So this is the second rifle of the two I need help on. I don't have much to describe it other then the six photos below. It seems in fairly good shape other then a little rust. Not sure if the "ram-rod" is original to the weapon although it seems to be. The barrel seems very heavy and a bit crude but maybe because of its age. Again, I am such a novice at rifles that I wouldn't even know where to research this particular rifle? Any takers on the what and when for this model? Thanks everyone. Love the site.
Looks like what was called a mountain rifle, or sometimes a Great Plains rifle. The most famous of that style was the Hawkin. Normally 54 caliber or greater. Bore appears to need freshened.
It looks like a somewhat inexpensive half stock rifle with a back action lock. It has no fancy inlays or anything else above utility. The bore may have been reamed out. It looks like there is no rifling left. The double set triggers insure that at one time it was rifled. Used hard and put away wet.
It's difficult for me to get a sense of proportion. It has much more the appearance of an Ohio rifle or a half stock Kentucky. If the build is slender I would believe it to be from the Ohio valley. If it's more robust then anywhere from Pennsylvania to Missouri and intended for the western trade. Probably built from the 1830's through about 1860.
I don't know a thing about the rifle, it does look like a Kentucky rifle, but I spotted what looks like a brass "wood screw" where the nipple should be.
Sharps is pretty much right on the money, it 's a small caliber rifle from the Ohio region or at least built in that style. I'd put it closer to 1850s though.
It was most likely smaller than .45 caliber and used for small game or varmints around the farm. It also looks like someone has been in there with a drill and tried to make it larger and it's missing the drum and nipple.
As is it has very little collector value, it's worth a hundred or so as a wall hanger unless it has a famous gunmaker's name engraved on the top flat of the barrel.
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