An untouched Leman flint rifle

[JV Puleo]

Last Sunday my brother-in-law called and asked if I'd take a look at this. I'm not terribly interested in this period but I took these photos (please pardon the something less than professional backgrounds) and offered to post them here. The rifle is for sale. The owner knows little or nothing about old guns and asked my nephew to help him dispose of it, which is how I came into the picture. If anyone is interested in following up on this they can PM me and I will provide the appropriate contact information.

It is in original flint and, aside from the chip at the rear of the lock, looks to have seen little use. The rifling is still deep... in fact, I'd probably shoot this one once or twice if it were mine. I especially like the carved jag end on the ramrod.

[Habu]

Nice--thanks for posting the pictures!  did you happen to note the caliber, and maybe the barrel length or overall length to help establish scale?

While I don't care for the hammer, I really like the lock.  It would be perfect for a rifle I've been mentally designing lately. 

Jim

[alyce-james]

Thanks for sending the pictures and posting the information with the ALR. Nice find. AJ

[T*O*F]

I wonder why H E Leman and Warranted are both double stamped, but Lancaster isn't.  Why would they bother screwing it up just because it's a little crooked.

[Curt J]

What an honest looking rifle!  It's kind of refreshing to see one in "attic-condition" now and then.

[JV Puleo]

I've sent a PM to everyone who inquired with the email of the contact person.

Joe P

[Martin S.]

I've sent a PM to everyone who inquired with the email of the contact person.

Joe P

Is there any chance the original photos for this post could be restored?

I would love to see them.

[JV Puleo]

By what I can only say is an astounding stroke of luck, I actually do have the photos. Unfortunately they are not as large as the originals were but it's the best I can do...considering I posted them 14 years ago I'm amazed I still had them. I haven't had good luck posting photos on this site recently so if they don't come out send me an email at jvp5070@gmail.com and I'll send them that way.

[BigSkyRambler]

NICE!!!

[whetrock]

The grooves on the tip of the rod are fascinating. They are only on one side of the rod. The steeper angles also face outward, toward the tip. So I'm assuming that they are just for pulling the rod out, and not for use as a jag. Is that what you guys think, too, or am I missing something?

[Tanselman]

Well, they are kind of pointed the wrong way for pulling the ramrod out. I'd guess they are for running cleaning patches down the barrel, where the initial push inward is the toughest, so the orientated cuts help push it inward. Once the cleaning patch has made the first trip down, it becomes grooved, and probably easier to pull out so the angle of the points isn't a deterrent.

Shelby Gallien

[whetrock]

Thanks for the reply, Shelby.
Seems to me that wrapping the rag/cleaning-patch around the end of the rod usually takes care of the pushing-it-in part. It's the getting-it-out part that is a bit tricky.
The rods I have seen that were obviously intended to be used as a jag had the grooves cut all the way around. Have you seen this type before?
If it will work as a jag, then perhaps it is a superior idea. Sometimes the rods with groves all the way around are a bit fragile, being prone to having chips pull out.
Thanks.

[JV Puleo]

They may have used tow (linen fibers) rather than a patch for cleaning...

[Martin S.]

Thank you for restoring the photos!

[Daryl]

Good photos. The grooves face the wrong way for pulling the patch out. How they would react with tow, I know not.
Being one side and not all the way around, tells me it is decorative at best and of no particular value, except perhaps for rod removal.