Author Topic: Real or a reproduction  (Read 1131 times)

Offline rwalt

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Real or a reproduction
« on: October 24, 2024, 03:28:54 AM »
Hi
Not sure where to post this, so if it’s in the wrong place please move it. I just won an auction for a long rifle. The barrel is marked H Taylor. The only thing I can find on a H Taylor is a Henry Taylor in Jackson County Ohio, but I can’t find any pictures of his work. If anyone can shed some light on this rifle it would be greatly appreciated. I haven’t seen the rifle in person yet but I have some pictures. It is 54 inches overall length and 32 cal. If it turns out to be an original I wouldn’t shoot it but a reproduction I can’t wait to take it squirrel hunting. Thanks , Roger














Offline Longknife

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2024, 03:55:55 PM »
It sure looks like an original rifle to me. Always check to see if it is loaded, many of them are....LK
Ed Hamberg

Online rich pierce

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2024, 07:15:35 PM »
Original, cleaned up and refinished.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Niall

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2024, 07:23:07 PM »
There might be an issue with the mainspring so it may take a bit of work before you show it to the squirrels...Hopefully not.

Offline Daryl

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2024, 08:35:04 PM »
Looks great. What's the bore like?
Welcome to the forum, rwalt.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline JV Puleo

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2024, 01:10:08 AM »
Real.
About 99% of the reproductions use available parts, especially locks that are readily recognized by the members of this forum.

Offline rwalt

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2024, 02:24:55 AM »
Thanks to everyone who responded. That makes me happy that everyone is in agreement that it’s an original. Will not see the squirrel woods. Never even thought about it being loaded.I’ll definitely check. As far as the bore goes I won the gun at auction and haven’t seen it in person yet. I pick it up on Monday. Thanks again, Roger

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2024, 12:44:58 AM »
 The wood looks incredibly good to me, maybe a little too good. antiques that have just existed as long as this gun supposedly has been around should show some signs of wear, even if they have been refinished. I’m gonna say it’s old hardware on a new stock. It’s a hard call to make if whoever made the new stock copied the original closely.

Hungry Horse

Offline rwalt

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #8 on: October 26, 2024, 03:22:17 PM »
I kind of thought that as well it looks to be in really good shape for its age. That’s why I was asking this forum. Thanks

Offline Tanselman

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2024, 11:32:35 PM »
The rifle appears to be rather late, perhaps after the Civil War based on stock shape around lock and wrist. I can only enlarge the first two larger images you posted, since the smaller ones jump to advertising when I click on them. But I'd take a close look at all the edges where brass mounts touch the stock wood. If an old/original stock, there is usually a bit of darker wood next to the brass edges, where oxides have rubbed off into the stock wood over the years. Even when heavily sanded and refinished, usually a bit of darker color can be found on restored guns next to some of its brass furniture.

Since I cannot enlarge several of the images, I'm using only the first two larger images for my comments. I think this is an original stock, heavily refinished, on a late rifle. One detail that looks good in the top image is how thin and well-rounded the edges of the forestock are. Modern restocks of moderate quality often have slightly wider forestock walls, and leave a small, tell-tale flat area on the top edge. While forestock edges on fine restock jobs look more "original," on lower value guns where a fine restock is not warranted, you can usually see small, less refined, areas that indicate modern work. I think you have a good stock, just heavily refinished on this gun.

By the way, where did you find "H. Taylor" listed as a gunsmith? I could not find the name in any of my reference books.

Shelby Gallien

Offline rwalt

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2024, 01:27:45 AM »
Thanks for your response. The pictures I posted were taken from the auction website. I picked up the rifle today, and looks to be refinished. I’m no expert but I agree with everyone else that it is an original. I found Henry Taylor on the internet . Eduardo Mori database of USA gunmakers was the website. I will post some close-up pictures of where the brass meets the wood. The bore looks pretty good not real deep rifling. One issue when I first brought it home, someone had mentioned about the main spring so I cocked the gun and it would not stay cocked . I adjusted the double set triggers a bit thinking that might be it and now it does stay cocked but I have to set the rear trigger first. When cocked the hammer does have an  1/4 play. The front trigger will not fire the gun unless you set the back trigger. Is this a common thing? I’m really happy with the gun. I built an Armstrong flint for my first build, and it’s a club compared to this. I should have taken a lot more wood off. Now I have something to compare on my next build.




Offline JV Puleo

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2024, 05:26:06 AM »
It sounds to me as if the tumbler or the hammer or both are worn. That isn't too unusual. The quality of locks on most American guns is not all that great and they do wear out if used quite a bit. You could probably have that fixed if you aren't up to it yourself. Lock making was very specialized and none of the actual gun makers (or very very few) made their own locks especially at this late date.

Offline rwalt

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Re: Real or a reproduction
« Reply #12 on: Today at 01:23:46 AM »
Thank you, I haven’t had the time to look into it yet. But I think I could probably fix it myself. If I run into any issues I’m sure the people on here could bail me out. The knowledge on here is amazing. Thanks again, Roger