The design of this longrifle appears to have been highly influenced by examples from the Valley of Virgina during the early 1770's. The large round faced English lock is designed for fast, reliable ignition. This rifle has the graceful lines and slender appearance of an antique rifle, and would be ideal for your 18th century Colonial impression. Neatly finished and carved by contemporary maker Mike Compton. The trigger reach is 13-1/4" to fit today's average shooter. Weight is 7.5 pounds.
The 39-3/4" length .50 caliber Green Mountain swamped barrel is cut rifled with eight lands and grooves with a slow twist for a tightly patched round ball. Green Mountain Barrels are machined from high quality American made bar stock, A.I.S.I. 1137 modified, stress relieved, annealed, certified rifle barrel quality steel. All barrels are drilled from solid stock, reamed to a high degree of smoothness, then optically checked for straightness. Very close tolerances are maintained. The swamped barrel is light weight due to the taper and flare of the swamped octagon barrel. The thick breech makes the barrel very strong. The thin waist saves weight, and the muzzle flares to bring the front sight to the same sighting plane as the rear sight. The brass blade front sight is dovetailed 2" behind the muzzle. The flat top rear sight is dovetailed 11" ahead of the breech. The barrel is finished to an even chocolate brown. The bore is bright, new, and ready to shoot.
The curly maple stock is stained to a dark brown with golden undertones to best display the figure over the length of the stock. The buttstock is fitted with a tall, nearly flat buttplate to help spread the felt recoil over a large area. The brass buttplate is shaped with paneled flats and a wedding band transition to the comb. The stock is decorated with simple raised carving at the transition from wrist to comb. A double line of incised carving running along the toe line from the buttplate to the triggerguard creates a sliming effect. The butt of the rifle is fitted with a sliding wooden patchbox that has been stained and finished to match the stock. Beneath the door is a deep cut cavity for storing shooting or cleaning accessories. The lock panels are neatly shaped with a raised molding and large beaver tail finial. The lock panels taper widest at the rear in early long gun fashion. The flared tang of the breech is surrounded with a panel of raised carving in a shell design.
The bottom view reveals the Germanic influenced brass triggerguard, with long grip rail. The bow of the triggerguard is signed M. Compton. The forend is slim and graceful, with a double line of incised carving running forward from the lock panels to terminate at the ramrod entry pipe. The ramrod pipes are brass with a raised thumbnail skirt on the entry pipe. An incised molding runs the length of the ramrod channel. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a steel tip for 8-32 threaded loading and cleaning accessories. A brass muzzle cap protects the end grain of the stock. The brass sideplate of the rifle is hand engraved with a floral pattern and is retained by two lock bolts that pass through the stock and engage the lock on the opposite side. The square cheek is shaped with a molded edge. Raised carved scrolls decorate the stock behind the cheek.
Ignition is provided by a round face Virginia lock. Sometimes called a “Queen Anne" lock, this best quality round faced flint lock actually dates from the 1730 to 1770 era, well after Anne's reign ended. This lock requires our #FLINT-ENG-7 7/8" knapped English gun flint. The lock is browned and lightly engraved. The stainless steel vent liner is positioned directly above the center of the flash pan, high enough to serve as a window on the hottest part of the flash. The vent hole has been internally coned to provide good ignition. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash. The single wide curled trigger has good leverage, giving this rifle an easy trigger release, and good feel.
If you desire an attractive Revolutionary War period longrifle, then consider this fine piece. In new condition, the rifle has a bright bore and none of the handling marks commonly associated with normal use. This lightweight rifle will be a joy to carry through the woods on your next big game hunt. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
