J. Roop Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle

[Apriestley]

Hello all,
Just before Christmas I bought this piece by Jacob Roop of Swatara Township, Dauphin County PA. Being a resident of Harrisburg, it wasn't a rifle I could pass up. It is also my first foray into original American longrifles and I wanted to share some pictures of the rifle. Jacob Roop marked on the barrel, flintlock with straight rifling. I fired it for the first time this week and it was sure fire every time. The balls I used were undersized, so my next step is working up an accurate load. These pictures were taken by the vendor I bought the rifle from, and they re-pinned the area just before what is left of the nosecap before I took ownership of the rifle.

[Chris_B]

A beauty, thanks for sharing!

[Shreckmeister]

Very nice. My family is from very close to where this was made. They were gunsmiths as well and intermarried with Rupp’s. The buttstock shaping has a similar comb transition.

[JTR]

J Roop made some very nice rifles! I wonder if you could post the sellers description of this one. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but looks like a lot going on here? Am I correct in seeing that its been broken through the lock mortise area?

Just noticed that this is your first post, so welcome to the forum!
John

[Apriestley]

J Roop made some very nice rifles! I wonder if you could post the sellers description of this one. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but looks like a lot going on here? Am I correct in seeing that its been broken through the lock mortise area?

Just noticed that this is your first post, so welcome to the forum!
John

I actually bought this off the rack from The Horse Soldier in Gettysburg. They did not post this one online. I stopped in for a quick visit and saw the rifle but really didn't have time to give it a long look over (wife was pretty eager to get in an out) I called about it the next day and they emailed me some pictures. The person I talked to did not actually think it was functioning, I guess they did not know you have to set the trigger before bringing it to full cock.

Unfortunately the big flaw with it is the break at the lock mortise. I am going to look into having that repaired this year.

[Shreckmeister]

What am I seeing in a line on the sideplate.  Are those brass nail heads?  Interesting.

[Tanselman]

I think the side plate may be a later replacement, odd shaped to cover some prior wood damage, but with engraved and decorative details to enhance its appearance. Lock bolts are new, lock may be replacement, so I'd look closely at side plate, both outside and inside, before assuming it's original to the gun. Shelby Gallien

[Mike Brooks]

It's been converted back to flint and has a lot of weld on the side of the  barrel breech. Who knows how funky that restoration/repair may be on the inside. Not something I would be anxious to shoot, and I've shot a lot of old guns.