Great Great Grandads rifle makes meat.

[okawbow]

Well, a copy of his rifle...
A couple years ago, I made as close a copy of GGGrandads rifle I could using pictures. I believe his rifle was made in Illinois about 1850. There was no name on it except Leman on the lock plate. I used an original Leman percussion lock and original Leman butt plate and trigger guard. The wood was local maple. I made the double set triggers.
The 15/16”, .45 caliber caliber barrel is 38 1/2” long.

I hunted hard the 4 day Illinois second season and never had a shot. Friday was the first day of the 3 day muzzleloader season, and I hunted all day without seeing any deer, until this dandy buck appeared out of no where, climbing out of a deep creek bank. I was sitting against a large ash tree with the gun on my knee as the buck walked up to 40 yards and stopped angling toward me. At the shot, he went down kicking a little and then lay still.

I used a .445 round ball with a denim patch lubed with bear oil. The charge was 60 grains 3F Old Eynsford.

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[Walkingeagle]

I like the story regarding your rifle.
congrats.
Walk

 

[SDSmlf]

Good story. Your GGGrandad would be proud.

 

[FishnRod]

Way to go recreating a part of your family history. Great shot also and really nice buck.

 

[Percy]

Very nice buck and good shot.

Percy

 

[leverfred]

Great story and nice deer!

 

[Spikebuck]

Exceptional story! Congratulations. You'll remember that one forever. Amazing how you can hunt all day, see nothing, then in just seconds the whole situation changes. Great buck.

 

[Winterhawk]

That's a great story, and a nice buck. Do you have more photos of the rifle? I would really like to see the side plate and forearm cap, if possible.

~WH~

 

[okawbow]

Here you go. The fore end cap is brass sheet riveted on, as is the original rifle.

 

[rusty]

very nice rifle and a good story.

 

[Squatch84]

Love the story and the rifle, good job on the buck too.

 

[deermanok]

Congrats on a good buck and your rifle.

 

[Hermit Tim]

That is a beautiful rifle. You did a great job on that as well as honoring your elder. Good job on that buck too...

 

[FiremanBrad]

Nice work all the way around!

 

[Sparkitoff]

Fantastic!

 

[THBailey]

Dandy buck! Well done.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Amazing, wow

 

[appalichian hunter]

Congrats on a fine buck deer and a great rifle. That's what it is all about.

 

[okawbow]

Thanks, everyone, for the comments and Likes.
I built this rifle to be a family heirloom, since I can’t get the original back. I will pass this on to a Nephew with a bag and horn. I wanted to give the gun a little family history, and this hunt did that. I’m sure that in a couple generations, there will be tall tales about this gun.