This classic fullstock flint rifle is a recreation of a John Bonewitz- Heidelberg Township, Berks County Pennsylvania rifle shown in the book Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age by Joe Kindig, Jr. John Bonewitz was thought to have worked from 1779 to 1809. This rifle was constructed by contemporary gunmaker John Bohan and is signed on the top flat of the barrel. Stocked in maple, the stock is decorated with raised and incised carving. The brass furniture is polished bright and lightly engraved. The Jim Chambers deluxe Siler flintlock and Rice Barrel Company swamped barrel are finished to a dark textured brown. Trigger reach is 13-1/4" to fit today's average size shooter. This rifle weighs 8.0 pounds.

The Rice 42" swamped octagon makes this longrifle point easily, without being overly heavy. The swamped barrel is thickest at the breech, tapers to a narrow waist, and flares at the muzzle. The .50 caliber bore is cut rifled with seven lands and grooves. Grooves are cut .016" deep, with round bottom rifling, twist is 1 turn in 66 inches. Rice Muzzle Loading Rifle Barrels are set between centers and milled octagonal, insuring a centered bore, concentric with the exterior, with no "run-out". Each barrel is stress relieved in an atmosphere controlled electric furnace, to eliminate work hardening or barrel warp, and to dampen harmonic vibrations or barrel whip. After the rifling has been cut, each bore is "ball burnished". A carbide bore-sizing die is pulled through the barrel, to insure bore dimension uniformity, eliminating any tight or loose spots inside the barrel. This critical procedure leaves the top of the lands smooth and polished, equaling the traditional lead lapping procedure. Rice barrels are Match grade quality, with bench rest capability. Rice barrels do not require lapping or extensive shooting to break-in. The top flat of the swamped barrel is signed John Bohan behind the rear sight. A flat top rear sight is dovetailed 10" ahead of the breech. A brass blade front sight is dovetailed 1-1/2" behind the muzzle.

The maple stock is finished to a warm brown with golden undertones to best display the figure. The early wide buttplate has a pleasant curve, comfortable to aim, it engages your shoulder to minimize the felt recoil from the .50 caliber bore. The brass patchbox is a copy from a Bonewitz rifle shown in Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age, and is decorated with the same floral engraving. The door opens to reveal a cavity for storing extra shooting supplies. A double line of incised carving runs along the toe line creating a slimming effect. Viewed from the top, this graceful Lebanon school longrifle features a tapered comb. The buttplate comb is shaped with five flats and a wedding band transition. The wrist is defined by a line of raised carving along the front edge of the comb that flows down both sides of the wrist. Raised carving surrounds the flared tang of the breech plug.

The bottom view shows the engraved brass toeplate that helps protect this delicate area of the stock when loading. The triggerguard is correctly mounted with two pins, no screws. The lock panels are shaped with a raised molding along the lower edge. Raised and incised carving frame the skirt of the ramrod entry pipe. A raised molding accents the forend along the ramrod channel. The muzzle end of the stock is protected with a brass muzzle cap. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a brass tip with 10-32 threads for loading and cleaning accessories. The ramrod passes through two brass pipes and entry pipe with paneled bodies and ringed ends. The stock is shaped with raised carved scrolls that extend down the wrist ahead of the cheek. The square cheek is shaped with a molded edge, and raised carved scrolls decorate the stock behind the cheek. The brass sideplate is retained by two lock bolts that engage the lock on the opposite side.

Ignition is provided by a Jim Chambers' deluxe Siler flintlock. This Germanic influenced lock is tuned for best performance. The beefy mainspring provides lots of energy to assure ignition. We recommend our 3/4" knapped flints for sure fire ignition in this lock. The lock has the same textured brown finish to match the barrel. The frizzen only shows one mark from test sparking. The single trigger is pinned high to provide good leverage against the sear. Fast ignition is assured by the stainless steel vent liner, positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. 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.

If you desire an attractive Golden Age period longrifle, then consider this fine piece. This longrifle is new, unfired. It will be a joy to shoot at the range or on your next hunting adventure. 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.