Simon Miller Rifle?

[Fullstock longrifle]

Thought you guys might enjoy seeing this rifle on Gunbroker that I think is a Simon Miller.  It's a little late, but it looks honest and clean.  By the way, I have no connection to it, just thought you guys might enjoy looking at it.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=205332883

Frank

[Rich N.]

Frank,

Thanks for providing the link to this nice rifle.  It also has a lot of characteristics of some Samuel Morrison rifles that I have seen.  He worked in Milton, Pa. during the period this rifle was probably made.  Do you think it could possibly have been made by him?

Rich

[Fullstock longrifle]

You could be right Rich, I just took an educated guess.  I figured someone here would know for sure.

By the way, welcome to ALR. 

Frank

[JTR]

That's a nice looking gun!

But I agree with Rich in that it doesn't look all that much like a S Miller. Especially the nose of the comb of the stock, being more humped up than other Miller guns I've seen.

I've had 2 Millers, almost twins of one another with particially identical carving behind the cheek piece. One was signed
S * Miller, and the other one simply S*M...... And the S*M on this barrel looks identical to the one I had.

Did Morrison ever engrave his initials? All I remember seeing is his name stamped in block letters.

Either way, a nice gun at a still affordable price. I doubt it'll go up much more in the next 4 days, but will be interesting to watch.
Thanks for posting it Frank!
John 

[Don Getz]

Rich-Frank.    My guess would be Morrison.   In view of the fact that he worked with Joe Long for a period of time, this gun
has so many characteristics that are found on Joe Long guns.   Check out the engraving around the sights, the football
sideplate, and some of the other inlays.     Most of the S. Milller guns have that double horn sideplate like the Sam Baum
rifles.   This is a nice gun.   Good to see you posting here Rich.    Don't forget out show at the Country Cupboard coming
up Feb. 4 & 5, hopefully it won't snow again...............Don

[Fullstock longrifle]

I'm sure you guys are right, I'm not all that up on this type of rifle, but the gun shop that's selling it doesn't have a clue what it is.  I agree with you John, this is still priced very reasonably (so far), it will be interesting to see what it ends up going for. I won't be a player for it, but I thought somebody here might want to be.

I'm looking forward to your show in February Don, it's a great one!

Frank

[mr. no gold]

Have to agree. boys. It ain't a Miller; Morrison for sure. And, a darn nice one at that. This rifle fits a category of gun that I have long felt has stayed hidden for a long time. That is, in my opinion, this is a good solid Western/Oregon Trails rifle from the 1840s. The northern trail ended in WN state; all emmigrants carried some kind of gun whether a shotgun, a then contemporary rifle (including plains rifles) to an ancestral flintlock, something or another.
Fine rifles turn up in OR and WN occasionaly, but a good vigorous effort to beat the bushes up there could turn up who knows what? Lots of early history in that region starting with the French, the Russians, the English, all followed up by us. There should be a three hundred year accumulation of good old guns. 
Frank, thanks for bringing this to our attention. A good gun is always a joy to behold.
Best-Dick 

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

Here is "S * Miller" barrel signature.



 Gunbroker offering

Hurricane

[Fullstock longrifle]

It ended up selling for $3,175.00, still not a bad price. 

Frank