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Author Topic: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?  (Read 5332 times)

jimadavis1

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Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« on: December 16, 2016, 05:08:53 AM »
I bought this rifle about a year ago.   I would like to get it in condition to shoot but want to know more about it first.  It's hard to make out the name stamped on the top of the barrel but I think it might be E A OPPELT.   The bottom of the barrel is stamped "J, R, Reynolds".  I think he was the barrel maker.  The lock is stamped R&W C: Biddle & Co Philadelphia".  It looks to me like it might have been converted from flint.  Any information would be appreciated.  Also I would like to know of someone that can remove the breach plug and repair or replace the bolt that connects the breach plug to the tang.

Thanks,
Jim
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Offline Avlrc

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2016, 05:25:36 AM »
Yes. Edwin A Oppelt. He worked in Clarion County Pennsylvania in the 1840s.
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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2016, 04:04:03 PM »
Agreed on Oppelt. Nice find. Where did you come across it?
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Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline JTR

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2016, 07:11:54 PM »
Here's a link to another Oppelt rifle I posted last year. This one has the name on a brass plate on the barrel, so no doubt an upper end rifle from him.
John

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=35213.msg338130#msg338130
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John Robbins

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2016, 10:24:16 PM »
Can I see the signature John?
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Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline JTR

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2016, 01:41:37 AM »
Shreck, Look at the 6th picture down from the top. You can see and read the name on the brass plate, left side of the barrel picture.

Looks like the same stamp as the OP picture. But, the rifles are considerably different stylistically, making me wonder if one is a re-stock or if Oppelt changed his style for some reason. I have no clue either way as the one I posted is the only Oppelt rifle I've seen before.

John
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John Robbins

jimadavis1

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2016, 04:22:20 AM »
Avirc,
Thanks for the information on Edwin.  None of the books that I have list him as a gun maker.  I guess I need another book:-)


Jim
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jimadavis1

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2016, 04:23:31 AM »
Shreckmeister
I bought the gun from a dealer at a show in Franklin Tn last December.  I just liked the way it looked and it seemed to be in pretty good condition.  It has some modern repairs on the forearm of the stock, that I need to redo and I need to reconnect the tang to the breach plug.  Other than that everything seems to be in good shape considering it's age. 

Jim
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jimadavis1

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2016, 04:32:10 AM »
John,
Thanks for posting the photos of your gun.  Your original post is what led me to this message board. I couldn't make out the name on the top of my barrel so I googled the barrel maker's name and your original post popped up with the name OPPELT.   It looks to me like your barrel is the deluxe edition for sure.  I noticed that your lock looks significantly different than mine but I guess it was common for the gunsmiths back in the day to use locks from various lock makers.

Jim
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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2016, 11:25:02 PM »
Local family just inherited their great grandmother's Long rifle barrel marked E A Oppelt. Nicely engraved Patchbox. In fine condition.  Fullstock. I'll try to share photos later.
It seems to me he never used the same patchbox twice.
« Last Edit: December 28, 2016, 06:19:37 PM by Shreckmeister »
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Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2016, 06:18:43 PM »
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Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2016, 09:31:32 PM »

 
Birth

25 Feb 1820 • New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, Ohio, USA

7 Sources 



1820

(AGE)
 

 
Residence

1830 • Warwick, Tuscarawas, Ohio, USA

The census lists: 1 m under 5 [Sylvanus 1]; 2 m 5-9 [Francis 8, Sylvester 6]; 1 m 10-14 [Edwin 10]; 1 m 30-39 [Charles 30]; 1 f under 5 [Charlotte 4]; and 1 f 20-29 [Rachel 30].

1 Source 



1830

10
 

 
Marriage

14 May 1850 • Venango County, Pennsylvania, USA






Mary Jane McKinney
 
(1822–1895)
   




1850

30
 

 
Residence

26 Nov 1850 • Clay, Tuscarawas, Ohio, USA

The census lists: Edwin Oppelt 38, gunsmith, his wife Mary J. Oppelt 29. Edwin's real estate was valued at $1000. They were living next to his parents.

1 Source 



1850

30
 

 
Residence

1 Jul 1863 • Warwick Township, Ohio, USA

Data from the U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, lists: Edwin A. Oppelt, 43 years of age, doctor, from Warwick Township, Ohio.

1 Source 



1863

43
 

 
Residence

2 Jun 1870 • Loogootee, Martin, Indiana, USA

The census lists: Edwin A. Oppelt 50, physician, his wife Mary J. 48, children: Laura A. 15. and Frances I. 12. Edwin's real estate was valued at $4000; his personal estate at $1000.

1 Source 



1870

50
 

 
Residence

10 Jun 1880 • Perry, Martin, Indiana, USA

The census lists: Edwin A. Oppelt 60, physician, his wife Mary J. 58, druggist, daughters: Louisa A. 25, music teacher, Francis I. 22, music teacher.

1 Source 



1880

60
 

 
Wife's Death

3 Mar 1895 • Perry, Martin Indiana, USA

Dr. Edwin Allen Oppelt's wife of 45 years, Mary Jane (McKinney) Oppelt, died on this date.





1895

75
 

 
Residence

4 Jun 1900 • Perry, Martin, Indiana, USA

The census lists: Edwin A. Oppelt 80, widowed physician, his daughter, [Francis] Imelda 47, single, music teacher.

1 Source 



1900

80
 

View
Occupation

1900 • Indiana, USA

As per the "Directory of Deceased American Physicians," Dr. Oppelt was an "Allopathic Doctor," a medical doctor who treats disorders by using methods aimed at counteracting the problems, such as pharmaceutical drugs, radiation and surgery.

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Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Paul E. Wog

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2016, 03:14:50 AM »
Shreckmeister,
  Thanks for posting those pics...the buttplate on that Oppelt looks very similar to another maker from your area, as well as the box engraving style.
  Food for thought on who Oppelt apprenticed with?
                                                             Denny
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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2016, 05:00:00 AM »
Shenefelt?
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Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Paul E. Wog

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Re: Is this a E A Oppelt Rifle?
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2016, 05:29:55 PM »
That would make sense since Oppelt was in Venango County...then again, there is that buttplate, and Putneyville is not all that far from Clarion.
Looks Shreckish to me.
                                    Denny
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