Don't know what I have!!

[Br549]

I recently came across an old flintlock rifle that I had left at my ex-wife's house in the divorce. I do not know if it is a genuine rifle or a toy or a wall hanger. It has a full-length stock, octagon barrel with no sites, barrel is stamped gr Douglas 45. The flintlock action **** and half **** in both double triggers function. The brass on the butt plate and trigger guard is ill-fitting and I just do not have the knowledge or experience to make heads or tails of this rifle. Any insight or tips y'all can provide would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Cholla]

Large, clear photos in good light would help the experts.

 

[Br549]

Noted,thank you

 

[garypl]

GR Douglas stamped on the barrel is a very good thing!

 

[deerstalkert]

G.R.Douglas hasn't made muzzloader barrels since 1985 or so. your gun may or may not date from then, earlier, or later.
i just finished a .32 flint with a GR Douglas new/old stock barrel. as Garypl stated, the barrels made by Douglas are great. someone will be along with negative smack about them but i will take every one i can.

 

[Br549]

That's great to hear.thank you

 

[deerstalkert]

if you can post pictures you will get definitive information on the rifle. style, quality etc.
sounds like a nice piece.


they are all nice, who am i kidding!

 

[Br549]

I will try to post tomorrow

 

[olskool]

if i am not mistaken the Douglas barrels on ML are the same company that makes high power rifle barrels. they are at the top of the heap! many in HP rifle competition consider them to be the best you can buy. they have won an untold number of matches over the decades,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Grenadier1758]

The Douglas muzzle loading rifle barrels were made from 12L14 steel to ease machining of muzzle loading barrels during manufacturing. At the time it was believed to be more than adequate for the pressures sustained using a black powder loading. The Douglas high power rifle barrels are made from gun quality steel. The 12L14 barrels should be safe for small caliber thick walled barrels. Better barrel steels should be used now.

 

[Br549]

The Douglas muzzle loading rifle barrels were made from 12L14 steel to ease machining of muzzle loading barrels during manufacturing. At the time it was believed to be more than adequate for the pressures sustained using a black powder loading. The Douglas high power rifle barrels are made from gun quality steel. The 12L14 barrels should be safe for small caliber thick walled barrels. Better barrel steels should be used now.

From the looks of the overall weapon I don't believe I'm going to be firing it anytime soon but thank you for your response

 

[garypl]

G.R.Douglas hasn't made muzzloader barrels since 1985 or so. your gun may or may not date from then, earlier, or later.
i just finished a .32 flint with a GR Douglas new/old stock barrel. as Garypl stated, the barrels made by Douglas are great. someone will be along with negative smack about them but i will take every one i can.

I've been shooting my .40 flintlock with a Douglas barrel since 1981 and I have another Douglas .45 barrel that predates my .40 by a few years. I installed the breech plug in the .45 cbarrel with my son @18 years ago and that's about as far as we got before he discovered he would rather go out with girls, so it sits to this day! One of these days I will finish this rifle as well as a Jaeger that I inherited partially finished.

 

[Br549]

if i am not mistaken the Douglas barrels on ML are the same company that makes high power rifle barrels. they are at the top of the heap! many in HP rifle competition consider them to be the best you can buy. they have won an untold number of matches over the decades,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I appreciate the insight.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I appreciate the insight.

WHOA!
OK so you have what appears to be a decent built .45 caliber flinter, several decades old perhaps, that is in need of a LOT of care to bring it back to proper shooting condition. IF you are lucky, the barrel will be suitable for shooting once the rust is removed. IF that's just surface rust due to the humidity of where you reside, you have a good chance. IF the internal area at the breech was not properly cleaned after firing..., it still might be shoot-able with some loading mitigation techniques. The stock also needs attention.

LD

 

[Br549]

Having only fired smokeless weapons, I wouldn't even know how to inspect, clean,or work on this.

 

[Br549]

Having only fired smokeless weapons, I wouldn't even know how to inspect, clean,or work on this.

I was given this rifle about 20 years ago by my now ex father in law(who has never given me a functioning firearm) so I thought it was fake and stood it in a corner and forgot about it until last week when I saw it in my son's room,in a corner!

 

[olskool]

I appreciate the insight.View attachment 131041View attachment 131041View attachment 131042View attachment 131043View attachment 131041View attachment 131043

the bore looks awful! but, you may be surprised at how well it will clean up. and it will probably be a good shooter,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Having only fired smokeless weapons

We call them firearms. A weapon is used offensively. We dont use these for that.

Nice old Piece. Id invest the time and restore it.

 

[woodsnwater]

Need to make sure it's not loaded.

 

[Br549]

Need to make sure it's not loaded.

In all earnestness, no sarcasm intended whatsoever, I am so inexperienced with black powder that I wouldn't even know how to do that