Help Identify Flintlock rifle, Lane and Read

[MontanaFrontier86]

I am going to a local auction tomorrow with the potential to pickup this rifle. I don't know much about lane and read though. Here is the description it gives, "Rare Kentucky Flint Lock Rifle By Lane & Read Boston c. 1826-1839 with 50 Inch Barrel, Curly Maple Stock, Inlaid Silver, Engraving & Patch Box". I'm not sure if the rifle was built by Lane and read or just a lock by lane and read was used. This is all the information I could find concerning Lane and read. WILLIAM READ, Boston William Read was located in Boston Mass. circa 1826 - 1880. He is listed as Lane and Read 1826 - 1849, and as William Read & Sons 1850 - 1880. This shop was like the Cabelas of the period and a distributor and clearing house selling guns produced in the Boston area by regional makers although they did have house smiths producing their own. There is some reference to Daniel Baird Wesson having worked for or produced parts and lockworks for Read during his early years. Here are some pictures. What would you say would be a fair price for this piece?

[Seth Isaacson]

As you've already kind of pointed out, they were likely the retailer and not the maker. I've seen their name on a few kinds of guns inluding an Allen pepperbox.

[Mike Brooks]

I have never seen guns marked Lane& Reed, only locks.

[Hlbly]

This gun has an old lock and barrel, but the rest of it is relatively new, possibly Hacker Martin or one of his associates. Probably 1950's.

[MontanaFrontier86]

This gun has an old lock and barrel, but the rest of it is relatively new, possibly Hacker Martin or one of his associates. Probably 1950's.

How can you tell everything else is relatively new? I don't doubt you I'm just curious. That is one of the things I'm worried about is its not all original

[Hlbly]

50+ years experience. I have seen many of the guns from Hacker's shop, and this certainly looks like it came from there. He tore up old guns and used the old parts to build rifles with new wood and inlays and hardware of his own design.

[wormey]

I agree wholeheartedly with the last post....Wormey. 

[MontanaFrontier86]

I don't know anything about hacker martin. Are his guns valuable or worth while? What value should this go far. I was interested in it because I though it was a original antique. I may still be interested though if it can be had for a good price. It looks like good work and whoever did it looked like they knew what they were doing. Thanks so far for all the help.

[Hlbly]

Without a signature, I would say it is worth about a sum of the parts. A signed pistol by Hacker just closed on GunBroker, top bid was 400.00, but it did not sell. Keep in mind that I am not saying for sure that he made this gun. I said that it was probably by him or one of his associates.

[Molly]

It has a generally pleasant appearance but the nose cap and muzzle end certainly suggests some modification to me.  I too am not familiar with Mr. Martin's work but the features on the box, sideplate and inlays may be sufficient for others who are, to make the call.

I know of one rifle signed by Mr. Martin being offered by a internet dealer for the tidy sum of $7,500. You can probably find it by googling "Hacker Martin Rifle for sale".  And I have seen others offered and sold for a fraction of that amount.  Among those that I have seen I'd say I understand why he was called "Hacker".  No disrespect to Mr. Martin.  He is certainly a well known pioneer in the world of longrifles and should I ever try to do what he did I might very well be called "Hackerette Molly".

[Mike Brooks]

This gun has an old lock and barrel, but the rest of it is relatively new, possibly Hacker Martin or one of his associates. Probably 1950's.

I wondered about that. There is absolutely no wear on the engraving on the brass and the juncture of the muzzle cap and the wood is real hinckey for an old gun.

[n stephenson]

Molly, The reason he was called "Hacker" is because that was his name. He was named after a well liked  local Jonesboro, Tenn. judge , named Newt Hacker. That was back before people named their kids after the latest "heartthrob" on Day of our Lives.  I don`t consider myself to be the self appointed protector of Hacker Martin, but, it does ruffle my feathers when people make statements about him out of ignorance . I would LOVE to put 10 of his worst modern day critics into EXACTLY the same situation and, circumstances as he worked in . And then, watch them flounder and cry because they wouldn't know their hat from their drawers. It is always easy to look at someone`s work and play armchair Quarterback. Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion, and in this society they love to give their opinion freely , whether they actually KNOW what they are talking about or not, and even when they have no skills of their own. Yes I am from Tennessee and proud of it and ,won`t sit by and let others badmouth another Tennessean ,especially one that we revere.

[rich pierce]

I'd consider it an interesting rifle possibly from the black powder revival period and worth what is is to you based on how you like it or your affinity for that movement.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Thanx, Nate ... well said ... In my early years of muzzleloading, I made the pilgrimage to Hacker Martin's old mill gunshop near Gray Station TN., His daughter was living there and allowed me to rummage around in the shop ....still a lot of "stuff" in there at that time (1980) ...I still have a flour sack she gave me .....Now as to his work .... Have seen some very fine guns he built, and some not as nice .... I understand that even in his elderly years, with poor eyesight he was still trying to build ....this probably explains that ...He IS still highly respected in the M/L community for what he did .... and us TENNESSEANS are very proud of him ...!!! ... This rifle does look like could be a re-stock by him .... I have a nice flint pistol by him, with the same engraving style, and have been told by two people in the collecting community (who knew and were friends with Hacker). that this engraving style was a favorite of Hacker's associate, Lester Smith... Anyway, THIS is a nice rifle and I would buy it ........

[JV Puleo]

I have never seen guns marked Lane& Reed, only locks.

I have a percussion, octagonal rifle barrel that tapers from about 1-1/4" at the breech to perhaps 7/8" at the muzzle marked Lane & Read – Boston on the top flat... with Birmingham proofs on the underside. They were hardware and sporting goods dealers. I've also read that they had  work done in-house but I would like to see the primary sources on that before I accept it at face value. If they did, I'd bet it was more repair work than anything else. They were located in downtown Boston, not exactly a hotbed of gun making.

Their imported British locks are very common on later New England guns.

That "rick/rack" border engraving is distinctive and was often done by Lester Smith, a pal of Martin's. A friend of mine had a Lester Smith signed rifle with about 40 inlays and an extremely elaborate patchbox. This rifle is quite similar. Smith was reputed to be  a prodigy at inlay work.

[MontanaFrontier86]

I went and looked at it today. Took some more pictures. It looks like a southern Rifle to me for sure. It has the longer tang and the short butt plate. Barrel was in very good condition and no pitted really at all in the bore. Looks to be about a 40 caliber to me. Patchbox has no release and you just open it with your finger nail. I opened the box and could see hole drill marks in there like a later style artist would do.

[MontanaFrontier86]

also the barrel was held on by keys

[Hlbly]

That is Lester Smith engraving.

[Dennis Glazener]

Hlbly,
Curious if you think that barrel/forearm has been shortened or possibly made that way?
Dennis

[Hlbly]

Hard to say without seeing it in person, Dennis. I would say probably made that way.

[Dennis Glazener]

Sure is unusual, thanks
Dennis

[MontanaFrontier86]

The gun sold for way more then I would of payed for it. It ended up going for $3000.00 to someone on the floor. More then I would have payed for a unsigned gun.

[JTR]

Count yourself a very lucky guy today!
John

[MontanaFrontier86]

Count yourself a very lucky guy today!
John

I agree! It just ended up saving me money. I could of bought a $#*! of a gun for 3K way better made then that!