Found 97 years ago

[RL]

This was found in the Wateree swamp around 1920.  Against a tree close to the confederate railroad and the site of Potters raid, 1865. A fellow who's great uncle found it owed me $75 and gave it to me. It's missing the trigger plate, ramrod and nosecap if there was one. Looks like someone tried to repair. 36 inch thin smoothbore barrel, 52" OAL. The lock works and is smooth. I'm a Hawken man so is this a musket or shotgun?

[Mike Brooks]

Appears to be a restocked british musket. Was it found in North Carolina perhaps?

[n stephenson]

Check out the nails mounting the frizzen and spring. Cool old gun!!   Nate

[Hungry Horse]

These repairs look like really back woodsy work, or Native American field repairs.

  Hungry Horse

[Black Hand]

Could it have been a percussion lock originally? The pan is brass and looks to be added, while the pattern on the heads suggests they could be framing nails.

[RL]

It was found in South Carolina. The other side of the lock.
 Rick

[Hudnut]

How long is the lock?  A musket lock would be close to 7 inches, a pistol lock shorter.
Standard markngs for a British service lock - but the brass pan has nothing whatsoever to do with the British.
Probably a made up gun using whatever parts were available. 
The pattern on the heads of the nails used as pivots is interesting.  When was this first used on nails?

[lostinthewoods]

Post Civil War hunting gun made from old musket parts?

[RL]

The lock is 6.250 long. I was thinking since it was found at the spot the militia turned the union army with shotguns and muskets it was used then. But kind of of hard to believe walnut would last 55 years in the weather. Who knows, could of been a hunter run out by hogs. I've been in there many times, always heavily armed for hogs. Been charged by hogs twice.

[Robert Wolfe]

No way it was leaning against a tree since the Civil War. The wood would not look like that in your climate after that amount of time. I would guess that it got mislaid by a kid playing with it shortly before it was found. I say kid playing with it because the top jaw is missing so it was not functional. Though the top jaw could have been lost later I suppose.

[RL]

Yes sir, I believe you are probably correct.