This rifle is stocked in maple and trimmed in brightly polished brass furniture. The design of this Colonial era longrifle rifle appears to have been highly influenced by examples from Tidewater region which had considerable trade with the English. This rifle shows the blend of English and Germanic influences. The large wide buttplate and square cheek piece are of Germanic influence. The large round faced English lock is designed for fast, reliable ignition. This is a reproduction of a rifle which would have been used a tool for daily life during the 18th century. The trigger reach is about 13-3/4" to fit today's average shooter. Weight is 9.2 pounds. The rifle has scattered handling marks on the stock and marks on the brown finish.
The 43-1/2" length .50 caliber swamped barrel is cut rifled with eight lands and grooves with a slow twist for a tightly patched round ball. The swamped barrel is light weight due to the taper and flare of the swamped octagon barrel. The thick breech makes the barrel very strong. The thin waist saves weight, and the muzzle flares to bring the front sight to the same sighting plane as the rear sight. The brass blade front sight is dovetailed 2" behind the muzzle. The flat top rear sight is dovetailed 11" ahead of the breech.
This longrifle rifle has a comfortable wide flat buttplate, probably circa 1750 to 1780. The buttplate is buffed to a bright finish. The sliding wooden patchbox has a bullet shaped door. Modest pressure on the patchbox spring allows the door to slide to the rear, revealing a deep cut cavity for storing flints, jags, or other shooting accessories. Lock panels gently taper widest at the rear in early long gun fashion.
The bottom view reveals the Germanic influenced brass triggerguard, with long grip rail. The forend is slim and graceful, with a very slight Germanic palm swell just behind the ramrod entry pipe. The second underlug pin has a chip missing from around the pin hole. The ramrod pipes are brass with a raised thumbnail skirt on the entry pipe. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a steel tip for 8-32 threaded loading and cleaning accessories. A brass muzzle cap protects the end grain of the stock. The large sideplate dominates the side panel. Two domed lock bolts engage the lock opposite.
Ignition is provided by a round face Virginia lock. Sometimes called a “Queen Anne" lock, this best quality round faced flint lock actually dates from the 1730 to 1770 era, well after Anne's reign ended. The lock requires our 7/8" knapped gun flint. The vent liner is positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. The vent hole has been internally coned to provide good ignition. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash. The single wide curled trigger has good leverage, giving this rifle an easy trigger release, and good feel.
We recommend this simple and attractive longrifle for the French & Indian War era reenactor or the Revolutionary War volunteer, seeking a suitable gun for militia duty. This longrifle is used with some marks on it. The bore is bright. 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.
