Help Identifying Half Stock Percussion

[Matt0029]

Hi, I live in Chattanooga, TN and recently bought an old half stock percussion (I think that is what they are called) for $90 and would love to know a little bit about it. It has the dove tail butt stock, eagle on a plate on the cheek side, storage space on outboard side, octagon barrel, wooden push/punch rod, its signed by H. Martin on the barrel, and has "something... Nelson & Co" stamped into the bottom of the barrel that was covered up by the half stock fore grip. Any help would be great!

The piece is in poor condition with a broken stock. Some you-hoo dumped wood glue into the break and all behind the trigger group. I disassembled the weapon and plan to re-fit (without cleaning/destroying patina) the barrel and parts on to a new crafted stock; keeping the original wrapped up in the closet for safe keeping. Stand by for pictures..

[JCKelly]

Postly, Nelson & Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania made barrels, locks and other hardware. A lot got shipped down the Ohio river.

[Avlrc]

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=13913.0

  Just adding to what JCKELLY has already stated.

The above could be the barrel maker. You should post some pictures and someone on here may be able to tell you  where your gun was made and which Martin gunsmith may have built it.

[Matt0029]

The good news: My weapon looks pretty much like the one in the link you provided, thank you so much! Do you guys think $90 was a good price?

[Avlrc]

My bar tab is  always more than that. Heck yeah. I  figure a good signature is worth a couple hundred bucks. Of course I ain't  one  of those tightwads,  who always tell everyone they paid to much for their stuff. Seriously you got a good deal. 

[Shreckmeister]

Hacker Martin?

[Matt0029]

This rifle appears to be a little older than Hacker Martin's work, plus this signature is a heavy flowing cursive with only and "H" at the beginning, not the full name.  I will have to get some more pictures when I can find my good camera in the morning.

[Matt0029]

[Matt0029]

[eddillon]

IMHO it looks like it was a "put together" consisting of available parts.  Example, patch box is from an English sporting rifle.  looks like the patch box and cheekpiece inlay were installed long after the original was built.  Not even an amateurish job of inletting those parts.  Probably more than $100.00 worth of parts, though.  

[Matt0029]

$100 you say..... I WIN!!! Hahahaha; I paid $90 and this piece, once put back together will make a neat wall hanger. I now have to start thinking up a story to tell people about it.

[eddillon]

Definitely a bargain.  Anything with recognizeable parts is a steal at that price.  Now the work starts to make a neat wall hanger.  Congratulations on your $95.00 find!!!  I just paid $60.00 for an antique triggerguard and trigger set.

[Matt0029]

I have been talking to David at Track of the Wolf to see if they have a maker with this stock type. As I mentioned, I would like to refit the parts on a stock that's not in two pieces and wrap this one up for safe keeping. I know this stock is broken but I could not bring myself to attempt a "fix"...as the previous owner did. I found a few operating mechanism that look very similar to the one I have; no clue how abundant they were?

[Matt0029]

IMHO it looks like it was a "put together" consisting of available parts.  Example, patch box is from an English sporting rifle.  looks like the patch box and cheekpiece inlay were installed long after the original was built.  Not even an amateurish job of inletting those parts.  Probably more than $100.00 worth of parts, though.  

I totally agree, I'm by no means an expert but would love to know the story behind this. That is the most interesting part!

[smokinbuck]

Mat,
I have to go along with Ed on this one being a parts gun and add that it is probably a little later than you are thinking due to the trigger guard and back action lock. I am looking at a double gun that was broken through the wrist area, as yours is, and instead of replacing the stock, it has a sheet copper wrap over the break, after it was refitted and glued. Parts gun or not, try to keep the original parts, as you received it, together. It will make a more interesting rifle and the new stock will cost you more, before you are done, than the rifle is worth.
Mark