During the early revival of muzzle loading competition, Mr. Southgate recognized that restored antique guns could not fill the demands of serious shooters. He was one of the first American gun makers to use production techniques to manufacture small quantities of longrifles, which were made in small batches. He completed 1008 total rifles and pistols during his career. The R. Southgate rifles we have encountered vary in the decoration, but always have a certain hand made charm about them. This example features a engraved cyclops horse patchbox and a hand made percussion lock. This example is serial number No. 86, so it is fairly early production. Trigger reach is 13-1/4" and the rifle weighs 9.4 pounds.

The 15/16" octagon 38" long .38 caliber barrel is rifled with six lands and groves with a slow rifling twist for patched round ball. The bore appears to be clean and well maintained. The barrel has a smooth reddish brown finish with the breech aged to a grayish patina and the edges worn from handling and cleaning. The muzzle end has been decorated with small star burst designs around the bore. The top flat of the barrel is engraved with the maker's signature, R. Southgate and stamped with the serial number. The earlier production guns are said to be engraved with a signature, while the later production guns have a die stamped name. The original flat top rear sight is fitted to a raised dovetail, and has been filed to to a proper height and with a V notch. A very low blade nickel silver front sight is dovetailed behind the muzzle. Both sights are very neatly hand made and the barrel has filed lines around both sights.

This rifle is stocked in cherry stained to a reddish brown with a golden undertone. The stock has one small cosmetic crack at the pointed end of the lock mortise. The stock appears to have a Lancaster County influence to the buttstock shape with a straight line architecture. Trimmed in brass, this rifle has a brass patchbox with "cyclops" horse and offset side panels. Correct steel screws and small nails retain the patchbox, which is hand engraved with a border and some scrolls on the door. Our top view reveals the simple architecture of this early replica. The bottom view reveals the brass toeplate, mounted with steel screws. Two iron screws retain the polished brass triggerguard. The cheek piece is angled wider to the rear. Under recoil, it will move to the rear, away from the shooter's cheek. The forearm is fitted with a brass wear plate. Three brass ramrod pipes secure the tapered ramrod. The ramrod is fitted with a hand made steel tip with 8-32 threads. A single lock bolt is fitted to a late tear drop sideplate. Nickel silver diamond inlays decorate the wrist, and a crescent moon inlay decorates the cheek of the rifle. These inlays are hand engraved with a few simple zigzag lines. Incised carving decorates the area behind the cheek.

Ignition is provided by a small handmade percussion lock. The lock plate is engraved with a border and on the tail and hammer. The lock plate is signed R. Southgate. This lock has a single position tumbler in antique fashion. The drum is fitted with a 1/4-28 threaded nipple. The triggers are a single lever double set trigger design. You may cock the lock before setting the trigger, but you must set the triggers to fire the lock.

While this gun is perfectly shootable we recommend it to a serious collector who appreciates that it is a rapidly disappearing piece of American folk art from the 1950 - 1960 era, before the advent of production longrifles and parts. 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.