Author Topic: My Hershel House Rifle (Read 4990 times)

Daniel Coats · « **on:** May 21, 2022, 05:09:25 PM »

Pictures of another stunning example of Hershel's work. I got it yesterday at the Collectors show in Colorado Springs Colorado. There was one table with high end Contemporary rifles but didn't think to take more pictures. The owner was able to tell me when and where he got the one I bought and had owned it almost 30 years. It was probably made in the mid 1980s. Let me know what you think of it!

Hershel House flintlock rifle not sure what kind of curly wood. Bill Large swamped barrel 39 1/8 long and .965 x .805 x .900 .40 caliber. 13 5/8 pull butt plate about 4 3/4 x 2/1/8 wide. Rifle weighs 8 pounds 8 ounces and handles beautifully.

JEH · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2022, 05:15:14 PM »

Looks to me like Christmas came early this year! Nice find Dan!

Tony N · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2022, 05:17:03 PM »

Wow! What a treasure, love everything about it

Stoner creek · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2022, 05:21:52 PM »

I’ll bet it’s got “that feel” to it too. Herschel guns have a “feel” all their own.
Congratulations

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2022, 05:33:37 PM »

Hershel's guns always look so "Handleable"! a lovely rifle. One that would be hard to put down!
Congrats!! I love his worn finish. it adds an air of mystery somehow.
A magic gun to me, this one.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2022, 05:58:33 PM »

Classic.

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2022, 06:07:30 PM »

Yes sir!

MuskratMike · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2022, 07:23:09 PM »

What a find. You sir have a rifle to cherish.

BOB HILL · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2022, 08:20:10 PM »

What a wonderful find. Thanks for sharing with us.
Bob

Bob Gerard · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2022, 08:48:07 PM »

Oh boyyy that’s a treasure. Congratulations!
I noticed it looks like the thumb piece looks to be surface mounted?

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2022, 09:03:41 PM »

Quote from: Bob Gerard on May 21, 2022, 08:48:07 PM

Oh boyyy that’s a treasure. Congratulations!
I noticed it looks like the thumb piece looks to be surface mounted?

Yep both my Hershel guns were done that way.

iloco · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2022, 09:52:04 PM »

I have a friend who has 6 Hershel House rifles and a couple Frank House Rifles. I have handled all of them and nothing feels as good as handling a House rifle. He has 3-4 Breenen rifles along with 2 Guzzler Rifles. I can't afford the high end rifles but lucky to live so close to someone who does.
You got a nice Rifle for sure.

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2022, 09:53:20 PM »

I doubt they are surface mounted. I think it's probably about half way inlet. This is fairly typical of Hershel's. I find this to be a neat detail.

Jim

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2022, 10:22:51 PM »

Thanks Jim I bet you're right.

What kind of wood are we looking at here? It's definitely curly but seems more like walnut than maple. I get the sun in my eyes with excitement every time I pick it up...

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2022, 11:10:26 PM »

American black alnut with some stump cut burl in it.

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #15 on:** May 21, 2022, 11:50:05 PM »

Thanks for the confirmation Mike, it just has way more curl than I'm used to seeing. American black walnut is believable to me.

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2022, 12:18:37 AM »

Any ideas on dating the rifle?

My best guess is mid 1980s but could have been earlier or a bit later. The previous owner got the gun from Monte Mandarino in 1993. The Bill Large stamp isn't completely reliable for dating either and I checked the inside of the lock plate but no markings there. The lock inlet is the best I've ever seen and snaps into place. I'm not curious enough to pull the barrel and check for markings as the last thing I want to do is take a chip out of that curly walnut.

Ken G · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2022, 12:20:21 AM »

Congratulations on the new addition. really nice rifle and keepsake.

Ken

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2022, 01:52:09 AM »

I'd guess 1980-85. He built a lot of that style in that time period.

Steve_Rose · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2022, 02:36:50 AM »

Nice....Really nice!

Hershel has a Facebook group (Hershel House Long Rifles and such) and is quite active there. He could probably tell you more about that rifle.

Stoner creek · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2022, 02:54:57 AM »

I know about that. I’m sure that someone is replying there, but I’ve known Herschel for about 40 years and I just can’t see him staring at a computer monitor, tablet or a smart phone.

Steve_Rose · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2022, 03:05:14 AM »

Quote from: Stoner creek on May 22, 2022, 02:54:57 AM

I know about that. I’m sure that someone is replying there, but I’ve known Herschel for about 40 years and I just can’t see him staring at a computer monitor, tablet or a smart phone.

Having known him about that long I had the same impression when the FB appearances started...but you never know

Keith Zimmerman · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2022, 05:03:27 AM »

Congrats!!

Fly Navy · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2022, 07:26:41 AM »

Beautiful rifle.

Curtis · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2022, 08:36:18 AM »

Cool! Great Find, congrats!

Curtis

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Author Topic: My Hershel House Rifle (Read 4990 times)