Inheritance rifle

[RustyRelic]

My 97 yr old grandfather is passing this to me. I remember playing with it as a teenager. It didn't have the firing mechanism. His cousin tried to restore parts of it it seems. This is only photo I have currently . I don't have it in my
Possession yet. It has a hexagon or octagon barrel if I remember . Would like some more info. He never told me much about it. It did come from northern Georgia I know that much.

 

[captaindrew]

A typical civilian hunting/sport rifle. The stock sure has some pretty grain. When you get it and post some close ups of any markings on it maybe someone can narrow down it's age and who made it. Looks like it would be a nice restoration project, would be a nice piece fixed up.

 

[Kurtlg]

Are there any markings on the lock or barrel?

 

[RustyRelic]

I don't have it with me yet but will check everything when I get it

 

[Joe Whitworth]

Looks like a Lancaster PA style rifle, my brother had one years ago. Try posting it here for answers to your questions.

Percussion Rifles

The discussion of Traditional Percussion Rifles.

www.muzzleloadingforum.com

 

[RustyRelic]

Thank you

 

[DixieRifles]

If that is an original Kentucky or Pennsylvania rifle of that period, then it is a nice rifle. It doesnt have a patch box but that doesnt mean it isnt an old rifle. Missing its ramrod.

 

[Booner]

It looks like it was originally a flintlock that was converted over to percussion at some point.
It also has a "set" trigger system, where you would pull the hammer back, and pull the rear trigger to set the forward so it had a very light trigger pull. It has an octagon barrel (six flats) brass furniture and a tiger striped maple stock. The hammer is cocked back way too far so there's a problem with the lock mechanism.

 

[R. Porter]

It looks like it was originally a flintlock that was converted over to percussion at some point.
It also has a "set" trigger system, where you would pull the hammer back, and pull the rear trigger to set the forward so it had a very light trigger pull. It has an octagon barrel (six flats) brass furniture and a tiger striped maple stock. The hammer is cocked back way too far so there's a problem with the lock mechanism.

Wouldn't an octagonal barrel have eight flats?

 

[Booner]

Wouldn't an octagonal barrel have eight flats?

Opps. Yes 8 flats.
In my defense I went to public school.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Looks exactly like a gun kit I got from J.C. Penny's a long, long time ago.

 

[R. Porter]

Looks exactly like a gun kit I got from J.C. Penny's a long, long time ago.

Looking at page 730 of the 1979 JCPenney Fall and Winter Catalog, the Kentucky Rifle kit has a sold color stock with a fore stock separated from the rest of the stock with a brass-looking piece. The lock plate looks like an Enfield's and not something that was converted from flintlock to percussion. The trigger guard is different and there doesn't appear to be a set-trigger. It also doesn't have that step in the stock where the base of the ramrod fits under the barrel. The butt plate is also not as curved and the one in the OP and it doesn't have a similar spur coming off the top of the curve. All in all, while generally similar to the gun in the OP, the JCPenney kit gun from the 1979 catalog is by no means the same gun. Actually, I think someone asked on CWT about a gun not too long ago that turned out to be a JCPenney kit gun.

 

[R. Porter]

I forgot to post a link to the catalog page:

1979 JCPenney Fall Winter Catalog, Page 730 - Catalogs & Wishbooks

1979 JCPenney Fall Winter Catalog, Page 730

christmas.musetechnical.com

 

[Old Soldier]

It looks like it was originally a flintlock that was converted over to percussion at some point.
It also has a "set" trigger system, where you would pull the hammer back, and pull the rear trigger to set the forward so it had a very light trigger pull. It has an octagon barrel (six flats) brass furniture and a tiger striped maple stock. The hammer is cocked back way too far so there's a problem with the lock mechanism.

At least it hasn't got that join in the forestock - or does the 'tiger-striping' hide it?!

The hammer problem is most likely to be the fitting of the hammer to the tumbler - usually a square pin but may be hexagonal or triangular. Originals were hand-made, no two were exactly alike - even less so than the the old British pre-Enfields. This does not mean that they were poorly made, just not made 'to pattern'. They were similar looking 'one-offs'. Most expensive flintlocks in Europe were the same - no spare parts available for any of them!

As to repair, the big question is working or display? It may be that inside the lock, there is nothing other than a tumbler with maybe a bridle IOW a free moving hammer - no mainspring or sear.

How does he know all this? I had a similar gun - which had had the old flintlock removed and a relatively modern repro one put in it's place. From the outside you could just see the alteration to the surface of the stock and inletting being done quite professionally. However it would not work - couldn't even hold half-cock! When I removed the lock i found that the inletting inside the void was for a completely different lock! It works now, but what a job to get it up and running. (No, not for shooting (UK laws) but I like my display guns to work properly.)

 

[RustyRelic]

Display only.

 

[Old Soldier]

Display only.

But make it WORK as it should.

 

[DixieRifles]

Looking at page 730 of the 1979 JCPenney Fall and Winter Catalog, the Kentucky Rifle kit has a sold color stock with a fore stock separated from the rest of the stock with a brass-looking piece.

Back in the 1960's you could order everything from SEARS — but I never heard about buying kit guns from JCPenny.
That 2-piece stock KY rifle sounds like one that CVA sold. I still see these on s FB post so I guess they are still being produced.

 

[RustyRelic]

Here are some more pics. I don't see a makers mark anywhere I've checked every inch. I do like the dog and duck engraving. That might be worth me looking into to find out more info

 

[RustyRelic]

I got an update from my aunt who had it. This was given to my grandfather by his grandfather but she doesn't know exactly when in his life he acquired it. His cousin had it for about 30 yrs now I have it .

 

[Booner]

Here's a picture of what the inside of your lock should look like-

You're missing the mainspring, sear and sear screw at least.

That butt plate looks brutal to someone's shoulder on recoil, but people were smaller back then. No way it would fit me.

The sporting scene on the lock plate is a clue; it's a sporting rifle, and kind of has a Pennsylvania look to it, even though you said it came out of Georgia. On a hunch, I'd begin looking for images of muzzleloading percussion rifles made by George W. Tryon Sporting Goods out of Philadelphia, Pn. From before the war of 1812 and up until the 1950's, they were the nation's largest sporting goods dealer. Someone in Georgia in the 1840-50's could easily go down to the general store and look at the Tryon catalog and order a rifle from them.