Stocked in maple, this percussion halfstock Sporting rifle features a .50 caliber fast twist barrel, and is fitted with a tang peep sight for long range shooting. This rifle is patterned after those made by Nelson Lewis of Troy, New York, who manufactured rifles in his own shop from 1843-1883. The 35" long Orion barrel and iron trim are rust browned, to an attractive deep matte finish which helps to eliminate reflections, glare, and mirage while sighting. A classic hooked breech and one wedge key retains the straight octagon barrel, allowing take-down, for easy cleaning. This rifle was assembled by contemporary builder George Nelson, and is signed on the top flat of the barrel. Trigger reach is 14", to fit a taller than average shooter. This rifle weighs 8.7 pounds and balances just behind the ramrod entry pipe.
The .50 caliber barrel is cut rifled by the master barrel maker, Mr. Jerry Cunningham, with eight equal lands and grooves, and 1 in 30" twist for shooting conical bullets. The bore is 0.500" diameter land to land and .0517" diameter groove to groove. More costly than most other muzzle loading rifle barrels at the time, each of Jerry Cunningham's Orion barrels got his individual attention to detail. The bore is bright, clean, and in unfired condition. Located 8-3/4" forward of the breech a flat top rear sight is dovetailed into the barrel. This sight is fitted with an additional folding leaf that easily flips up for longer range shooting. It is matched at the muzzle by a tall post with nickel silver bead front sight dovetailed behind the muzzle. The top flat of the barrel is engraved G. B. Nelson. A deluxe feature for this period, this rifle has a folding tang sight, sometimes called a "lollipop tang sight", threaded into the tang. Loosen the locking ring and turn the shaft up or down to make adjustments. An aperture bar is dovetailed into the sight and slides left or right to make windage adjustments. The tension of the sliding aperture bar can be adjusted with the two small screws found on the back of the sight, tighten them fully down to lock-in the aperture bar. The sight folds forward when not in use. Two extra windage apertures with larger holes are included, along with a filler plug if the owner decides to remove the tang sight.
The maple stock is stained to a light brown that contrasts the dark brown finish on the lock, furniture, and barrel. The stock is trimmed in iron furniture with a classic deep crescent buttplate that securely engages your shoulder. The buttstock is fitted with a browned iron capbox that has a very fancy design along the edge. The bezel is notched to allow the lid to be lifted to reveal a round cavity for storing extra shooting supplies. The long tang of the rifle is matched below by the long triggerplate, the two sandwich the wood of the wrist between them and strengthen that portion of the stock. All the screws slots are neatly aligned along the tang and buttplate. One wedge key retains the barrel. The wedge key is neatly fitted to the stock through handmade decorative oval escutcheon plates. The wedge key is tightly fitted on this rifle, use a small brass drift, such as our #TOOK-KEY-B, or a hardwood drift to push it out. The wedge key is captured to prevent loss while in the field. By drifting out the wedge key and removing the ramrod, the hooked breech allows the barrel to be easily removed for cleaning. This is a nice ability to have on any rifle, making cleaning and maintenance much easier.
The bottom view shows the iron toeplate that protects that delicate area of the stock when it is in contact with the ground. The long triggerguard of the rifle extends all the way back through the wrist. The toe of the rifle is fitted with a sling swivel, fitted through an iron plate, and a matching swivel is fitted so it rests against the rear ramrod pipe. No sling is included with this rifle. Well forward the ramrod is retained by two forward pipes that are soldered to the barrel under rib and one entry pipe. The entry pipe sits just below a poured pewter forend cap. We note there is a small repaired chip just behind the forend cap and above the ramrod entry pipe that happened during the build process. The ramrod is fitted with a brass tip in the rear threaded 10-32 and the front iron tip is threaded to accept 8-32 cleaning and loading accessories. Note the beaver tail shaped cheek piece that adds comfort for a right hand shooter, while aiming this .50 caliber rifle. The single lock bolt passes through a decorative iron sideplate that is mounted with two small screws.
The L&R percussion lock has been finished to a dark brown. This mid-19th century styled lock has a strong mainspring, stirrup link, and fly detent, all nice internal features. The hooked breech has an integral cast powder drum that is well supported by the lock plate. This strong one piece breech and drum is fitted with a standard 1/4-28 stainless steel nipple surrounded by a handmade brass flash cup. The L&R early double lever double set triggers are tuned to fire the lock set, or unset. The lock and triggers may be cocked or set in any sequence.
This new, unfired New Your style sporting rifle with maple stock, iron furniture, L&R percussion lock and triggers is very neatly fitted and finished. The fast twist barrel and folding tang peep sight will allow you to ring the long distance gongs at your shooting facility, or to extend your range 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.