[Help Me Identify] Antique Percussion Rifle

[kotog]

Hello all. I have been attempting to find out more information on my Antique Flintlock Rifle. This flintlock rifle, as the story goes, has been passed down from generation after generation in my family since the 1800s. My Grandfather, whom has since passed (2003), told me a story about how this Rifle was given to our Great Great Grandfather by Abraham Lincoln while he lived in Illinois (he used to point at the A.L. (is that an L?) inscribed on the side - see photos). I'm skeptical that this was Abraham Lincolns, however, I do know that it looks like it might be from the mid 1800s or later. Our family did have ties in politics, one of my ancestors (direct) was Jacob Broom, one of the signers of the United States Constitution. However, I haven't in the years of being in possession of this Rifle found any information relating to it's origin.

Album http://imgur.com/a/CRlfF

From my research the A.L. looks like it might be the gunsmiths initials or business "tag" or possibly the owners initials.

Can anyone tell me more about this Rifle? I can take closer up photos with my DSLR (I shot these with my phone - sorry for the quality).

I appreciate your time and if you need more information I'll do the best I can!

Thanks!

edit: The trigger assembly actually works. However, I have only tested this once (did NOT allow the hammer to slam) and will not being testing this again without a professional.

[Seth Isaacson]

For starters, its a percussion gun not flintlock. It is incredibly unlikely that it was owned by Lincoln, and without anything to prove it you won't be able charge a higher price if you were to sell it. Many mid-19th century items with "AL" markings have been claimed to be Abraham Lincoln's over the years. Most of course were not. I've heard of a door someone tried to sell for thousands of dollars once because it was carved with "AL" and they claimed Lincoln carved it when he was a lawyer visiting someone's house (that would make him an awful house guest). There have been rifles with "AL" signed targets that people claimed were shot by Lincoln but of course could have been signed by any number of thousands of men with those initials alive in the period.

It looks like a typical mid-century percussion rifle to me, likely from the Northeast. The marking is actually "AS" not "AL" as far as I can see. What is the bore size? Are there any other markings?

[kotog]

The Rambling Historian,

Thanks for your reply! I had my doubts about the Abraham Lincoln and figured it was just a tall tale from my Grandparents... I also looked up 19th century cursive trying to see if the second letter was actually an L or not.

Other than the 2 areas on the Rifle that has A.S. on them those is the only markings. I'll have to check bore size when I get home today after work.

[Seth Isaacson]

No problem. My grandpa tells a tale of the older rifle in my family and says our first ancestor in the country bought it right after getting off the boat from Sweden in the late 1800s. It was supposedly the gun that provided all the meat for him, his sister, and his brother in law for decades. Unfortunately, his story can't be completely true because the company that made the rifle didn't exist until the early 20th century. Family tales have a tendency to get bent over the years.

[kotog]

Last night I attempted to research how to find my bore size. And to be honest, I have no idea what I am doing. I read a bunch of articles on how to take soft metal and push it through, however, I'm very uncomfortable doing this 

Anyone have any ideas who made this rifle?

I appreciate your time!

[Seth Isaacson]

You can get a fair idea by making a tracing of the bore size at the muzzle on paper and then measuring it with a ruler or get a more accurate estimate using calipers or a bore gauge like this:

[kotog]

Ha! Look at that. A Bore Gauge. I'll go to my local shop and see if they have those this weekend to see what this Rifles Bore is. Thanks!

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi Kotog,

Welcome to ALR and thank you for sharing your family heirloom.  You are lucky to have a rifle handed down thru the generations of your family.

On measuring the bore, keep in mind that the measurement at the muzzle may not be the actual bore size.  Many old guns were relieved at the muzzle for ease of loading, or have been worn larger at the muzzle by the ramrod.  While nice to know, the bore size probably won't get you any closer to knowing the maker. 

More important would be any markings on the barrel or elsewhere.  Have you had the barrel out to check the bottom flats?  Are there any markings inside the capbox or barrel channel?

Oh, and I agree the initials are A S, not A L.  Good luck with your search.

-Ron

-Ron