Can this rifle be helped?

[Erwan]

Well I think the barrel can be a bit shortened with a lathe and the breech plug changed, the lock is good enough with a new ring on the pivot plate, I did it some month ago...

 

[zimmerstutzen]

It definitely looks a flintlock originally , definitely a conversion Flint to percussion so could be 1775 to 1840 who knows !!!! I see flint to percussion conversion at auctions, quite common, see Holts auction London .....ill give you $30 just for the lock anyday , even that's probably 1840 It will be lovely on the wall, lucky you. The London connection an added bonus

Ashmore was a parts maker. Like Goulcher. Sold hundreds of locks to American Gunsmith's. Gunsmiths would also buy trigger guards and butt plates imported from England and elsewhere.

 

[Byrd]

That looks awful nice! Would you recommend that I take the lock apart and clean it up? what are thr tisks of breaking something that's not easily replaced?

 

[hawkeye2]

I'm sorry to say that I see nothing, inside or out, to indicate the lock was ever anything except a percussion lock. The bridle with a stirrup connection would have been a very late feature on an average flint lock indeed if it were found at all.

 

[SamTex1949]

Im just totally speculating but the pic of the breech gives the appearance of being a welded barrel ! where flat iron was hammered around a mandel . The "thickness" is what is the idea. Also where it looks like a crack might that be
where the flat metal came together when being hammer welded ?