New York Target Rifle

[bama]

This is an A Wright & Co half stock target rifle. I have been trying to find information on this company but have found very little so far. If anyone has some information about this company please let me know. This is a very nicely stocked rifle In figured walnut. The workmanship is first class and the engraving is very well done. There is a wrist repair that is very well done during its period of use. This rifle is mounted in German Silver I believe. The rifling is strong and appears to be a fast twist. Any information would be appreciated.

[ed lundquist]

Jim, there is info on A Wright & Co, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. guns, google, hope this helps.

[bama]

I will try that again, I googled it yesterday and I kept coming up with the Wright family history and prominent family of New York. Nothing on the history of the company.

[Daryl]

Cool wedding band and transition from octagonal to round.

[ed lundquist]

Jim, I searched A.Wright & Co. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. gunsmith. One reference comes up.

[JTR]

Jim, That's a neat old rifle and no doubt would be fun to shoot! And thanks for posting all the great pictures.
I'm curious, is the octagon part of the barrel straight, or tapered? Same question about the round section?

I bought the relic butt stock that AVIRC posted here some time ago, and plan to get a barrel and get it back together again, and take it out shooting. And now I know a lot of the details that I was guessing on before.

John

[bama]

John the barrel is a straight taper, 1" at the breech down to 7/8" at the muzzle. The barrel is 33" long and the wedding ring is 11" from the breech. I hope that helps.

Thanks Ed, I will try that.

Jim

[JTR]

Thanks Jim, that will certainly help!
John

[Steve Collward]

"The New York State Firearms Trade" (Swinney & Rowe) list Alexander Wright in Pouhkeepsie, 1835-50 and Wright & Co., also in Poughkeepsie, 1840, 1843. Wright's partner being Peter Palmateer. 
  Several references regarding the accuracy of their rifles is mentioned in "The Spirit of Times" publication in the 1840's.

[bama]

Thanks very much Steve. I will give that a try, may I asked you how to go to that information.

Thanks, Jim

[Bob Roller]

I have been very partial to these NY target rifles ever since I saw the Whitmore rifle made for General Grant and the accuracy reported as a result of the test is astounding.There were a number of fine makers of these and Schuetzen was popular before WW 1 then every thing
German was of low esteem.
Bob Roller

[Steve Collward]

Jim,
 PM sent.

[DaveM]

That is a beauty! Any idea what the carved numerals may represent on the stock?

[Bill Paton]

DaveM,

I suggest it is the Social Security Number of a one-time owner. The numerals certainly aren’t professional quality like militia and military markings are. 414- belongs to Tennessee. Then 28-6641 could be the rest of his SSN. It was common before the digital age to put one’s SSN on belongs to identify the owner. They used to be on our custom-printed bank checks, too. Times have changed!

Bill Paton