Muzzleloader Indentifcation

[Sdw6662]

Good evening
My father recently inherited this rifle from his deceased Brother who was 87. The story was that the gun belonged to his Grandfather. So I’m guessing at least Civil war era give or take a few years. The only markings on the gun say Rifleworks with a scene with a hunter and waterfowl. The barrel is aprox 40” long and appears to be around 36 cal. I’ll try to add pictures to this post if I can. Any help with the maker or time period would be appreciated. Thank you!!

[Shreckmeister]

Looks Pittsburgh/Western PA to me. Hammer not original.

[WESTbury]

That is a nice looking rifle and looks to be "unmessed" with, which is rare.
I think it is a lot earlier than Civil War period, but I'm not one of the more knowledgeable longrifle people on this forum. The hammer may not be original, but it is pretty cool and the counterplate is nice as well.

The triggerguard is very distinctive. There are a few rifles in Whisker's Behold the Longrifle, that have the same style triggerguard. Whisker labels those rifles as being from Ohio.

[Daniel Coats]

Conestoga Rifle Works maybe?

[Kevin]

Am I seeing a "N" as possibly the last letter of whatever may have been in the top part of the oval mark on the lockplate?

Kevin

[Ky-Flinter]

Am I seeing a "N" as possibly the last letter of whatever may have been in the top part of the oval mark on the lockplate?

Kevin

I agree, whatever name was in the upper side is mostly worn away, but it appears the last letter was an "N".  The word "Leman" would fit the spacing.  Were Leman rifles ever marked this way?

-Ron 

[Sdw6662]

 We are from Zanesville, Ohio so you guys referencing Ohio are probably on to something.

[Tanselman]

As previously mentioned, the shotgun style hammer is a replacement. The guard with its smaller rear spur looks like western PA to me, from Pittsburgh going west toward the Ohio line.  Shelby Gallien

[Shreckmeister]

A proper hammer should be easy to find and would enhance the appearance.

[Seth Isaacson]

That is a Union Rifle Works lock. I've seen a few of them, and all have had the same lock marking style. They were based in Philadelphia in the lead up to the Civil War. Here is another example (not my photo):

[Sdw6662]

Thank you Seth!!
 That sure is the same engraving on our gun and fits the N we’re seen at the top side of the label. That will give us something to go on. My Dad will be happy to hear that.

[James Wilson Everett]

Drop the ramrod down the bore to be sure that it is unloaded, many originals have been loaded for many years.

Jim

[Sdw6662]

 Thanks Jim
I actually ran an endoscope down the barrel to check the condition. The barrel was empty and actually pretty clean. I was noticing the rifling in the barrel. It appeared almost straight or very little twist.