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1800 U.S. Short Rifle,
.54 caliber 33" octagon-to-round barrel,
fancy walnut, brass, TRS flint lock,
based on Harper's Ferry rifle serial number 15,
by R. Davidson

AAH-675 1800 U.S. Short Rifle, .54 caliber 33" octagon-to-round barrel, fancy walnut, brass, TRS flint lock, based on Harper's Ferry rifle serial number 15, by R. Davidson . . . $3,100.00
In Stock, for immediate shipment

This rifle is assembled from parts supplied from The Rifle Shoppe patterned from serial number 15 of the Harper's Ferry 1803 rifles. This early rifle has some variations from the later 1803 rifles which Mr. Melot noted. Variations were noted on the lock, triggerguard, buttplate, rear ramrod pipe, under rib, barrel, and rear sight. There is some speculation that these first fifteen rifles were the examples carried by the Lewis & Clark expedition. This rifle was assembled by contemporary builder Richard Davidson.

The .54 caliber Colerain barrel is 33" octagon-to-round. Colerain rifle barrels are drilled from solid steel, cut rifled with six "round bottom" grooves. Called "radius groove rifling", Colerain eliminates the sharp inside corner that accumulates fouling. The round portion of this barrel has a slight taper and flare, rather that the straight taper of the later production rifles. The barrel is dovetailed with a semi buckhorn rear sight. Historically these early rifles were noted for a very small rear sight notch, which was enlarged on later rifles. The front sight is a brass blade with integral base dovetailed behind the muzzle.

This rifle is stocked in highly figured black walnut. A typical military rifle would have been stocked in straight grain walnut to survive hard use in the field. The patchbox is exactly like the first variation 1803 with it's iron push button in the buttplate comb and oval wood recess beneath the door.

Trigger reach is 13-1/2" to fit todays average size shooter. Weight is 8.1 pounds.

The top view shows the Kentucky style cheekpiece, patchbox release, and the face of the frizzen with a few scratches from proof testing. The stock is highly figured with a deep reddish undertone.

The triggerguard has a slightly different shape than the later 1803 production rifles. The triggerguard is mounted with pins. The barrel is mounted with a single wedge key, as well as the tang bolt which engages the triggerplate. It does not have a hooked breech, so both the tang bolt and wedge key must be removed to dismount the barrel from the stock.

A short under rib mounts the forward ramrod pipes. The brass entry pipe has minor differences from the later 1803 pipes. This rifle uses an correct all steel ramrod. Post 1811 versions were tipped with brass, or later converted at arsenal upgrades.

The lock is neatly inletted into the stock. The lock is hand assembled from castings and correctly duplicates the original with a slightly longer pointed tail. Note the American spread eagle over the letters U.S. The finish of the lock is bright and the barrel is a warm chocolate brown.

The barrel is drilled with a direct drilled vent hole rather than a liner. The builder notes that during test firing a slight roll to the left introduced a small amount of 4Fg black powder into the vent hole to produce the fastest and most reliable ignition. However this is generally considered counter to published loading information. Using this method the builder notes that the rifle was 100% reliable.

A simple military sideplate is retained by two lock bolts. The bolts and screws are aligned and fire blued were appropriate. The highly figured walnut stock is shaped with a shallow square cheek.

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Quantity:	Part Number:	Description:	Price:
	BALL-530	.530" round balls, pure lead, Hornady, per 100	$14.50
	BORE-CLEAN	Track's best Black Powder BORE CLEAN Solvent, with flip-top spout	$3.75
	BP-54-10	Ball puller, steel screw, .54 caliber brass collar, 10-32 thread	$2.50
	BRUSH-54	Bore brush, bronze, for .54 caliber, 10-32 thread	$2.25
	FS-54-10	Fouling Scraper, flat face, brass, .54 caliber, 10-32 thread	$1.95
	HORN-A-L	Powder Horn, large, 11 to 14", with antique patina finish	$65.95
	HORN-A-S	Priming Horn, small, 4 to 5", with antique patina finish	$51.95
	JS-54-7-10	Jag, jagged cleaning tip, brass, .54 caliber, 7/16" rod, 10-32 thread	$2.25
	MAS-120	Powder measure, brass, adjustable 0 to 120 grains, with spout	$13.95
	MINK-OIL	Trapper's MINK OIL TALLOW, patch grease, for match shooting & cold weather hunting	$5.25
	OX-18-50-D	Shooting patches, .018" pillow ticking, .50 - .59 caliber, per 100, dry	$3.25
	OX-CLEAN-58C	Cleaning Patches, 2-1/2" diameter, bag of 100, pure cotton flannel, for .45 to .58 caliber	$2.95
	PICK-BRUSH-H	Pick & Pan Brush, with brass chain, button clasp, and black bristle brush, for *flint musket, rifle, or fowler*	$12.95
	PICK-VENT-2	Forged steel vent pick, 2-1/2" long, for rifle	$1.99
	RAMROD-7-10-B	Ramrod, 7/16" hickory, 48" long, brass tip, 10-32 thread	$11.95
	RAMROD-G-6-10-B	Ramrod, 3/8" fiberglas, 48" long, brass tip, 10-32 thread	$11.95
	ST-8	Short starter, 1/2" hickory rod, for .54 and larger	$5.95
	TOOL-PICK-M	Thomas Pickering's Tool, medium size, for flint rifles & fowling guns, the first U. S. issue gun tool, designed by our first U. S. Quartermaster	$9.99
	TOOL-TURN-U	Primitive Rifleman's Turn Screw, hand forged tempered steel screwdriver, to fit in a longrifle patchbox	$6.95
	WORM-CORK-10	Patch puller, corkscrew worm, steel, brass base, 10-32 thread	$4.95

Home > Guns > Flintlock guns > Flintlock rifles

1800 U.S. Short Rifle,.54 caliber 33" octagon-to-round barrel,fancy walnut, brass, TRS flint lock,based on Harper's Ferry rifle serial number 15,by R. Davidson

1800 U.S. Short Rifle,
.54 caliber 33" octagon-to-round barrel,
fancy walnut, brass, TRS flint lock,
based on Harper's Ferry rifle serial number 15,
by R. Davidson