An opportunity to buy a custom rifle

[KR_Rabbit]

Hello Forum, new member here.
I was at the local gun shop today and I saw a muzzleloading flint lock rifle up for sale. This rifle is fairly plain, no patch box. It has a .45 cal. barrel that was made by Getz and a Siler lock. On the top flat it says R Ambright 2005 No 33. I am looking for any information on this rifle, it kind of sings to me and I am sorely tempted to pick it up. It is in very good shape, well cared for, just kind of plain.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Mark

 

[Loyalist Dave]

You should first, be sure it's not loaded when you handle it. You'd be surprised at how many times when I've looked at a muzzleloader at a LGS, I've found it was loaded and the clerk had been waving the muzzle all over the place.

Then inspect the bore. The best way is to get a cheap inspection camera around 5mm size off Amazon, that plugs into your phone.
The "field expedient" way is to make a bore-reflector by taking a modern cartridge casing such as a 9mm Luger or .223 Remington casing, and cover the primer-end with a shiny bit of aluminum foil. Then drop the casing down the barrel with the shiny side toward the muzzle, and when you shine a flashlight down, the foil will reflect enough light back up toward you, to give a moderate check of the bore. IF the bore looks OK then I'd buy it, depending on the price, but that's just me.

LD

 

[snakebit]

You know the old saying, "plain girls make the best wives." She might be a lights out shooter.

 

[bpd303]

My taste runs to the plain rifles but that's just me. As long as it's in fine shape and the price was right I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. Found this on the forum that mentions R Ambright's guns. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/best-production-flintlock.89630/page-2

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

https://www.longrifle.com/all-artisans/entry/2251/?pagenum=2

Artisan Name Robert Ambright
Artisan Category General Artwork

Address 9034 County Road H
Eagle River, WI 54521
United States of America

Phone 715-479-1772
Email: [email protected]

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

https://www.longrifle.com/all-artisans/entry/2251/?pagenum=2

Artisan Name Robert Ambright
Artisan Category General Artwork

Address 9034 County Road H
Eagle River, WI 54521
United States of America

Phone 715-479-1772
Email: [email protected]

 

[French Colonial]

After you leave the shop do you wake up in the night thinking about it, then you should buy it

 

[Grenadier1758]

The parts identified in the original post are quality parts. If R. Ambright was a good assembler, the Siler lock should be a good lock, perhaps even great. Does it have set triggers? If the barrel checks out and the price is reasonable, then it does not belong in the local gun shop.

 

[KR_Rabbit]

The parts identified in the original post are quality parts. If R. Ambright was a good assembler, the Siler lock should be a good lock, perhaps even great. Does it have set triggers? If the barrel checks out and the price is reasonable, then it does not belong in the local gun shop.

The rifle does not have set triggers, and no patch box. But the lines are very pleasing, and I will probably go for it. I did call the phone number listed above for Robert Ambright, it is no longer any good. I did write an e-mail to Mr Ambright, so let’s see if he responds.
Thanks for the help guys, my inexperience with custom built guns is showing, but your comments are helpful.
Mark

 

[KR_Rabbit]

I have comitted to buying the rifle, the first custom style rifle I have owned. Here are a couple of photos.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have comitted to buying the rifle, the first custom style rifle I have owned. Here are a couple of photos.

View attachment 356109


View attachment 356110

Well you got yourself a good rifle from external appearances. The frizzen marks show it seems not to have been fired much.

LD

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Nice rifle! Enjoy it!

 

[bpd303]

I have comitted to buying the rifle,

I think ya done good on it, I bet it's a good shooter.

 

[BoomStick]

Pleasing finish and fit looks good. I have a couple rifles with a Getz barrel and they are good shooters.

 

[D.Summers]

Looks like a real beauty!!

 

[KR_Rabbit]

Guys, I picked up my rifle yesterday. I do have another question. I have a copy of The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle by Henry J. Kauffman, and I have been going through it. I can not find a rifle in the same style as mine. The lines are right, but my is plain. I am not complaining, I really like it. But I am interested in finding out what kind of style this rifle is modeled on. I did see an offer by Cabin Creek Muzzleloading that they call a Pennsylvania Mountain Rifle. It is very similar to the one I bought. My rifle does have a butt plate and toe plate, the Cabin Creek rifle does not. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for all of the kind comments, I am pretty excited. This is only the second custom rifle I have handled, the first one I waited to long. This one did not get away!
Mark

 

[BoomStick]

I'd say its generally a York or Lancaster style. Carving and patchboxes associate a gun with a particular maker, but the shape among several builders is often similar. Very few original plain guns survived. Most of what we have are fancy because the well-to-do families that owned them didn't use them very hard, so we have them today. Working guns of the time were used, upgraded to percussion, then outright replaced when cartridge guns came along.

 

[bpd303]

I'm thinking a Lancaster style also. Not all of the rifles back in the day were "fancy" carved & engraved, some were just my favorite, working guns IMHO.