An old friend based over in the wilds of Wisconsin just sent me photos of a rifle he recently found- I can supply photos if of interest, but I don't know how to size them down..
I see a vanilla half-stock Sporter circa 1850- full octagon bbl, walnut stock with cheekpiece on left side, brass b/p & t/g, DST, bar lock- no capbox or inlays. The barrel is stamped "D. HARTKOPF" with a gangstamp, and looking just past the name in the corrosion, I think I'm seeing ".....LADA....." which would immediately bring Philadelphia" to mind, and not the nasty Russian-built Fiat sold as a "Lada" back in the 1980s. Any info available out there?
Thx in advance.