Full-stocked Ferguson Rifle?

[Flint62Smoothie]

Does anyone here have any more information in regards to a ‘full stocked’ Ferguson rifle?

Besides the basic stock design, and lack of sling swivels, how else may it differ from that of the ordinance rifle that the military used?

[smart dog]

Hi,
It is definitely not made for military work.  The museum description mentions paktong.  It looks like the trigger guard may be made of that metal, which is essentially the same as German silver, an alloy of copper and nickel.  I wonder what markings are on the barrel and lock?

dave

[Flint62Smoothie]

The museum description mentions paktong.  It looks like the trigger guard may be made of that metal, which is essentially the same as German silver, an alloy of copper and nickel.

I had to go look that up!

Paktong - The Chinese name of the alloy known as German silver (which see, under silver). Also, erroneously, packfong or pakfong.

I wonder what markings are on the barrel and lock?

I kindly asked them for more details and/or pictures of any markings. I will update this post as I learn anything.

[wormey]

If you look at the spacing of the front ramrod pipe relative to the middle and rear pipes it appears that the barrel has been shortened several inches and the forestock cut back.  The description of the triggerguard is suspect.  Wormey

[smart dog]

Hi,
Paktong has a fascinating history.  It was developed in SE Asia probably by the Chinese and was considered this rare and mysterious silver that did not tarnish by the European who became aware of it during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.  It was sought after and valued more highly than silver.  Quite a few high end British sporting guns were mounted with exotic paktong hardware.  That was until the late 18th century when some German metallurgists discovered it was nothing more than an alloy of copper and nickel.  When they started making cheap German silver, the allure of paktong collapsed overnight.

dave

[Seth Isaacson]

Here is another by Hunt with silver furniture (hallmarks for 1777 and 1778) that another describer here wrote up last year. More photos in the link:
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/82/1285/ferguson-patent-breechloading-flintlock-rifle-by-j-hunt

[JHeath]

About 27 years ago I saw, in some museum, a Ferguson rifle. I am pretty sure it was the West Point museum.

It was some kind of officer's version, or private sporter. It had a sliding bayonet. The placard explained that the bayonet was not for combat, it was for hunting european boar. If the first shot provoked a charge, you could stick the pig with the bayonet.

Sorry, that's all the info I remember. Can't recall the stock. Seem to remember the rifle was on the shortish side.