Author Topic: Identify Rifle for a Friend  (Read 3058 times)

gunboat57

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Identify Rifle for a Friend
« on: December 23, 2020, 05:19:03 PM »
Hello, all.  This will be my first post here. 
The husband of a friend recently passed away and among the firearms which the widow is selling is a percussion muzzleloader.  I was hoping someone could help me get an idea of its age and maybe where it might've been made.
It seems crudely made but still has a rifled barrel and set trigger.  Someone suggested a trade rifle but I thought those were usually smoothbore.  Thanks for looking and any help!











« Last Edit: December 23, 2020, 06:15:26 PM by gunboat57 »

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2020, 05:23:05 PM »
If you could flip your pictures they would be easier to see.

gunboat57

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2020, 05:45:31 PM »
Regarding flipping the images, I agree.  It turns out that I needed to re-orient the thumbnail images on my computer to get the images to come out right on the website. 
« Last Edit: December 23, 2020, 06:17:13 PM by gunboat57 »

Offline WESTbury

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2020, 08:30:44 PM »
My uneducated guess would be 1840-1850 percussion, although the rounded grooves of the rifling sometimes indicates an early barrel. The patchbox is a later type. It may have been shortened thus the lack of a nose cap on the forend.

The wood has a nice color.

I'm sure that someone on this forum will have the answers.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2020, 09:36:38 PM »
The rounded grooves at the muzzle might just be from filing/relieving with a round file for easier loading.
Daryl

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Offline WESTbury

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2020, 10:12:11 PM »
The rounded grooves at the muzzle might just be from filing/relieving with a round file for easier loading.

As I've never loaded one of these rifles, I thank-you for your input.

Do you have any other observations on this rifle?
"We are not about to send American Boys 9 to 10 thousand miles away from home to do what Asian Boys ought to be doing for themselves."
President Lyndon B. Johnson October 21, 1964

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2020, 10:33:45 PM »
 It looks like the barrel has been shortened quite a bit. The bore appears to be a pretty big caliber for a slender stock like that. The barrel may not be part of the original rifle.

  Hungry Horse

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2020, 03:45:20 AM »
It looks very Somerset County Pennsylvania to me. Stock architecture similar to DunMeyer.
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Buck

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2020, 04:31:45 PM »
I agree with Schreck - the trigger guard is not typical of the area, probably a replacement.

Buck

Offline JBJ

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #9 on: December 24, 2020, 05:47:18 PM »
The drum and nipple also seem to be replacements of fairly recent vintage.?????
J.B.

gunboat57

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #10 on: December 24, 2020, 07:06:57 PM »
Unfortunately, the widow knows nothing about this rifle.  It was listed on an old inventory as an "Indian Trade Rifle" but that doesn't seem to be true.

I noticed the distinctive shape of the trigger guard.  Is that a more southern style?

I agree that the drum and nipple seem to be a recent replacement

Offline Daryl

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #11 on: December 24, 2020, 09:05:19 PM »
Other than the barrel appears to have been shortened and maybe "freshed" a time or two, I have no other
comments other than I am unqualified to do so.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Identify Rifle for a Friend
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2020, 04:07:24 PM »
Does the cap box appear to have some age on the inside?  Can you post a picture of where the trigger guard is inlet to the stock?
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.