Moll Rifle (picture heavy, 12)

[Dave P]

Hi ALR members.  Want to explain my situation and ask a few questions.

A friend and I recently bought an old duck decoy and a Moll rifle from the Hellertown, PA area, and I am trying to get values on both of them.  I love hunting, but am not really a gun collector.  However, when I hold this rifle and shoulder it, I get a powerful feeling of respect and awe.  I'd love to know more about it - about what time period this is from, and the uses that a typical owner of this gun would have used it for (military, settling, hunting, etc).

Searching the internet I found your site and am very impressed with the site and the knowledge of your members.  I feel this is the place where I will get straight forward opinions on the condition, possible time era, maybe which Moll built this (provided it's authentic), a rough value, etc. 

If someone could let me know if there are certain pics that I need to take that are not included below, I'd appreciate it. 

The barrel length is 39 1/2 inches.

Thanks so much for your help,
-Dave

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

The Moll family of Hellerstown was a large family of gunmakers ( included David, Edwin, John, Peter, William and probably others). This gun is quite late in the era. A fine gun never the less.

[Don Getz]

Actually, it looks like a re-stock to me, not really that well done, nor is it extremely valuable...........Don

[Dave P]

I appreciate the looks and comments on this.  Guess I was hoping it was a little older.  I'm bummed, though, if the stock isn't original.  Is there anything in particular, Mr. Getz (or anyone), that I could look more closely at - or photo for you to look at which would reveal a restock? 
Thanks,
Dave

[firelock-inc]

John and  Peter Moll were making plain guns at Hellerstown
 in the mid 1830's.
.
The cap box is similar to one used by Leman in Lancaster about
1850.

Please advise the caliber.

Rickp

[Dave P]

Rick,
Not sure of the caliber, but will try to find it out.
The gun weighs roughly 10 1/2 lbs and the total length is 55 1/2" (barrel is 39 1/2).
It's very plain - no engraving, etc. - only MOLL on the barrel.

[Don Getz]

Dave..........sorry, didn't mean to burst the bubble.    The overall architecture of the gun didn't look right, did not fit the
Moll school.    The trigger guard looked real late, the lock panels looked very amateurish.   It could be a Moll, but from one
of the later ones.   I never realized there were so many Moll's, and my comments were made based on what we normally
see in a Moll rifle, usually a much earlier example.........Don

[Don Getz]

I have responded to Dave privately on this gun, discussed my reasons, etc.    This is for anyone who wishes to get into
identifying the gun.   If it didn't have "Moll" on the barrel, could you place it with a certain school, and then, who within
the school made it?   Ha, Ha, fun time..............Don

[firelock-inc]

February 7, 2013

As anyone noticed the number on the butt plate ?

part number, from a catalogue ?

Rickp

[jsteele]

In my experience most Moll guns will have a number on them.  That being said they are normally four digits and stamped into the barrel.

I do think it is strange there is no first initial and the closed nose cap, but I have seen others that way.

[TMerkley]

Is it possible that someone tried to "fake" it as a Moll back in the day, kind of like the Bean rifles?  Just a thought?