ANTIQUE FLINKLOCKS IN STORES

[James Kopp]

All I am taking a vacation this week that takes me through the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Along the way there are many antique malls that often have flintlocks that find their way into the stores form estate sales, people selling on consignments ect...

My Questions to the group are these rifles worth combing through the various store to find one to restore or are they just wall hangers for decoration? Any thoughts would be appreciated....Thought I would ask as I have seen several before but never really paid them any mind. Not really sure what to look for in a rifle.. I know to check the inside of the barrel, stock for cracks and chips, and a working lock, but other than that....what should I be on the lot out for in a possible rifle?

Any and all advice is appreciated..

 

[Cruzatte]

You'd have to check each piece individually. Take a bore light with you. I'd expect quite a bit if deterioration due to rust, or deterioration of the wood, cracks and splits in important places. Still, you might find one that would be worth copying.

 

[Col. Batguano]

First thing to check is to see if they are loaded!

 

[Cruzatte]

First thing to check is to see if they are loaded!

Oh yeah!

 

[Throwdown58]

In my experience, unless a shop specializes in them, without someone to tell you what is original and what isn't, it's best to stick to guns you will use and enjoy, not looked at as an investment. That said, you can sometimes find gorgeous guns with nickel silver hardware and fine engraving for not a lot of money, that some ***** mounted a giant lollipop sight on 75 years ago.

 

[Col. Batguano]

100% in agreement. It's almost a certainty that they won't know very much about them. They might have googled a maker's name if it is signed, but unless it's one of the 100 or so known / more famous ones, that won't have turned anything up. You're going to be pretty much on your own to figure it out from there. If you have a copy go RCA 1 & 2 to bring with you to help with reference that might be a good idea.

Certainly looking in the bore is a good idea, as would be (with permission) running a swab down the bore to feel for loose spots or roughness. Calipers would be a good idea too. Very often the originals were NOT in what we think of as "standard" calibers today, e.g. 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 45, 50, 54, 58, 62.

As a side note to that, I picked up (at auction) a lovely Purdey SxS 40 BORE double rifle that was labeled as a 40 CALIBER. It was really a 48 caliber (lands) 52 caliber (grooves). I bid it as a 40 CALIBER gun, but I had my suspicions it was otherwise. I would have been happy with either one. They left some money on the table for their consignor by mislabeling it, because bigger calibers are more popular than small bores. But it was a well known auction house, (James D. Julia) so their mistake was my gain.

 

[SOLANCO]

Watch for guns that speak to you. It could be their looks, their lines. It could be how it feels mounted to your shoulder. When that gun speaks to you it may be well worth your while to make some repairs and restoration.

 

[Reno]

absolutely stop in every shop you can. My family used to joke, "well which fort or antique shop are we going to this year?"

When you find them check to see they are unloaded. I have found more loaded than unloaded. Always ask for provenance. Any letters, etc, notes,, the family it came from might not have such anymore, but never hurts to ask

 

[Flinty Scot]

I'd add a simple bore scope and some good, flat-ground screwdrivers (in case the seller will let you pull the lock), for anything that gets past your initial inspection. Pulling them out on every gun is likely to raise the prices but they'll tell you a lot about hidden conditions.

 

[rich pierce]

Not clear to me whether you are looking at guns made during the original flintlock period or modern reproductions. I’d be surprised if you’re looking at originals but it’s possible. There’s scarcely an intact original flintlock rifle worth less than $1000.

 

[Reno]

I have seen several. Generally they are over priced. But you never know. Many have mixed parts, replacement parts etc.
but you never know

 

[Mulebrain]

I am an antique junkie, and finding flintlocks of any sort in antique malls would be a crap shoot. It is rare to see flinters for sale in that environment. Maybe you can get lucky and post it on here. I shop and sell at large shows every year, and they are pretty rare there. I found and old caplock at the last show for a couple hundred, but missing parts and in poor shape. It is an original however. I would hit gun shops and pawn shops as well.

 

[D.Summers]

James, you should stop by Rocky's, right off of 81 at Weyers Cave. Always have a lot of black powder guns. And a lot of other fun stuff! The guns are almost all originals from various eras, and there are horns, knives, etc, galore!!

 

[toot]

remember that EVEN A BLIND SQURIELL CAN FIND A NUT NOW & THEN!!