i need a bit of help

[Dave Roelle]

I was gifted this piece from my son-in-law at christmas, he knew it was in his family at least one generation, the family home is in wisconsin.

Can anyone help with an I.D. or point me in the right direction ?

The barrel, is 41 inches long, the barrel is 1.04 across the flats, the bore will accept a 3/8 gage pin














The lock functions, triggers set ----its obviously been poorly cared for----the hammer is a brazed together mess and the wood around the lock and upper sections around the end of the barrel seem to have been overheated---perhaps the brazing ????

I haven't dis-assembled anything yet ------ the wrist of the rifle and the lock have a target rifle look to them---they are both quite delicate.

Thanks in advance for any help

Dave

[rhbrink]

The first thing to do is to make sure that it isn't still loaded. Looks like it's seen better days but it was probably a nice rifle in it's day. What are you wanting to do with it?

RB

[Dave Roelle]

Hi RB-------already checked, no load in the tube-------------i'd like to learn what i can about it--age ----intended use -------------it is pretty "used"

i neglected to take a pic of the left side , it does have a cheekpiece and the grip area is checkered but the checkering is either worn down or perhaps sanded down at one time.

The barrel actually appears pretty nice on the surface------------when i dis-assemble it i'll see what the bore looks like


If it has no real value i may just try and resurrect it------betcha it was a pretty piece when new


Dave

[rhbrink]

It would be nice to see the cheek piece. That hammer, nipple, and bolster set up looks like a cobbled up mess maybe the breechplug is welded to the barrel. I can't tell for sure might just be built up fouling.

You might go over to the American Long Rifle foums somebody over there might be able to tell you more.

RB

[Dave Roelle]

Hi RB-------------I had a minute and got a pic of the cheek piece and what remainds of the checkering

[rhbrink]

I keep going back and looking at it??? I don't suppose that there is a name on the barrel? You would have probably mentioned that if there had been. The cheek piece and lock look like late percussion but the patchbox looks early who knows. Sombody could have commisioned a maker to do what ever they wanted and the rifle maker was willing to do way back when. Still looks like to me that some parts have been switched out sometime in the past things break and wear out the tang doesn't look original and the wrist looks so fragile. I don't know!

RB

[Dave Roelle]

I understand RB------------the first thing that puzzles me is the delicate wrist and lock

Also its not even quite a "half stock" and soooooooooo heavey i can't understand shooting it off hand at all.

I haven't found any identifying marks yet-----hope to break it down tomorrow and see what i can find.

I have this question over on the cast boolits site perhaps someone there sees something.

Thanks for the response

Keep well and stay safe

Dave

[rhbrink]

Back in that day I don't think that offhand shooting was as big of a deal as is today. Most of the shooters then were shooting over the log or using a single point rest later the double rest came into use along with scopes. I'm sure that there was some interesting offhand challenges here and there but what from what I have been able to read offhand didn't get real popular until the Schuetzen game came along.

Hunting with a single shot muzzleloading rifle the family was depending on one shot for some meat in the pot would you stand in the classic offhand style and shoot. Not me I would get a rest if at all possible, any rest is better than offhand when wanting to make meat.

RB

[Dave Roelle]

Hi RB:

I understand about the offhand shooting circumstances, and certainly these were tools of necessity then for sure,

I carried the old rifle down to Collectors Firearms in Houston------they agree with your feelings about being built in Ohio-------they added that the barrel was American made and the lock was Belgium-----dated it at around 1850 as you had.

I'll post it on the american longarms site when i get a minute and see what they might know

Thanks again for the insights

Dave

[Dave Roelle]

Hi RB------------sorry i had thought i remembered you referencing Ohio and 1850---my mistake it was a response at cast boolits

i did gently take the barrel and lock off screws were actually loose and wedge pushed out with my finger and look what i found










seems we have a maker ? and either a date or number of the rifle

and obviously now with a bit of cleaning a lined barrel---------more bore cleaning is required but i didn't feel andy rough spots

Dave