flintlock is it real

[bowkill]

she is a 45 cal with a 39 inch barrel, and i may shoot her this evening. me happy :thumbsup: wish i had it before i built my other guns could have done some things better on mine?

 

[Cheyenne]

Could be....best thing to do to know for sure would be to write a letter and send some pic's to Hershal...he'll know for sure. One of the neat things he has is a diary of guns he's made. That's the only way to know for sure. :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

There appears to be a serial number on the trigger guard, too. He will want that to find it in his diary.

 

[bowkill]

here are the picks i am going to send to house.

is this too many pictures :rotf: :rotf: :idunno:

 

[CaptainKirk]

Wow......that is one gorgeous gun!
If you don't mind...in generalities....what would someone expect to pay for a gun in like condition? Just curious. I think that is a beautiful piece whether a genuine House or not!

 

[bowkill]

well since it is not for sale i guess i can tell. the guy said he got it from his dad, and it hung on the wall for 20 years when he looked on gunbroker and said that the ones he saw went for about 975.00. He was asking 475.00[ i am still in shock ] i made him a offer of 400.00 and went and got it. I think it is real, will be sending pictures and a letter to the house brothers to see if it is one of theirs. :idunno: :hatsoff: when i asked him what markings were on the gun he said the only markings were the word H HOUSE on the barrel................... :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: it did not mean nothing to him..

 

[CaptainKirk]

I would be in shock, too! I was thinking in the thousands...like three of 'em! WOW! Nice score! Hope it shoots as good as it looks!

 

[nchawkeye]

If I had to guess, I'd say Hershel did build it...

When I built my .54 back in the 80s, I bought the Foxfire V book and also a video and workbook from Hershel about building a flintlock...That front sight has the profile that he uses and he explained why he did it that way...

It's a minor thing, but sometimes that's what gives you a clue...

 

[colmoultrie]

For that price, I'm surprised you asked the forum at all before buying it! Even if it was made by Hortense House of East Nowhere, NJ, it's still a nice-looking rifle, and for the price, I'm surprised you didn't rip your pocket pulling out your wallet (since you had the money to buy it, it appears :wink: )!

Seriously, even if it's not a "real" House rifle, it looks like you got a good deal from the pics. Nice rifle! :thumbsup:

 

[TennesseeJed]

I'll give you $425.00 even if Hershel didn't build it and come to Jamestown and pick it up... :wink:

Great find!!!

I go up to Pall Mall for the York shoot every year.

 

[bowkill]

Well i felt that i had committed armed robbery. It was hard to tell from the pictures, and he never sent a picture of the sig when i asked him to. He had it throwed in the back of his truck, no even in a case. when i laid hands on it i knew it was for real......man o man

 

[Zonie]

Well, if you really feel guilty about the price you paid you could always put $400 into an envelope along with a note that says, "Just Because." and send it to the seller. :rotf:

 

[bowkill]

if i ever sell it i will! [not!] :blah:

 

[Bon Sauvage]

Excellet suggestion.

 

[Mike Brooks]

It's real, and very early I'd say. His iron mounted guns bring more money. I'd say yours is worth probably $3500 to $4500 and will continue to rise in value rapidly. Odd that it has a serial # , never seen Hershel use one before. Could have been put on by a previous owner I suppose.

 

[75dixie]

You should buy a lottery ticket!

Great find

 

[bowkill]

never bought one in my life but i just may.....

 

[Snow on the Roof]

well since it is not for sale i guess i can tell. the guy said he got it from his dad, and it hung on the wall for 20 years when he looked on gunbroker and said that the ones he saw went for about 975.00. He was asking 475.00[ i am still in shock ] i made him a offer of 400.00 and went and got it. I think it is real, will be sending pictures and a letter to the house brothers to see if it is one of theirs. :idunno: :hatsoff: when i asked him what markings were on the gun he said the only markings were the word H HOUSE on the barrel................... :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: it did not mean nothing to him..

Some people have no appreciation for their family heritage, just interested in the cash they feel is owed to them :shake:. Something I'll never understand.
Even if House didn't build this rifle of obvious quaility you got the bargin of a lifetime. Get those pics in the mail, even plan a road trip to House himself. If it is his, documentation of such is very much to your advantage.

Snow

 

[Wullie]

She's a beauty and you got her for a song. :thumbsup:

Treat her right and she'll give you many years of enjoyment and be worth passing on as a piece of your heritage.

Good on ya'.

 

[matt denison]

I think your value asessment is very close, perhaps a bit low but that is subjective.

Judging by the $975.00 price I'd be willing to guess that this gun has had more than one previous owner. I'm pretty sure that this is "real" and it's been discounted by guys that are not sure what they had.

The serial number may have been put on later by one of the owners for insurance purposes. 'specially if he owned more than one flintlock rifle he could identify them by number. Seen it right off.