This rifle is inspired by mid 19th century era halfstock English Sporting rifles. The rifle is stocked in walnut and trimmed in fire blued iron furniture. The rifle is fitted with a .45 caliber fast twist barrel for shooting a conical bullet. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. The checkered walnut stock is shaped with a pistol grip. The R.E. Davis Alexander Henry bar lock will provide reliable ignition. Trigger reach is 13-1/4" to fit today's average size shooter. Weight is a modest 9.4 pounds.
The .45 caliber 1" straight octagon barrel is 31" in length and gives the rifle a modest weight without being overly muzzle heavy. The 45 caliber bore is rifled with eight lands and grooves, with a 1 in 18" fast twist for shooting a conical bullet. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. The barrel is fitted with an express style rear sight with a large V notch cut and one folding leaf. The express sight is marked 50 and the leaf is marked 100. The front sight is an iron blade dovetailed directly behind the muzzle. The barrel is finished to a dark textured brown, and it does have a few light scratches from field use. The tang of the hooked breech is fire blued, and a single wedge key surrounded by fire blued escutcheon plates retains the barrel to the forearm.
The walnut stock is finished to a medium brown with satin sheen and is shaped with a pistol grip. The stock does have minor handling marks and a few longer scratches from field use. The bottom of the pistol grip is fitted with an ebony cap with bone diamond insert. The pistol grip and forearm are both neatly checkered to provide for a secure grip. The buttstock is fitted with a wide fire blued iron buttplate to spread the recoil over a large area. The fire blued iron triggerguard has a large bow to allow easy access to the single trigger. The long grip rail extends down into the pistol grip to provide strength. The forearm is fitted with an ebony nose cap. An iron entry pipe with short skirt is located directly behind the nose cap. Two browned iron ramrod pipes are soldered to the barrel's rib. The wooden ramrod is fitted with a steel tip threaded 10-32 for loading and cleaning accessories. The rifle has a hooked breech with English style tang to allow for easy cleaning without risk of wetting the stock. Place the lock at half cock, remove the ramrod, drift the wedge key clear of the under lug and the barrel can be lifted out of the stock. No cheek is shaped on the buttstock and a simple washer style sideplate surrounds the single lock bolt.
The R.E. Davis Alexander Henry style English bar lock, with Express rifle style hammer, is fired blued to match the rest of the steel furniture. This English style percussion lock has a strong mainspring, smooth crisp feel, and fast lock time, due to good internal lock geometry. A drip bar is fitted to replace the thin wood ahead of the breech which was often susceptible to damage over time. The breech is fitted with a stainless steel nipple for a No. 11 percussion cap. The single trigger provides a smooth release of the lock.
Consider this rifle if you seek a contemporary English Sporting Rifle with quality percussion lock and fast twist octagon barrel. It will be a joy to shoot at the range or to carry in the field on your next big game hunt. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. If it does not suit 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.