This antique trade rifle is stocked in maple and trimmed in brass furniture. The barrel is stamped Tryon, Philada. on the top flat. Edward K. Tryon trade rifles were supplied to fur traders, Indian agents, merchants, as well as the U.S. Government. The percussion lock is missing, and the stock is well worn with a heavy patina. Stocked and trimmed as a rifle, the barrel could have been enlarged to a smoothbore during the service life. Trigger reach is 13-3/4", about average for an antique longrifle. Weight is 8.0 pounds.
The .48 caliber smoothbore barrel is roughly 15/16" octagon with an overall length of 37-1/2". The bore is dark and heavily pitted. The top flat of the barrel is stamped Tryon Philada. The breech end of the barrel is heavily pitted around the drum and nipple from the corrosive percussion caps used in the 19th century. The rest of the barrel has aged to a dark brown patina. A semi-buckhorn rear sight is dovetailed 10" ahead of the breech. A small iron post front sight is fitted behind the muzzle. The barrel is secured to the stock with two wedge keys. The last 4" of the forearm near the muzzle as been cut back and reshaped. The bottom flat still shows the staking marks from the under lug, which has been removed. The two rear wedge keys are still present. The breech plug is cracked and bent at a slight angle from the barrel.
The stock has darkened to a well aged patina, and has many marks, dings, and dents from over 100 years of use. The toe is cracked all the way through and has been repaired with a small screw. The lock panel has a large crack that passes through it, and extends down towards the trigger plate. The inside of the lock mortise also has a large crack extending back from the breech plug. This crack can also be seen passing under the side plate. There is a 3" crack that extends back from the pointed tang of the breech plug. The oval silver inlay is missing from the top of the wrist. The buttstock has two smaller cracks extending forward from the patchbox finials. Another 1" crack extends forward from the comb of the buttplate. The right side of the forearm has a 5" long crack near the top. Another 3" crack can be seen further up on the forearm. The left side of the forearm has a crack running from the barrel to the ramrod entry pipe. The entire ramrod channel has a large crack running down the middle of it and extending past the ramrod entry pipe. This crack has been repaired with a silver epoxy that is visible in the ramrod channel. The ramrod for this gun is missing.
The butt view shows the classic Trade Rifle architecture circa 1830. The patchbox has a distinctive head finial and seems to be a design favored on Trade Rifles by E.K. Tryon. The push button release appears to be fashioned from a nail. The hook can be see passing through the toeplate from below. The door opens to reveal a deep cut cavity for storing extra flints. The buttplate is mounted with steel screws, and we note a third smaller screw passes through the bottom of the plate to repair the cracked toe. The buttplate has the distinctive crescent shape common to the period.
The long brass toeplate can be seen from below, along with the metal hook that releases the patchbox. The brass triggerguard has a well aged patina. The forend of the rifle has been cut back 4" from the muzzle and reshaped. No muzzle cap was used to protect the endgrain after it was cut back. Only one ramrod pipe remains on the gun, it was moved forward to the end of the forearm when the stock was cut back. Notice the small square Kentucky rifle style cheek rest on the left side of the buttstock. The brass sideplate is a classic early 19th century Trade Rifle sideplate found on many Trade Rifles made in Pennsylvania. It is engraved with a large W. The front screw is too small to retain the sideplate and it falls off the gun. The original lock bolt passes through the sideplate, and it too easily falls off.
The percussion lock is missing from this rifle. The drum is still attached to the barrel, but the nipple is missing. The wood on the breech as been charred and worn away from repeated cap flash. Most of the wood around the breech plug is worn away on the inside of the mortise. The double lever double set triggers cannot be set.
An example of a 19th century percussion Trade Rifle/Gun from a well documented maker. It will make a great display piece. 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.