This rifle was offered for consideration for inclusion in the Library by it's owner as follows:
The rifle is a .32 cal with a 34 1/8" forged straight bbl measuring anywhere from .763" to .801" along it's length. Since the largest measurement is at the breech and the smallest is at the upper thimble, with the muzzle flaring somewhat, a swamped bbl might be suggested, but it is likely just variation due to forging and filing. The length of pull is 14 1/8".
As shown, the rifle was indeed built with the lock held in place by two front mounted, and very small, wood screws. The lock appears to have been hand made and is a very precise fit in the mortise. There is no fly and no half cock notch. There is no evidence of the mortise having been modified for a replacement lock and I am confident the lock is original to the rifle. The initials on the lock are, by all appearance, "PH". The rifle was in use as recently as one month ago, and there is evidence of recent repairs. The two bridle screws and the sear spring screw are likely new replacements and the screw holding the hammer in place is a modern replacement. One can also see where some lock internals have been recently cleaned up. The drum and nipple were also recently replaced and the original drum and nipple remain with the rifle. Luckily, the threads in the bbl were not altered.
The same punch dot decorating theme appears on the bbl in the vicinity of the rear sight, on the lock and at the muzzle. The decoration on the lock ties in with both that found around the rear sight and at the muzzle. The decoration at the muzzle is very difficult to see, but is triangular sets of three dots at the 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:30 clock-face positions around the muzzle.
