This Underhammer Rifle by R. Mills, is a replica of the underhammer rifles most often made in New York or New England States. This utilitarian rifle is stocked in curly maple, with a silicon aluminum bronze action using a Hopkins & Allen hammer and trigger. The .54 caliber swamped octagon Rice match grade barrel is bright, clean, and ready to shoot. Stocked with a 13-1/2" trigger reach, this rifle should fit today's average size shooter well. The rifle weighs 8.7 pounds.

This underhammer rifle has a 31" swamped Rice octagon barrel. The .54 caliber bore is cut rifled with seven lands and radius grooves with 1 turn in 66 inches, for patched round ball. 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 barrel is finished to a smooth silvery-brown. A flat top rear sight is dovetailed 6" ahead of the action. The front sight is a brass blade, mounted in brass dovetail base.

The curly maple stock is finished to a light brown and finished to a satin sheen. Trimmed in steel, the buttplate is checkered with a gentle curve to engage the shooter's shoulder. The forearm is fitted with an ebony tip that acts as the ramrod entry pipe. The wooden ramrod passes through two round pipes soldered to the barrel's under rib. The ramrod is fitted with an iron tip threaded to accept 8-32 cleaning and loading accessories. Due to the design of the rifle, the ramrod is not the full length of the barrel, and is too short to service the bore. A 2-1/2" long brass .54 caliber jag is included to reach the breach when cleaning. A browned steel grip extension is screwed into the action directly behind the triggerguard. This rifle is shaped without a cheek piece making it equally suited to a right or left hand shooter.

This ingenious action is very simple, with few moving parts, typical of Yankee Ingenuity from this period. The action is made of silicone aluminum bronze for strength, and uses a Hopkins & Allen hammer and trigger. The hammer spur has deep checkering for a secure hold when cocking and releasing the hammer. The triggerguard, which acts as the mainspring, is heat blued. The mainspring is very strong to provide sure fire ignition of the musket cap. The curved heat blued trigger has a very light release from the full cock position. The hammer strikes the musket nipple, which is screwed directly into the breech end of the barrel, providing direct ignition into the powder chamber, with no turns.

This rifle is offered as new, with a clean bore that is ready to shoot. It will be a joy to shoot at the range or in your next competition. It will also offer the big game hunter a unique firearm to carry afield. 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.