This antique halfstock Ohio rifle has a beautiful warm patina that is a joy to handle and display. The rifle is stocked in walnut and trimmed in brass furniture. The barrel is stamped with a professional stamp DAVID HUDSON behind the rear sight. Gunmakers of Ohio, Volume 1 by David Huslar notes that David Hudson of Napoleon, Ohio is shown in tax records as being an active gunmaker between 1875 and 1896. Both he and his brother were involved in the operation and that reference notes both as deaf and mute. The .36 caliber bore is dark and heavily pitted. The hammer on the back action lock is very loose on the tumbler. The walnut stock has a crack extending from the left escutcheon forward up to the barrel channel. Trigger reach is 13", about average for an antique longrifle. Weight is 9.7 pounds.

The .36 caliber straight octagon barrel is just under 1-1/16" wide with an overall length of 34". The .36 caliber bore is rifled with six narrow lands and wide grooves. The bore is dark and heavily pitted. The exterior has aged to a dark textured brown patina. The breech end is pitted from the corrosive percussion caps used during the 1800's. The top flat is stamped DAVID HUDSON. The left barrel flat is marked GOEGLER near the breech. John Goegler made rifle barrels on Wyomissing Creek, between Gouglersville and Mohn's Store (current Mohnton), in Berks County, Pennsylvania. A long step adjustable rear sight is screw mounted to the barrel so it sits 8-3/4" ahead of the breech. We note the stepped riser is missing. This sight design seems to be common to this makers work, with other known examples having similar rear sights. A low silver blade front sight with iron base is dovetailed 1-1/4" behind the muzzle.

The walnut stock has a scattered marks and a warm patina from handling. There is a crack extending from the left escutcheon forward up to the barrel channel. All of the brass furniture is very well fitted and has aged to a beautiful mellow patina. The buttplate is narrow with a deep curve in mid-19th century style. This rifle appears to have commercial castings and inlays that appear to be from E. K. Tryon Co. of Philadelphia. The brass cap box is engraved with a simple floral design. The top view shows the long tang and slim profile of this Ohio rifle. Two bolts pass through the tang to engage the long trigger plate below, sandwiching the wrist and adding strength. The barrel is retained to the forearm with a single iron key that passes through nickel silver escutcheons. However, we note the right escutcheon is missing.

The bottom view shows the brass toeplate is secured with two steel screws. The triggerguard has a large bow with a curled grip rail, found on Ohio school longrifles. The triggerguard has a well aged patina, with the areas that are frequently handled worn brighter. A poured pewter forend cap protects the end grain of the stock, and serves as the ramrod entry pipe, while the forward pipes are traditional steel pipes soldered to the barrel's under rib. The tip of the slender wooden ramrod is broken off and this ramrod does not have any tips threaded to accept cleaning or loading accessories. A brass teardrop brass sideplate is inlet flush to the stock and is secured with a small wood screw. We note the lock bolt is missing on this rifle. There is also a small crack extending forward from the sideplate to the barrel. No cheek piece is carved on the left side of the buttstock, instead an oval nickel silver inlay is fitted to the stock.

The back action percussion lock has aged to the same brown patina as the barrel and features some die stamped scroll engraving. The hammer is very loose on the tumbler with play in all directions. As with many percussion locks the tumbler has only a single notch, full cock. This simplified lock construction by eliminating the fly detent for use with set triggers. The single lever double set triggers will only fire the lock from the set position. You must set the triggers before you can cock the lock. The drum is fitted with an antique nipple. We did not attempt to remove it. The hammer cup displays some chipping from the corrosive antique percussion caps.

This antique halfstock rifle has a wonderful patina on the walnut stock and brass furniture. This rifle will make a great display piece on the wall of your house or cabin. It is sure to be a great conversation starter. 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.