lancaster trade gun???

[old george]

I was over at the Lodgewood Arms website checking out civil war arms when an ad for an original "Lancaster trade gun" caught my eye. According to the write up it was smooth bored with the exception of the last couple inches near the muzzle which were rifled. Has anyone any knowledge of this? see the following.  https://www.lodgewood.com/Original-Lancaster-Indian-Trade-Rifle_p_4936.html

george

[rich pierce]

Sometimes originals that were smoothbore at the time of collecting had fake rifling put in them to fool collectors who would pay more for a rifle. “Rifling” was filed at the muzzle to deceive. I doubt any guns were done this way at the shop when made.

[old george]

That was my thoughts also. The write up itself was strange stating it might have been done to fool the western tribes. It's obvious that the weapon in question was converted to percussion. Can one tell if the rifle was original by feeling the tiger stripes in the curly maple stock as stated in the write up?

george

[Tanselman]

The rifle appears to be by Riley Rogers of Utica, New York, based on its name stamp, patchbox design, guard and single trigger.  Not sure how it can be a "Lancaster trade gun" if originally from New York. Those New York rifles are really getting around these days, often with new provenances and new attributions.  Shelby Gallien

[old george]

Tanselman,
  I agree about it not being a lancaster if it's a NY crafted rifle/smoothbore. Thanks for the input.

george

[rich pierce]

There’s a lot of mis-labeling and fairy tales lately. Not sure if it is willful or not.