Old long rifle

[Gustav]

I've had an old longrifle for awhile now. Inherited it from my dad. There's not much information that I've been able to find, but this looks like my best bet. I'm going to try to add some pictures.

[Avlrc]

Nice lock. I like the hunter on the lockplate. I wonder what the engraving under the hammer is supposed to be. It could have a beak, but it also looks like a short tail.  I changed my mind. It is a dead deer with its rear legs up and tail hanging down.

The signature looks like a J F.   

Thanks for sharing.

[Tanselman]

Another option for the initials might be "J T." The builder picked a really nice piece of tightly curled maple for the stock.

Shelby Gallien

[Avlrc]

Could be J T. 

[Gustav]

The lock was made by Riddle, which I've seen referenced a few times I guess I'll look him up. It's a really nice gun, not like those ornate euro ones but built well .guessing it was a kind of midpriced gun there's  some nice work on the barrel. If I remember correctly,  my mom bought it for my dad for their first anniversary.  So, that puts it in Aiken S.C. somewhere around 1955.

[Gtrubicon]

What a nice rifle with some family history. Do you shoot it? What caliber is it?

[Gustav]

We shot it once, long ago. I have some balls for it, I'll measure  them. Got a powder horn too. Don't know if they really belong together.  Oh, I remember I was about 11, and it kicked like a mule. But it was fun.

[Gtrubicon]

Do you keep the bore maintained? I think it’s a wonderful preserved rifle.

[Gustav]

Yes,  I keep it clean. I'm  pretty sure it's a .30 cal.

[smokinbuck]

Whatever, the original owner must have had a long neck with that much drop in the stock.