This percussion halfstock plains style rifle is stocked in maple, and trimmed in a mixture of brass, iron, and nickel silver furniture, and features a .50 caliber barrel. The rifle is offered in used condition, with a well maintained bore. Weight is 7.8 pounds and the rifle has a trigger reach of 13-5/8" making it well suited for today's average size shooter.
The .50 caliber 35" barrel is 7/8" straight octagon. The bore is rifled with seven wide lands and grooves with a slow twist for a tightly patched round ball. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. We recommend our .490" pure lead round ball, patched with .015" Ox-Yoke patching, lubricated with our Mink Oil tallow patch grease, if you require best accuracy. The barrel is finished to a chocolate brown and is signed P. Sheets 38 behind the rear sight. The finish has many light scratches and small dings from field use. The barrel is fitted with a browned iron blade front sight dovetailed 1" behind the muzzle and a semi-buckhorn rear sight dovetailed 11" ahead of the breech.
The maple stock is stained a light tan with gloss finish. The stock has only fair shaping and fitting, and has a few small dings from normal use. The buttstock is fitted with an iron crescent buttplate to engage the shooter's shoulder in 19th century plains style fashion. A browned nose cap protects the end grain of the stock. The buttstock is fitted with a brass Thompson Center Hawken capbox. The straight tang is fitted to the breech plug and mounts with one domed tang bolt that engages the trigger plate below. We note filler has been used on both sides of the tang. The toe of the rifle is fitted with a nickel silver toeplate mounted with steel screws. The nickel silver triggerguard bow has a finger spur, and the rear of the grip rail has a curled spoon. The wooden ramrod is fitted with a brass tip with 8-32 threads for loading and cleaning accessories. The ramrod passes through a nickel silver entry pipe and two iron ramrod pipes soldered to the barrel's under rib. A small screw in the under rib near the muzzle is used to prevent the ramrod from sliding forward. A square cheek is formed on the left side of the buttstock and the single lock bolt passes through a nickel silver sideplate.
The percussion lock is manufactured by L&R and has been browned to match the barrel. This style lock was commonly used on plains rifles during the 1840-1880 era. The lock has a strong mainspring and is tuned well for sure fire ignition. The drum and nipple are well supported by the lock plate, critical on this style of ignition. A 1/4-28 stainless steel nipple is surrounded by a nickel silver flash cup to protect the stock from cap spray. The double lever double set triggers are properly adjusted to fire from the set, or unset position. You may set the triggers before, or after cocking the lock. Adjust the screw between the two triggers, inboard to reduce set trigger release pressure, our outboard to require a stronger pressure. The set trigger can provide very light release, perhaps an ounce or two, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather.
This halfstock plains rifle is used, but with a well maintained bore. It will be perfect to carry in the deep woods 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.
