Help ID family rifle

[Gary]

Hello

Recently I acquired my father’s old muzzle loader.  According to him it belonged to his great great grandfather.  It may have been made in Pennsylvania according to my dad.
On the barrel is stamped L. W. Mann Napoleon and on the plate near the hammer is H.K. Well & Co.  Madison INDa.  Looked both of these up on the internet and found nothing.  The year 1871 is stamped near the hammer.  According to family history, that is the year it was converted from flintlock to percussion cap.  It looks like about a .50 cal.   Attached are some pictures.  I’m not planning on selling it, I just want to find out a little more about this piece.

Thank you
Gary

[T*O*F]

According to family history, that is the year it was converted from flintlock to percussion cap.

It was never a flintlock.

[Avlrc]

In 1860 L. W. Mann, Napoleon, Ohio, is listed as a gunsmith, 29 years old. He is listed as a gunsmith again in the 1870 census & as a machinist in the 1880 & 1900 census.

[Gary]

Hello Avlrc
Wow, thanks for the info on L.W Mann. 

Now I just need to find out what about the H. K. Well & Co.

Thank you

Gary

[JV Puleo]

Almost certainly a local hardware store or dealer. Gunmakers did not make locks...they bought them. At this point most of these would probably have come from what we now know as Belgium.

[Gary]

Hello All

Thanks for the help with the history on this rifle. 
I contacted the Jefferson County historical society.  Madison IN is in Jefferson County.
Much to my surprise someone got back to me.  I sent them photos of the rifle along with a close up of the plate that has “HK Wells and Co.”
In a few days, she replied with this.

Good afternoon,
H.K. Wells was a hardware merchant from Vermont and lived here during the 1850's.
I'm not certain but I think that him and/or his 2 brothers owned the Wells & Son Hardware here in Madison store from at least 1850's to at least 1870's. And that was one of the products they sold. I have not found out when it originally opened or closed. If I find more information I will let you know.

This really helped fill in the history of this old rifle.
Thank you all
Gary

[Tanselman]

Your rear sight sits farther back on the barrel than normal on this type rifle, suggesting it was re-breeched at one time. That was a common practice after years of shooting when the breech, or explosion chamber, got burned out/enlarged and weakened the breech of the gun. I would speculate that your rifle was re-breeched in 1871 per the date on the oblique flat, and at that time the barrel was shortened an inch or more at the breech and a new patent breech with percussion nipple installed and dated.

Shelby Gallien