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Back Action Percussion Rifle
- Thread starter morelic55
- Start date
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About 1840 to 1870 covers the time percussion back action locks were in favor.
I can't quite make out the carved initials but it might be DB?
Rifles were often positioned upside down when they were hung on the wall.
I can't quite make out the carved initials but it might be DB?
Rifles were often positioned upside down when they were hung on the wall.
Ah yes. I see the pierced patchbox now. :redface:
Zonie is right with the time period for back-action locks. But because the rifle has a full patch-box, I think it is in the earlier part of that time period. From what I see from here, it looks like a style of patch-box that was used on occasion in New York. Later in the period, cap-boxes were more common. Is the trigger brass?
It's a nice rifle; looks like it hasn't been incorrectly cleaned and had the finish and patina destroyed.
It's a nice rifle; looks like it hasn't been incorrectly cleaned and had the finish and patina destroyed.
The trigger is iron. And I have just started to work on it. The Tang is gone just where the screw goes thru. A couple of cracks in the stock that I have addressed and the patchbox latch pin is missing. I figure since there are no other markings on it that I will clean it up and make it shoot. I have a breachplug on the way and the bore is really clean. Her is a pic of where the guy found it.
Look at that Checkering! :thumbsup:
Looks positively fantastic compared to the initial pictures and i have to say i'm hopeful for your initial vision of you firing her off again.
Any idea of the story behind the gun or for about how long it sat up on those rafters?
Looks positively fantastic compared to the initial pictures and i have to say i'm hopeful for your initial vision of you firing her off again.
Any idea of the story behind the gun or for about how long it sat up on those rafters?
lee marrin
32 Cal.
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- Mar 16, 2013
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Great job! You got most or all of the grunge off the iron parts, but still retained some patina. How did you clean the iron?
Well I was lucky on the lock, just a little elbow grease with 0000 steel wool. The barrel was a different story, I had to take it down to the white. I plum browned it leaving some of the dark highlights in the original metal. I also just cleaned the brass just enough to leave a brown patina on most of it, not real shiny all over. Hope to get the rest of the parts by this weekend to finish it up. Any Idea on the value when I'm done?
54ball
62 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2004
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- 3,116
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A lot less now than when you started.
Since this sub forum deals with antiques, Your restoration is an example of what not to do.
Plum Brown, That stuff is for CVAs. :shake:
I know the market is not strong for late percussion back action rifles and guns, but that rifle IMHO was "above average". Now it's just another antique that suffered from a well meaning but poorly done amateur restoration that has taken a lot of it's history away. So as a collectable value is significantly reduced.
Looks to me like you had two choices, leave it a rusty wall hanger of questionable value or do what you did to bring it back into service and get some actual enjoyment out of it.
Guns like yours are made to be used, now go kill a deer with it. Keeping it in attic find condition wouldn't make sense to me either. Slicking it up, working up a load for it, and proudly carrying it to the woods would make sense to me.
Now, if it was an older rifle of any historical significance that would be different.
Guns like yours are made to be used, now go kill a deer with it. Keeping it in attic find condition wouldn't make sense to me either. Slicking it up, working up a load for it, and proudly carrying it to the woods would make sense to me.
Now, if it was an older rifle of any historical significance that would be different.
54ball
62 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2004
- Messages
- 3,116
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The thing is Eric, it very well could be. Not too long ago southern longrifles were considered pretty much junk. Times have changed and now those rifles and guns are appreciated and studied down to the last detail.
I hate to be the jerk of the thread, I'm really not that disagreeable.
I'm all for restoring some guns to shooting condition. Honestly a rifle like that is a very good candidate to bring back as a shooter. In my opinion he went too far when he stripped the barrel. I also think the wood and hardware was overly cleaned.
My opinion is, with care he could have had a shooter without compromising as much originality. There are proper methods to clean these old rifles and still preserve the originality.
I also think he should have researched this rifle more before jumping into a restoration/ refinish.
Most back action rifles are, well, just ugly. This one has good lines and the pierced patchbox set it above most IMHO.
Those English locks are commonly found on shotguns and I had one with dolphin hammers. If you look the hammer, although well done does not quite match the engraving of the lock. Possibly this was an American build with a English lock or the hammer may have been replaced by a very competent smith.
morelic55, You may be able to preserve the original plug. The tang likely can be repaired. This may be the best course of action because the plug threads may be obsolete. I would strongly suggest sending the barrel to someone like Bobby Hoyt or at least getting advice from a reputable BP gunsmith who restores antiques.
morelic55, You may be able to preserve the original plug. The tang likely can be repaired. This may be the best course of action because the plug threads may be obsolete. I would strongly suggest sending the barrel to someone like Bobby Hoyt or at least getting advice from a reputable BP gunsmith who restores antiques.
Thanks for the advise, if the threads do not match, I will likely fix the original tang. As for research, I did do some on it and came up with little to nothing as there were very few examples to be found on the back action type rifles.
Thanks for the advise, if the threads do not match, I will likely fix the original tang. As for research, I did do some on it and came up with little to nothing as there were very few examples to be found on the back action type rifles.
Well what an awesome find, like it was purposefully placed up in that ceiling and covered up..neat. Was that a crosscut saw up there with it? Any other treasures? :grin:
I look forward to hearing of the successful repair and that its safely making smoke again. :thumbsup:
I look forward to hearing of the successful repair and that its safely making smoke again. :thumbsup:
"barn gun"! :thumbsup: Use it and love it.
Nit Wit
Nit Wit
