At my hunting club last weekend and a fellow brought in the rifle below. He asked me what I could tell him and mentioned he was gifted it 20 years ago and that it had been in the closet since. The lock was very tight. I removed it, cleaned and lubed it, then started working it. Within a few minutes it was throwing sparks, even with the junk agate in the jaws.
I told him I would get the gun cleaned up, gather some things, and get him shooting it.
This past weekend he and I were both at the club and he gave the rifle to me. He said he would not use it, that I had been helpful in teaching his son things about shooting and hunting, I was clearly passionate about flintlocks, and I should keep it and enjoy it.
It has a single stage trigger, a Russ Hamm lock, figured maple stock, brass inlays, straight .45 barrel, and is nicely carved. No makers mark yet found. I feel incredibly blessed.
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