I have received some more info from the family about this old rifle. I have copied the info to the forum. Please feel free to comment.
Hello Rick, (Black)
It's your cousin David.
The story of the long rifle is an interesting one and probably some tall tales in the making.
When I was a small boy, I found the long rifle in the attic of my parents' home in Kittanning Pennsylvania. I'm guessing 1968.
It was on the attic floor and had cardboard boxes sitting on top of it covering three quarters of the rifle.
I did what any boy who was fascinated by old weapons would do; I immediately freed the rifle of the boxes covering.
it and examined the rifle. It was an amazing old rifle that still had patches in the compartment in the stock of the rifle. I asked.
my mother about the gun and she knew nothing about the gun other than it came from the Black farmhouse.
In the early 1970's it was moved to a corner or the finished basement. My brother and I would try to hold it up to our shoulder,
the rifle was heavy, and it wasn't an easy task. We would challenge anyone who said they wanted to hunt to try to hold the rifle.
to their shoulder. We then tried to hold the rifle over our heads using one hand. The television show Planet or the Apes was on at that time, and we would try to mimic the Ape holding and M-16 over his head using the old rifle.
It was probably around 1972 that someone working on the house asked to examine the rifle and told us that it was loaded and looked like it started life as a flint lock and was converted to cap and ball.
My mother could never give any real history on the rifle. One day when your dad was visiting, I brought the rifle to him, remember he was the only person I knew who had any knowledge of firearms, he also is the one who first taught me to shoot a pistol. I asked him if he knew anything about the rifle, he put on his glasses and examined it thoroughly. He looked at me and said I think this @!*% thing was used by our great, great Uncle in the civil war. To that your Aunt Jean replied really Richard and he replied yes.
Both your father and I would be surprised to find out that it was dated around the 1850 time period. We believed it was older than that, but remember we are not experts. What I was able to find out, it was made in a small shop by an unknown gunsmith in Western Pennsylvania. At that time all guns were still made by hand and the parts were not interchangeable. I believe there was a local gunsmith in the area that today is Rural Valley Pennsylvania, the great Uncle that was fabled to own the rifle was a schoolteacher who went to fight for the Army of the Potomac during the War between the states. I have heard two different versions of the story. One the great uncle came home and resumed teaching, the other he died of dysentery in Kittanning on his way home and never made it back to the farm.
All I that I can confirm is that it belonged to a great uncle last name Black, it was made at a local shop and for some reason we thought it was much older. The land grant from England was in 1812 or at least that is when the Black family came to Pennsylvania. Your father told me that it belonged to a great great uncle who fought in the Civil war, and he believed this was his rifle and it was used in the war.
It's sad no one ever documented the history of this rifle. If it could only talk it could tell some interesting stories. As a young boy and even a young man I inquired about restoring this weapon. Everyone told me the same thing including your father. They always said it was in too bad of condition to restore and if it was restored it would ruin its value.
In closing, I'm sorry I don't have more information on the rifle, I always like it even as a small boy. I sent it to you because it belongs to the Black family.
If it wasn't for your father, my favorite uncle. I wouldn't have the general knowledge of firearms I have today or the collection of weapons that I now possess. The reason for me wanting an M1 Grand was due to your dad bringing one to the house and taking my brother and I out back to the woods to shoot it. His Gold Cup was the first pistol that I fired. I have since learned different shooting styles and drawing techniques; however, your dad spurred my interest in firearms and was my go-to guy as a young man. Many times, after he passed, and I shot a perfect score on a weapons qualification I would think of your father.
If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely
Your Cousin
Dave Bellotti
