Plains Rifle?

[okawbow]

Interesting half stock. .48 caliber smooth. .990-.900 tapered barrel, 30 1/2” long. 13” LOP. (C Taylor) engraved on the top flat. C L Dunning carved into the comb. Wood is figured maple or mahogany. Ramrod is possibly period.

Ideas on age, where made, anything about C. Taylor?

[ed lundquist]

Looks like birds eyes around the patch box, I'm thinking maple.

[okawbow]

I did find a C. Taylor listed in earmi.it list of US gunmakers as an “unknown location halfstock rifle”. The seller was in the west VA. /VA. Area. But the gun could have been made anywhere, I suppose. This rifle was shot a lot as evidenced by the greatly worn tumbler hole.

[Avlrc]

There is a Calvin Taylor, Triangle New York. Mid 1800s to late. (Summers ,American Gunsmiths)

[okawbow]

Thanks Avirc. Good chance this is a New York rifle. Right time period.

[Avlrc]

You are welcome, hope he is your man.

[Longknife]

"Plains Rifle"? NOT! That is one of the most miss used terms in this hobby!

[Bob Roller]

My grandfather was C.M.Taylor was born in 1873 but used small bore muzzle loaders long after repeating rifles were common.
He was pleased to see my first efforts and one was a 25 caliber with too much drop in the stock.The 22's made in the high school wood working class were not of interest to him.He passed away after 99 years and 11 months of life and did his last big job at age 94 when he
put a new roof on the kitchen.THIS rifle shown here looks like it came from a good shop,maybe in Pennsylvania or Ohio.
Bob Roller
When I mention my grandfather I am speaking about my maternal grandfather and never knew who my maternal grandfather was and only know little about my father's family so I'll stay away from that subject.

[okawbow]

Yea, I realize this rifle never saw the plains, but that term is often used for this style in larger calibers, in gun books and auction ads. I believe the so called TC Hawkens and other similar generic guns were patterned after this style rifle and not the genuine Hawkens. I have a soft spot for these later guns because I grew up playing with my Great Grandfathers halfstock that looked very much like this one.

[okawbow]

Bob, this rifle may have been made in New York, just across the border from Susquehanna county Pennsylvania. Calvin Taylor worked in the Triangle township area, not too far from Ithaca, NY.

[Steve Collward]

  "The New York State Firearms Trade" (Swinney & Rowe), also cite a Calvin Taylor in the Town of Triangle/Upper Lisle from 1834 through the 1870's and Marathon (NY), 1875 (this information is taken from various census records and county directories).
    There is a photo of an over/under rifle-smoothbore gun with the barrel signed in script "C. Taylor".

[okawbow]

I would like to see the photo of the signature.

[Steve Collward]

Okawbow,
   PM sent.

[Steve Collward]

One more pm sent.

[okawbow]

Thanks Steve!
I’m convinced the signatures are the same. So, Calvin Taylor is the gunsmith. Triangle, New York, Broome County. Probably made about 1850’s