Neatly fit and finished this fine flintlock longrifle was constructed by contemporary builder Matt Avance and engraved by Bruce Horne. This "Grand Rifle" features the angular lines of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The longrifle is stocked in a dense piece of highly figured curly maple, making it ideal choice for delicate raised carving. The rifle is trimmed with highly polished nickel silver furniture, all of which is neatly hand engraved by Bruce Horne. The Chamber's deluxe Siler flint lock, and 42" Getz swamped barrel are finished to a dark matte tone. This rifle appears to be as-new with only a few handling marks. Weighing in at 9.4 pounds the rifle has a trigger reach of 13-1/2" making it well suited for today's average size shooters.

The heart of the rifle is a .50 caliber 42" swamped Getz barrel. The swamped barrel is thickest at the breech for strength, tapers to a narrow waist to reduce weight, and flares at the muzzle to align the sights. The .50 caliber bore is cut rifled with seven square grooves, with crisp and clean rifling. The barrel has been finished a dark matte brown. The top flat of the swamped barrel is signed M. Avance & Horne ~ Grand Rifle~. The flat top rear sight is dovetailed 10" ahead of the breech. Shooters with "older" eyes or corrective lenses will find it easier to focus on the sights with this extra distance from the breech. A nickel silver blade front sight is mounted behind the muzzle. The flared tang of the breech plug is engraved with a floral pattern.

The buttstock has the classic angular lines of Lancaster County Pennsylvania. The buttplate is tall, wide, and nearly flat from heel to toe, and is engraved around the screw on the flat top of the comb. Metal to wood fit is excellent on both the buttplate and patchbox. The dense, hard, curly maple stock is ideal for carving. This attractive piece of maple has an iridescent sheen when it is rolled in the light. From above the attractive figure in the rifle is very evident along the comb and lock panels. The lock panels are gently tapered widest at the rear in early flintlock fashion. Scrolls of incised carving decorate the stock around the flared tang of the breech. The engraved nickel silver patchbox is shaped with a classic daisy head patchbox found on Lancaster County, longrifles. The patchbox has a cam over center door. Once the door is open a nicely sized cavity is revealed, ready to accept your extra shooting accessories.

Our bottom view of the rifle shows off the nickel silver toeplate and triggerguard that have been used on the rifle. Both the toeplate and triggerguard are decorated with very delicate lines of floral engraving. Well forward and out of the picture the wooden ramrod is held in place by three nickel silver ramrod pipes, one entry and two forward. Each short pipe is finished with octagonal flats and raised rings on each end. The ramrod is fitted with a nickel silver tip threaded to accept 8-32 cleaning and loading accessories. The forearm is shaped with a line of incised carving, terminating just behind the nickel silver muzzle cap. Our backside view of the rifle shows off the decorative nickel silver sideplate that has been used on the gun. The sideplate is finished flush with the side panel and neatly hand engraved with the name J. H. Hickok in the center. An additional unpolished and undrilled nickel silver sideplate is included, if the new owner wants to replace it for one without an engraved name. The rear of the side panel does have a few small handling marks. The squared cheek is decorated with three lines of molding. Further back, the raised and incised carving is well defined around the cheek.

Ignition for the rifle is provided by this neatly fitted and finished Chamber's deluxe Siler flint lock. The lock has a dark matte brown finish identical to the barrel. The frizzen of the lock is as-new with only one strike visible. We recommend our #FLINT-ENG-6 for best sparking. Behind the pan an Ampco touch hole liner has been properly installed in the “sunset" position. Touch hole liners are internally coned and help bring the main charge closer to the priming charge, ensuring fast and reliable ignition.

The double lever double set trigger is properly adjusted to allow the lock to be cocked, or the trigger set, in any sequence. Correct geometry gives this rifle a very smooth trigger release. Adjust the screw between the two triggers, inboard to reduce set trigger release pressure, our outboard to require a stronger pressure. When screwed fully inboard, the adjustment screw disables the rear trigger, so the rifle must be fired from the front trigger, which requires about a four pound pull for release. It is wise to disable the rear trigger, when hunting in very cold weather. But the set trigger can provide very light release, perhaps an ounce or two, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather.

If you are in the market for a well made flint lock longrifle, then consider this fine Lancaster longrifle today. In near-new condition, this fine flintlock will make an excellent addition to any black powder shooters collection. The overall fit and finish of the rifle is quite nice, expertly executed by two well known craftsmen. 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.