Bench Rest .50

[mykeal]

Went to an auction today and ran across something I'd never seen before - a custom built .50 cal bench rest muzzleloader. It had a relatively small shoulder stock with a thumbhole and integral trigger guard. It had what appeared to be a large Siler percussion lock, although I couldn't examine it to be sure. The barrel was round, breech to muzzle, on the order of 2" in diameter and a whopping 60" (I'm guessing) long. It weighed over 21 lbs. It also had what the auctioneer described as "a muzzle anti-twist wedge", which consisted of a large triangle of iron attached under the muzzle a bit like a fixed built-in shooting rest. In fact, I believe it really was a rest as opposed to the auctioneer's description. There were no sights on the gun and no holes or dovetails for installing any or a scope.

Anybody else seen one of these?

Oh, and it sold for $1500.

 

[hepburn4590]

I have a ML bench gun. It is an underhammer. I have seen bench guns with a side lock. Massive things. The attachment on the front of the barrel is for resting. For some good pictures of these monsters go to WWW.pbase.com/halp and click on picture of an old house that says "Early percussion bench guns" beneath it.

 

[Tom Compton]

Great site, Hep. Thanks for posting that. Not my preferred era but always liked the Ballard lines and the accuracy acheived back in those days was amazing. I recall that some of those shooting cartridge Ballards still had false muzzles on their barrels and after inserting the primed case with powder, would seat the bullet from the muzzle.

Hope others will post similar sites and also list good gun museum locations such as:

JM Davis Gun Museum - Clairemore, OK

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame - Waco, TX

Col. Saunders Museum - Berryville, AR

Buffalo Bill Museum - Cody, WY (includes th American Plains Indian Museum and the Winchester Museum)

Foster Museum, College of the Ozarks - Near Branson, MO (original full stock percussion Hawken)

TC

 

[greyghost]

Don't forget "The Museum of the Mountain Man" in Pindale, Wyo.

 

[Tom Compton]

Didn't forget - just never heard of it. Thanks for adding it. If I ever get up Wyoming way again, will make a point of a visit.

TC

 

[Bill L.]

If you have an interest in military arms, don't
forget the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, Rock Island, IL. They have a great collection.

Bill L.

 

[renovato]

I've never seen one with the anti twist wedge you mentioned. I picked up a .54 bench gun a couple years back at a gun show. It has an octagon barrel 1.5 inch across the flats and a Fenton marked lock. The stock has a prominent, stylized cheek piece. It also has bases for the long Malcolm type scope, but I jury rigged some sights on the bases just to get an idea of how well it shoots. I saw a few bench guns at the Tulsa Arms Show last year. They all ran $1500 and up.

 

[Tumblernotch]

That "muzzle anti-twist wedge" is what we call a cant block. Pretty common on bench guns and chunk guns. Most of those I've seen on bench guns are permanantly attached. Those on most of the chunk guns I've seen are removable. They serve as a rest, but basically are there to keep the sights straight up and down. In other words, to keep the barrel from "canting" to one side or the other. So, the description given may be accurate, in a way. It keeps you from "twisting" the gun when aiming. Many chunk guns with full length stocks have the cant block built into the stock.

 

[mykeal]

Yes, thanks.

This was very permanently attached.