This antique halfstock rifle is stocked in maple and trimmed in brass furniture with a few nickel silver accents. The rifle is unsigned, but the shaping and inletting would indicate a proficient builder. The percussion lock has a textured patina finish, and has been scrubbed bright. Trigger reach is 13-1/4", about average for an antique longrifle. Weight is 11 pounds.
The .30 caliber barrel is 1-1/32" at the breech with a taper to 1" at the muzzle, with an overall length of 40". The.30 caliber bore is rifled with six lands and grooves, and the muzzle has a cone to approximately .32 caliber over the first few inches. The bore has clearly defined rifling with a frosted appearance, and some light pitting in the grooves, no excessive roughness can be felt with a cleaning patch. The exterior has aged to a brown patina. The breech end has some scattered pitting from the corrosive percussion caps used during the 1800's. A flat top ear rear sight is dovetailed 9-1/2" ahead of the breech. A low silver blade front sight is fitted 2-3/4" behind the muzzle.
The maple stock has a few scattered marks and the wood nearest the breech has a bleached appearance from repeated cap flash. If you plan to fire this rifle we would suggest putting a flash cup around the nipple to preserve the wood. The stock has a very slightly perch belly shape from the toe to lock panels. All the brass furniture is very well fitted. The buttplate is slender with a deep curve in mid-19th century style. The cap box is hand engraved with bold lines in a folk art style. The triggerguard has a large bow with finger spur and fish lip grip rail. The forend has a single tear drop inlay centered. The barrel pin is mounted just behind the forend cap. The poured pewter forend cap protects the end grain of the stock and acts as the ramrod entry pipe. The ramrod is likely a modern replacement. It has a jagged brass tip fitted and extends patch the muzzle. Due to the small bore this ramrod is only 9/32" diameter. A 5/16" diameter ramrod will not go down the .30 caliber bore.
The brass toeplate is secured with three steel screws and a rivet. The wrist is fitted with a nickel silver tear drop on both sides of the stock. The brass triggerguard has a well aged patina. A weeping tear drop sideplate is inlet flush to the stock. A single bolt passes through the stock to engage the lock on the opposite side. The square cheek piece is inlaid with a nickel silver hunters star mounted with small steel brads.
The percussion lock has a textured patina and has been scrubbed bright. The lock plate is die stamped with a hunting scene on the tail. No maker mark is visible on the plate. As with many percussion locks the tumbler has only a single notch, full cock. This simplified lock construction by eliminating the fly detent for use with set triggers. The single lever double set triggers will only fire the lock from the set position. You must set the trigger before cocking the lock. The drum and nipple are modern replacements.
This antique halfstock rifle has a wonderful patina on the maple stock and brass furniture. The period lock and triggers are functional, with a new drum and nipple fitted. The bore, while not perfect is very shootable. 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.