AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Will on February 26, 2010, 10:08:17 PM

Title: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: Will on February 26, 2010, 10:08:17 PM
I have a friend's halfstock precussion in the shop for a tune-up. Unmarked except for the lock plate and it's pitted in the marked area. Has a two line marking......top line............R W???; bottom line looks like Cin?? ??io.  Very plain rifle....38 1/2" oct bl......15/16' tapered to 7/8"..........approx. .38 cal.......dst.....forged iron trigger guard.....made without buttplate..........walnut half-stock...........wood under-rib...........
Thanks ....Will
Title: Re: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: Roger Fisher on February 26, 2010, 10:24:01 PM
Interesting but more so if you get some photos posted.   One picture is worth a thousand words.. ;D
Title: Re: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: Will on February 27, 2010, 12:05:50 AM
I'll try to get some pictures posted. Meanwhile, can anyone shead some light on the lock markings? Thanks.............Will
Title: Re: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: GrampaJack on February 27, 2010, 01:13:20 AM
How about Cincinnati? Lots of Ohio rifles have this on the lock. Best Regards, Jack
Title: Re: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: Will on February 27, 2010, 01:22:24 AM
It looks like Cincinnati Ohio would fit with what's there; what would be the last name of the R W marking?
Title: Re: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: scooter on February 27, 2010, 04:49:13 AM
Among others in Cincinnati, Davidson Hardware sold locks by the gross BUT that certainly does NOT mean that the gun was made in Ohio. Look at a map and see where Cincinnati is located. They sold a lot more, say, in Kentucky than in Cleveland! And the name on the lock in 99.999% of cases has absolutely nothing to do with who made the gun. As noted before, what you posted does no one a bit of good. If there is any chance at all -- and that is VERY slim in case of unsigned half-stocks--it will come from photos.
Title: Re: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: Dave K on February 27, 2010, 05:07:01 AM
I believe you are very correct. I have  M. Sheets  that has a Davidson lock on it from Cinn.
Title: Re: Help Identifying This Halfstock
Post by: Curt J on February 28, 2010, 10:38:47 PM
How about "R. W. BOOTH"?  This was a hardware company in Cincinnatti from before 1850 until about 1875.  I have seen locks so marked on a number of rifles over the years, in fact I've owned one. They supplied locks that were used by gunsmiths all across the Midwest.