Ben Franklin's Rifle

[Old Ironsights]

There is a little museum up here that has a very interesting rifle: A Pensylvania Long Rifle dating from 1753 that is (conditionally) Provenanced as being the gift from Ben Franklin to Cheif Half King at the signing of the treaty at Carlsile during the F&I War.

From the text card:

Jesse Morgan’s Gun
According to a note found in the stock of this gun, the muzzle loader was originally given by Benjamin Franklin to Chief Half King in 1 753. The gift was made on behalf of the Greater Council of Pennsylvania after the two signed a peace treaty at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, during the French and Indian War.

A Metal medallion on the stock is inscribed: “On behalf of the Greater Council of Pennsylvania to C H K.”

The gun later came into the possession of Kilibuck, a Delaware chief, who is credited with presenting it to Jesse Morgan on behalf of the “Indians of Indiana” as a token of their gratitude for Jesse Morgan’s kindness to them.

The gun shows evidence of having been retrofitted with hardware of a later time, Possibly during the Civil War.

The retrofit is from Flint to percussion and, with the exception of a non-structural crack in the stock and a missing ramrod, looks totally shootable.

You can see this gun at the Westchester Township Museum in Chesterton Indiana. :bow:

I really wish I could post the pics of this gun, but I promised the cuator I wouldn't. (She doesn't want pictures of the gun on the 'net in case someone decides to purloin it.)

 

[***Sean***]

Post the pics... :grin: She will never know..

 

[Old Ironsights]

Post the pics... :grin: She will never know..

Sorry. Professional ethics. I actually did not know I was not to be photographing it (I was there to photograph maps from the early 1800s).

 

[Slamfire]

I remember a big time auto museum in Sylmar, CA, that had a rule against photographin' the cars. I thought it was for the same reason. Then they used it as a set for a TV series, cars and all. Out there on the Left Coast money talks loudest. :shake: