This Mortimer .54 caliber flint lock rifle is stocked in European walnut, and is a replica of the famous rifles originally made by Mortimer, of London, circa 1820. The 35-1/2" octagon-to-round barrel is highly polished and finished to a high gloss chocolate brown. A special patent hooked breech and tang allow the barrel to lift out easily for cleaning after use. Manufactured by Davide Pedersoli & Company of Italy, this rifle is offered in excellent used condition with a bright well maintained bore. Weighing in at 10.2 pounds the rifle has a trigger reach of 13-7/8" making it perfectly suited for today's average to larger size shooters.
The .54 caliber 35-1/2" barrel is tapered octagon at the breech, changing to sixteen sides before a wedding band transition to tapered round to the muzzle. The barrel is rifled with seven lands and grooves with a 1:65 twist for patched round ball. The rifled bore is bright, clean, and ready to shoot. The barrel is highly polished and finished to a high gloss chocolate brown. The left flat is marked Pedersoli - Black Powder Only - Made in Italy Cal. 54 along with the serial number and various proof marks. A brass blade front sight set in an iron base is dovetailed directly behind the muzzle. A flat top rear sight with second flip-up leaf is dovetailed 7" ahead of the breech.
This rifle is stocked in walnut and features a finely checkered wrist. The stock shows only minor handling marks. Shooters will like the wide comfortable blued steel buttplate, perhaps the earliest known use of this seemingly modern design. The top view shows the raised cheekpiece, made for a right hand shooter. The slim lock panels, tapering wider to the front, are much more slender, thanks to the inset breech and inboard lock location. The sideplate panel is equally inset, to match the lock panel, creating a flint gun with a graceful shape. The tang is color case hardened and features a hooked breech design, which is correct for late flint era guns from London. Two captured wedge keys retain the barrel. They cannot be lost in the field. Close the frizzen, remove the ramrod, withdraw the keys, and the barrel can be dismounted for easy cleaning. The ramrod has a brass loading tip and the opposite end has a brass tip threaded to accept 10-32 cleaning and loading accessories.
The bottom view shows the color case hardened steel triggerguard is matched with color hardened steel forend cap, and entry pipe. A sling swivel stud is fitted to the front of the trigger plate, however the swivel is missing. An additional sling swivel stud is fitted to the center of the toe of the buttstock. Up front a sling swivel is fitted to the under rib to accept your 1" sling. No sling is included with this rifle. The side view shows the single lock bolt, surrounded by a round steel escutcheon, typical of the work of best London makers during the early 19th century. The oval cheek piece is defined by an accent line along the lower edge.
The fancy late flint lock, circa 1800 - 1820, is color hardened. It features an anti-friction roller frizzen spring. The pan is free standing, surrounded by grooves to drain away rain from your priming. This design is sometimes called a waterproof pan. The cock is re-enforced with support on both sides of the top jaw screw, sometimes called a double throated cock. This is a very conservative design feature, and these are late flint features. This handsome flint lock has the rarely replicated sliding safety. Manually engaged at half cock, it adds another layer of safety to the normally secure half-cock safety notch. It automatically retracts when the hammer is pulled to full cock, and does not impede the hunter's quick shot. The lock plate is marked Mortimer under the pan. For best results, use our #FLINT-ENG-6 hand knapped English gun flint. Notice the optimum vent geometry. This vent is a perfect window to transmit the heat of the flash directly into the main charge. This removable vent allows easy cleaning. The single trigger is pinned to provide a smooth release of the lock.
This .54 caliber rifle is offered in excellent used condition with a bright well maintained bore that is ready to shoot. It will be perfect for your next big game hunts. 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.
