1800s percussion rifle identification

[Retromodo]

Hi

Hope you’re all well,

I have this 1800s percussion rifle that needs identification, there are no markings other than some numbers on the stock, I have included some pictures of the lock when I was servicing it. (Excuse all the mess)

Any ideas would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[52Bore]

Numbers on stock are probably some past inventory number..
Underside of barrel might have proof marks.
I assume it’s a smoothbore ? - although the ramrod thimbles look big for the steel rod.
Overall it looks to be piece together from parts and someone stocked it.. the stock probably has been refurbished a time or two..
Regardless, if it’s sound - enjoy.

 

[hawkeye2]

It's possible it may be newer than you think. Guns like this were sold by Dixie Gun Works and others from the end of WW2 on as inexpensive muzzleloaders. Whatever it turns out to be enjoy it.

 

[Sam squanch]

May be from India? The numbers stamped on the stock may be a police license number, I’ve seen matchlocks and flintlocks from there with the same number stamps. They did build some nice shotguns in India back in the 1960’-1980’s for export, I think Dixie sold them.

 

[Retromodo]

Hi

Thanks for all the replies,

I am in the uk and here you can only buy/sell firearms from pre 1930s with obsolete ignition (flintlock, percussion, matchlock etc) without a licence.

I got this one from a antique firearm dealer and I didn’t need a licence, so it has to be pre 1930s.

Is it possible for it to still be Indian made from pre 1930s ?

Thanks

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Hi

Thanks for all the replies,

I am in the uk and here you can only buy/sell firearms from pre 1930s with obsolete ignition (flintlock, percussion, matchlock etc) without a licence.

I got this one from a antique firearm dealer and I didn’t need a licence, so it has to be pre 1930s.

Is it possible for it to still be Indian made from pre 1930s ?

Thanks

Yes it's possible. Some of the Indian companies making BP firearms today stem from shops that have been making black powder guns for Indian use for more than a century, because when the British switched over to modern propellants, civilian use of modern cartridges was restricted without a great deal of expensive permission. The fellows who could not afford to obtain the permits then moved to caplock and flintlock guns.

I'm not sure that a replica of a caplock muzzleloader has to have been made pre-1930, as we have a member who hunts with smoothbores that are more like from 1970 and younger, and he lives in the UK. I wonder that your barrel does not have some sort of proofing stamp.

LD

 

[TFoley]

Yes it's possible. Some of the Indian companies making BP firearms today stem from shops that have been making black powder guns for Indian use for more than a century, because when the British switched over to modern propellants, civilian use of modern cartridges was restricted without a great deal of expensive permission. The fellows who could not afford to obtain the permits then moved to caplock and flintlock guns.

I'm not sure that a replica of a caplock muzzleloader has to have been made pre-1930, as we have a member who hunts with smoothbores that are more like from 1970 and younger, and he lives in the UK. I wonder that your barrel does not have some sort of proofing stamp.

LD

That was my next question. ANY firearm sold here in UK that is intended to be fired is required by law to have been proofed, and to show the stamps to prove it. Perhaps the OP has not removed the barrel from the stock to examine the underneath, where most stamps are placed for aesthetic reasons.

To me it IS an Indian-made piece - the wood alone tells me that, with its coarse grain and slapped-on finish. The lack of a backsight says shotgun to me, in the style of an English piece of the mid-19thC.

 

[Retromodo]

@Loyalist Dave , Your member in the uk probably has a shotgun/firearms licence, so he can shoot modern replicas, but I don’t so in my case I can only own pre 1930s as an ‘ornament’ and cannot shoot them.

I checked the underside of the barrel (I checked and it is smoothbore) and there are no markings/stamps that I can see.

 

[Relic shooter]

I also agree that this is an India mfg shotgun.
The wood is typical of guns made in India & see the lock is equipped with a fly so is better quality than most early manufactured M/L
firearms.

 

[hawkeye2]

Hi

Thanks for all the replies,

I am in the uk and here you can only buy/sell firearms from pre 1930s with obsolete ignition (flintlock, percussion, matchlock etc) without a licence.

I got this one from a antique firearm dealer and I didn’t need a licence, so it has to be pre 1930s.

Is it possible for it to still be Indian made from pre 1930s ?

Thanks

It's quite possible the seller called it a pre 1930 firearm to simplify life or misidentified it leaving the burden of proof on someone else if it ever became an issue. It may or may not be pre 30s and it may never become a problem.

 

[Retromodo]

Hmm, quite fascinating,

Thanks for all the information and help

 

[Sam squanch]

May just have been brought back by someone who thought they would just use it as a decoration.

 

[TFoley]

May just have been brought back by someone who thought they would just use it as a decoration.

^^^^^^^^^
This.

 

[Bucks Co]

I agree looks Indian to me - still a nice piece tho'

 

[bpd303]

Have you removed the barrel from the stock? Most proof marks are covered by the stock wood.