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Author Topic: Half stock PA rifle.  (Read 3930 times)

Offline Nate McKenzie

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Half stock PA rifle.
« on: May 06, 2011, 06:21:01 PM »
A customer brought this nice halfstock rifle into my shop along with the pictures and asked me to post them and get comments as to date, origin and maker.
An interesting feature is the excellent shiny bore with straight rifling. Your thoughts please.  Thanks, Nate.





































Thanks for looking.
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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Half stock PA rifle.
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2011, 08:32:04 PM »
Rifle is pretty plain and doesn't give alot to go on.  I don't think this
will be easy.  Looks late period Western PA.  Good luck.  Maybe that
wrist and cheek inlay will give it away to somebody.
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Offline Fullstock longrifle

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Re: Half stock PA rifle.
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2011, 08:40:24 PM »
Half stocks from this period are very generic and hard to identify unless they are signed.  It looks like it's in pretty good shape and the finish looks good. Other than replacing the barrel key inlay and maybe darkening the lock, hopefully your customer just wants to leave it in "as is" condition.

FK
« Last Edit: May 06, 2011, 08:41:45 PM by Fullstock longrifle »
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Offline mr. no gold

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Re: Half stock PA rifle.
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2011, 12:11:46 AM »
The oval drop to the lock bolt washer has a southern ring to it. Look in the archives for a smooth bored, full stocked, southern rifle, (with long half round barrel), and it has the same 'sideplate.' I understand that the southern makers favored this type of a washer for the bolt.
This is a nice gun with straight rifling you say-now, that is odd. It looks to be in fine condition and with the amendments specified above, it will be even better. Thanks for showing it to us and for the good photos.
Dick
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SPG

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Re: Half stock PA rifle.
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2011, 01:56:48 AM »
Mr. McKenzie,

Straight rifling? That is very interesting as I'm contemplating a straight rifled gun.

Not to sound impertinent but you are sure it is straight, not just a really slow twist? And, what caliber and depth of grooves?   

Thanking you ahead of time,

Steve
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Offline Nate McKenzie

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Re: Half stock PA rifle.
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2011, 05:15:49 AM »
Yes, it is definitely straight- about 38cal. and .010"-.012" deep and in excellent sharp, shiny condition.  The J. Stapleton rifle I posted a while back and now in the ALR museum has similar rifling.
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Offline Tanselman

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Re: Half stock PA rifle.
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2011, 08:10:59 AM »
There is also a good possibility that this is a New York rifle. The shorter than normal forestock grip area is often associated with NY or other New England areas, as are the oval lock bolt washer and cutout eagles in the cheekpiece inlay. The side facings and heavy molding lines in the cheek also look like they could come from NY or other points east. Shelby Gallien
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