J. Sweeney rifle

[Old Ford2]

Hi Guys,
Perhaps you can help me out.
A friend picked up a J. Sweeney rifle ( percussion) .36 cal. about a .40" barrel full stock with german silver inlays throughout the rifle. The barrel inside is perfect, outside is very good, with etching ( powder) at the nipple.
It was loaded!
It is single trigger, curly maple, brass hardware.
There are no cracks or damages of any kind.
I will try and post pictures shortly.
The lock and barrel is marked J. Sweeney, at the breach near the tang is marked  Remington.
Would anybody know of this maker.

Old Ford

[msmith]

Sellers, has a Joesph J Sweeney, Springfield Massachusetts..& a Joseph L Sweeney New Haven Connecticut, both had some firearm patents 1873 & 1879..possible same person..Could have made your gun earlier...

[Old Ford2]

Hi,
Who is "Sellers"?
Thank you
Old Ford

[msmith]

There is a book, called "American Gunsmiths"..By Frank M. Sellers....It has most or at least a lot of the gunsmiths who operated in America from the 1700's through 1800's...Mine is a old one and was out of print, however I think there is a new one out, don't know how good it is, it may be better...I believe Frank died a few years back...

[Old Ford2]

Thank you very much for the information.
Old Ford

[JTR]

I have the first and the second edition of Sellers. I think the second has all the gunsmiths that the first edition has, plus new ones as well. And with the first edition being out of print, the second edition is a lot less expensive and has more information.

John