Author Topic: Friends new old rifle (Read 3871 times)

Hungry Horse · « **on:** February 15, 2013, 11:16:20 PM »

A friend brought his newest acquisition to the range today. Very interesting piece. Its a short barreled (32") full stocked (walnut) rifle, with a barrel that is 1- 3/8ths across the flats, and .40 cal. The rifling is very deep, with eight lands, and grooves. The barrel was bright at one time, and appears to never have been either blued, or browned. Under the stock the barrel is still like new. There is no markings on the barrel, as to who might have made it. It has a full brass patch box, with wood between the lid, and side panels, like an early Leman, but the top of the box doesn't resemble a Leman at all. It appears that the stock and the fittings are all old originals. The barrel, and tang, seem to be replacements. The barrel does have one oddity. It is not crowned, and has no provision for a false muzzle, or mechanical starter. It also has two concentric rings cut into the muzzle, that would seem to indicate the barrel hasn't been shortened. The wrist is quite thick in keeping with a bench gun, with a heavy barrel. The sights are low, open, hand made, adjustable, affairs.
We have not determined the rate of twist yet, but from the depth of the rifling, I would suspect a 1 in 48" is likely.

Hungry Horse

smokinbuck · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2013, 01:07:53 AM »

Horse,
You need to post a picture. You have described a rifle that I have here, except my barrel is 37". My rifle was made by Richard Beebe in Springfield, Ohio, Clark County. It is approximatley .40 caliber with a 1 3/8"X37" barrel, an H.E. Leman percussion lock and walnut full stock. Beebe worked in the area in the early to mid 1850's.
Mark

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2013, 01:41:49 AM »

Smokinbuck;

This gun has a Josh Goulcher lock with a single bolt securing it. there is a lot of fulminate erosion that obscures the Goulcher on the lock. I only know what it is because i have two others just like it. This gun has all its furniture pinned in place, along with the barrel. The under lugs are all brass. It has a brass thumb piece, and a oddly shaped side plate. The only engraving on the gun is a little wriggle work around the thumb piece and on the side plate.
I didn't have a camera at the range, so i didn't get any pictures. Sorry!
Smokinbuck is your gun signed? And if so, is it on the barrel?

Hungry Horse

smokinbuck · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2013, 02:33:43 AM »

Horse,
My rifle also has pinned hardware and brass ramrod thimbles. There is no thumb piece or engraving and there is a tear drop shaped inlet washer one the single lock bolt. The barrel is signed, stamped letters, R. Beebe, Springfield Ohio behind the rear sight. I can't post but will forward a pic to you.
Mark

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2013, 05:24:35 AM »

Smokinbuck;

I think you may be on to something. If the barrel was changed on this gun, as I suspect, the old barrel probably had the signature. I'll try to get a picture of this rifle. The finish appears to be some kind of tinted varnish or shellac. Actually a lot of the original finish is still on the wood. Thanks.

Hungry Horse

Ranger Canoe · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2013, 05:03:25 AM »

This is my new old rifle. After searching images on line it looks a lot like a J. Truitt & CO. with only a single trigger which is set light. It does have 8 grooves and lands with a 1 in 48 twist. I want to send pictures but have not figured out how to attach them from my computer. Any help accomplishing that task would be a great help.