PM

maybe it's a place ie. ___mes town

Title: Re: New find
Post by: Dennis Glazener on April 28, 2014, 11:36:00 PM

Quote

My sumise is that it is a W. PA, Ohio, or WVA made gun.

Or maybe southwest VA. Didn't some of the Honaker's use similar cheekrests and trigger guards?
Dennis

Title: Re: New find
Post by: D. Bowman on April 29, 2014, 11:14:19 PM

Stamping on bottom flat of barrel reads

       JAMES BOWN
       PITTSBURG ??                       (https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi964.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae128%2Fdbowman62%2Fpercussion%2520rifle%2Fpercussionrifle003_zpse386f1ae.jpg&hash=0021ccdef1681e4376039b3aefdf9b6ab17a7b07) (http://s964.photobucket.com/user/dbowman62/media/percussion%20rifle/percussionrifle003_zpse386f1ae.jpg.html)

Title: Re: New find
Post by: mr. no gold on April 30, 2014, 01:18:23 AM

Sure sounds like P'burg to me. Bown, and Bown & Tetley were suppliers there and seem to have made some guns also. Love the sights on this gun! Dick

Title: Re: New find
Post by: Dphariss on April 30, 2014, 03:41:02 AM

Quote from: Dennis Glazener on April 28, 2014, 11:36:00 PM

Quote

My sumise is that it is a W. PA, Ohio, or WVA made gun.

Or maybe southwest VA. Didn't some of the Honaker's use similar cheekrests and trigger guards?
Dennis

In later years these TGs were popular as far away as Georgia and California so I don't see how they can be used to locate a rifle. The cheekrest is usable though I would think.

Dan

Title: Re: New find
Post by: Dphariss on April 30, 2014, 03:42:54 AM

Very nice old rifle and a great find. Thanks for the photos.

Dan