This halfstock rifle is marked with a professional die stamp H.R. Thompson Jackson, Mich. on the top flat. We could not find information on him, but found one listing for a J.R. Thompson Jackson, Michigan which could possibly be the same person misidentified, or a relative in the gunsmith field. No period of operation was found but the style of the rifle would be typical of the mid-to-late 1800's. The back action lock is mated to a hooked breech, but the barrel is pinned to the stock. This rifle is stocked in figured black walnut and has some visible repairs on the forearm. The left hand side has a repaired crack from the forearm edge to the barrel pin. The right hand side has a repaired crack from the forend cap to down into the forearm. The forearm has a gloss finish applied with a bit more sheen than the buttstock. Trigger reach is 13-3/4" and this rifle weighs 8.2 pounds.

The barrel is .36 caliber with a 1" octagon breech with a single wedding band to round. The .36 caliber bore is rifled with six wide lands and narrow grooves. The bore is in excellent condition and appears to be very bright with only minor speckling. The exterior of the barrel is finished to a dark brown with some fading. The breech was likely color hardened and has aged to a silvery gray patina. The front sight is a brass barley corn sight. The rear sight is a step adjustable strap sight. The barrel is stamped H. R. Thompson Jackson Mich.

The nickel silver buttplate has a gentle curve to engage the shooter's shoulder. The figured walnut stock does have some areas where the grain has opened up. The stock has a slight perch belly design. The upper edge of the comb has a chip missing. The upper lock mortise also has some chips missing as well as a few along the tang. These all appear to be from the wood compressing against the tightly fitted metal furniture. The nickel silver triggerguard is shaped with a wide open bow to accept the single trigger. The triggerguard is shaped with a curled grip rail and the rear of the bow has a finger spur. The furniture on this rifle are commercial period castings and are found on guns from a variety of different regions in the U.S.

From below the long nickel silver toeplate and triggerguard can be seen. The toeplate and triggerguard are both expertly inlet and hand engraved with period engraving. The triggerguard has one large dent that interrupts the engraving. The forearm has an elaborate pewter forend cap fitted that has started to speckle to a dark patina. The forend cap protects the end grain at the muzzle and acts as a ramrod entry pipe. The ramrod pipes are extraordinarily long and while both match the rear pipe appears to have been reattached at some point. It has a visible joint, while the forward most pipe has been expertly cleaned of all visible solder. The stock has a repaired crack at the breech from the corner to the side plate. The side panel is fitted with a paisley sideplate and the buttstock is shaped without a cheek piece.

Ignition for the rifle is provided by a back action percussion lock. The lock plate is neatly decorated with scroll designs and has a gray patina. The chiseled dolphin or fish head hammer is decorated with large scales, and the hammer seems very European in design. The hammer is secure on the tumbler, but has some play at the end of the travel. It has no play when at the full cock position. This back action lock has only a single position tumbler, which is very common on period percussion locks. The percussion breech is fitted with a modern Ampco bronze 1/4-28 threaded nipple. We recommend our hardened steel 1/4-28 nipple RST-I as a replacement for a more period appearance. The "clean out" screw in the breech does display some wear from a improperly fitted screw driver.

A mid-to-late 19th century Michigan made percussion sporting rifle with very neatly fitted nickel silver furniture and figured walnut. 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.