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Looking for help - C.W. Howell .40 Cal Ohio Half Stock

4K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Buffalochip 
#1 ·
Hello,

I am trying to piece info together on what I am told is an 1860's percussion .40 Cal sporter made by C.W. Howell, Martins Ferry, OH. Drum has been replaced with modern unit. There looks like a brass plate repair on the right side. Was this converted from a flint? The stock is in very good uncracked condition. Sights look period as does the rest of the firearm. Owner had fired it up into the 1950's. His grandad bought it from C.W. Howell directly so his estate and children say.

Anyhow, I can't find much about Howell other than a few fleeting references. The estate is looking to sell the firearm so I am also trying to get my head wrapped around some kind of value.

Thank you kindly for all efforts in sleuthing this out!
 

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#2 ·
There's much we don't know - e.g., bore condition, close-up photos, etc. There may be some collector out there who has been wanting that gun, and might pay $500 for it, subject to inspection. For most of us shooters and wall-hanger types, $100 might be realistic.

You can take it to a gun show or offer it on an gun auction website. Meanwhile, don't quit your day job.
 
#3 ·
No sir, it was not converted from flint. First of all what is normally considered an Ohio style rifle, such as yours, came along after the flint era and secondly I am unaware of there having ever been a back action flintlock. I also doubt the brass plate is a repair. The Vincent brothers, and others, inserted a piece of metal, often brass and sometimes silver, above the bar action locks because the wood often wore away there from the flash of the cap. I really suspect that is what the brass plate is for as the back action lock does not have the lock plate below the nipple. Below is a link to a fine Caleb Vincent rifle in 32 cal.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=21967.0

There assuredly was and are extant Ohio longrifles in flint but they were comtemporary to the late Pennsylvania rifles. In the "old days" I heard "old timers" often refer to the Ohio rifles as "half stock Kentuckies", which in a sense, they are.

I can't tell you anything about the maker but I do know the Ohio rifles, unless a John or Caleb Vincent, do not demand the prices of Pennsylvania rifles. dcriner might be close on his valuation. Here's site that might be able to help.

http://www.aolrc.org/
http://www.aolrc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vol-ii-no-1-feb-1980.pdf
 
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