AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Mark Elliott on May 10, 2020, 05:53:02 PM

Title: Thomas Oldham double rifle
Post by: Mark Elliott on May 10, 2020, 05:53:02 PM

I am posting this for Dick Gadler.   I am sure he will comment further.

This rifle was made by Thomas Oldham of Bedford County. PA, most likely in the early 1840s, before he went to Iowa.
Curiously, the gun has different calibers and both barrels are rifled. One looks to be about .44 and the other at .48
The barrels are 34 inches in length and each has its own sights, but there is some stripe.
The stock appears to be mostly plain maple.
This is a fairly heavy rifle, about 12 pounds.
Jim Whisker conjectured that this rifle was used principally for hunting bear.
Photography courtesy of Dr. Bill Paton. Thanks Doc!


(https://i.ibb.co/LzK28p1/Thomas-Oldham-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vx9KHzk)

(https://i.ibb.co/dBjnpKn/Thomas-Oldham-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cJkz8Tz)

(https://i.ibb.co/j596Z1B/Thomas-Oldham-3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/59XMxft)

(https://i.ibb.co/6ZSLG6f/Thomas-Oldham-4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MhHQKq3)

(https://i.ibb.co/ZdpTDh9/Thomas-Oldham-5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/319hZ0K)

(https://i.ibb.co/fCfkkXG/Thomas-Oldham-6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jLmyy8Z)

Title: Re: Thomas Oldham double rifle
Post by: WESTbury on May 10, 2020, 09:35:23 PM

It's interesting that one barrel has seven lands and grooves and the other eight.

Title: Re: Thomas Oldham double rifle
Post by: Bill Paton on May 10, 2020, 11:28:39 PM

Kent,

 In Kentucky double rifles, dissimilar rifling usually means one barrel is twist rifled and one is straight rifled. In this Oldham, the right 7 groove barrel is right twist, and the left 8 groove barrel is straight rifled.

Bill Paton
(https://i.ibb.co/Jr7rwFk/IMG-3875.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)

Title: Re: Thomas Oldham double rifle
Post by: snapper on May 10, 2020, 11:56:16 PM

Any idea on the purpose of having straight rifling?

FLeener

Title: Re: Thomas Oldham double rifle
Post by: Bill Paton on May 11, 2020, 12:30:47 AM

Snapper,

Try this ALR thread from 2017: Title: Straight Rifling -- Need some info.
Post by: 3 swans on February 12, 2017, 05:33:04 PM

It will probably leave you guessing, too.

Bill Paton


Here's a link to that discussion....  https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=43007.0

Title: Re: Thomas Oldham double rifle
Post by: WESTbury on May 11, 2020, 04:19:32 AM

Bill--Thanks for all the info and the great photo showing the rifling patterns.

Title: Re: Thomas Oldham double rifle
Post by: jdm on May 11, 2020, 10:14:40 PM

Thanks for posting this rare Bedford  rifle . I have seen one or two other side by side Bedford county guns before .  There workmanship does not compare with this one. Plus the bonus of a great signed barrel on this one.