An old muzzle loading rifle

[Guy Miner]

The old rifle was given to my father, by a friend, about 40 years ago. I was there, and the fellow explained to Dad that this rifle had come across the plains on an early wagon train, bound for California & Oregon. The fellow told Dad that a family story was that his grandmother had used it in self defense against an Indian attack. True or not, I don't know. It appears to be well beyond shooting anymore, but is still a pretty neat display piece. If you've got some knowledge of this type of rifle, please let me know more. I don't know much about it. Heavy, for sure.

Enjoy, Guy

 

[DrMike]

It is a very neat looking rifle, Guy. The wood looks quite attractive; it certainly has some character.

 

[SJB358]

That is a very cool old rifle! I dig the rifling!

 

[tddeangelo]

Odds are that the rifling is not like that, rather it's a coned muzzle that was supposed to facilitate easier loading.

How long is the rifle overall?

Nailing down details on stuff like that is near impossible, as lots of gunsmiths made rifles, and they all kinda did their own thing. A lot of times you can nail down a style or region it likely originated from, but not much more. Add on that guns were cannibalized heavily to keep working guns in order, and to retrofit hand-fitted parts, it took some real work, and well-used guns often don't give a good account, just based on appearances, of what they started out as in life.

Very cool old rifle, though, no doubt! And with a family history to it, makes it a heck of an heirloom!

 

[tddeangelo]

Here's another example of a coned muzzle:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/ ... 0643-1.jpg

 

[Dr. Vette]

Using Google:

http://sparetimeactivities.net/HistPPowell.htm

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/ind ... 202.0;wap2

 

[tecumseh]

If it could only talk!

 

[Guy Miner]

Glad I grabbed a few photos of the rifle. Dad donated it to a museum recently. Which is pretty cool I think, as more people will be able to see it now. Found out a little more about it too. Will share later.

 

[DrMike]

Very neat, Guy. I'm certain it will be interesting to learn whatever is possible about the use of the old rifle.

 

[Guy Miner]

I am really getting the itch to build and hunt with a traditional flintlock. I've got a .50 cal "traditional" percussion rifle, a T-C that I used to hunt with in the mid 1990's and maybe it will satisfy for a while, but am thinking I really want to go deeper into the whole thing.

Select the components, build a rifle with a pretty nice maple stock. I'll need to pick a period & style of rifle to emulate. Something lighter than this big ol' beast of a rifle would be handier for hunting. Doing some research into what's available now. Hmmm. Probably should have started another thread on this instead of letting my thoughts get ahead of me.

At any rate - what I've learned is that Powell was a seller of rifles, out of Cincinnati and that this old rifle could have been made by any number of makers. It was a fairly low grade, inexpensive rifle with iron hardware. The stock isn't tiger striped maple - the striping was likely burned on by wrapping it with a rope, which was then set afire. I never did measure the bore, but it's big, at least .54 cal. The rifle may well have been built after cartridge rifles were in use. Not everyone could afford one of the new cartridge rifles, and some of these muzzle loaders continued to be produced and sold as a less expensive alternative.

The story is, from the fellow who gave it to Dad 40 years ago, is that his grandmother used it to defend the homestead in Northern California from Indian thieves who were intent on stealing livestock. Apparently, according to family legend, the gal managed to kill an Indian with it, and stall the attack. Beats me, but with a rifle this old, I'd say it's certainly possible.

FWIW, Guy

 

[DrMike]

The story is worth a nickle at the least, Guy. The use of a burning rope to create the striping is fascinating--even ingenious. It is actually attractive.

 

[onlymuzzleloaders]

Guyminor. that would be a good idea to build your own flintlock and then use it. I have several I have made and then used . Once you get used to hunting and shooting properly with it, you wont use anything else. Use one everyday here on the farm. going to get a spring jug and read more muzzleloading threads or maybe check in on tommyboy,

 

[c. schutte]

8)

 

[tddeangelo]

Well, howdy, Lynn. I'm right here. No need to go checking anywhere on me. What can I do for you, buddy?

And you made a few flintlocks? That's awesome, bud. I remember when you were talking flintlocks with me on the Cabela's Forum, and you had never even shot one before. That was, what, about 3 years ago or so? You've come a long way in a short time! If I remember right, you flinched pretty hard that first time you shot the "flintylock" you said you got off gunbroker for some very cheap price (good score....always good to save a few bucks!) and said you banged up your shoulder pretty badly. Hopefully you've cured that flinch, but there's a reason some people nickname those kinds of rifles "flinch-locks". It can be overcome with time and practice.

Good to see you're still kicking, buddy....

 

[onlymuzzleloaders]

glad to see your on an active forum tommy, long time, no talk. yeah I must have solved that problem, as the deer in the wood lot keep falling down when I touch it off. made it right here on the farm too. you have yours made by some guy in PA dont you tommy.

good muzzleloading threads here, got a chuck out of some of them. got chores to do, but might wet a line in my new fish pond later

 

[tddeangelo]

Yep. I am having one made by "some guy in PA." Sure enough.

Glad the deer fall down when you touch it off. Hope that shoulder's ok, buddy. I remember you hurt it pretty bad back a couple years ago by not snugging up that buttstock and by watching the pan go off. Good to hear you solved that problem for yourself.

What barrels and locks are you using?

 

[onlymuzzleloaders]

need a little help tommy, it is my pleasure

plenty of old flintlocks around, finding barrels on the cheap is easy in this neck of the woods Should also be some in PA. wood comes from right here on the farm. locks are not that hard to make with a little blacksmithing knowledge and tools or if you dont know how to make them that Chambers fellow in the Carolinas has pretty good ones. glad to see you interested in making one instead of having someone else do it for you. I will check back to see if you need more help, but need to move some heifers to the upper pasture right now

 

[tddeangelo]

You make your own locks? Interesting.

Any pics of them? Would enjoy seeing them.

 

[SJB358]

Same here. Would love to see some pictures of the stocks.. Anytime people start making their own stocks, I am always interested in that. What kinda timber are you using on the farm? Is this air dried timber that has been cut for awhile? Woodworking is a skill that is something that always interests me.

 

[c. schutte]

Scotty,

I think he is using Sap wood.