FOR SALE H.E. Resley .54 Cal Bench gun

[GDM]

I have for sale a H.E. “Judge” Resley .54 caliber bench gun. This gun is a full stock heavy target style bench gun with brass funiture and a pewter end cap. It has an original Tower Lock. The barrel is a 36” Long , 1 1/2” across the muzzle, 3/4” across the flats with the only markings on the barrel being H.E. Resley . It has a very good bore with minor scratching and maybe some very minor pitting. It has double set triggers with Redfield Target peep sights. This is a heavy gun weighing in at 18.14 # pounds. It is drilled for a middle sight that comes with it that appears homemade . The length of pull is 13” with an overall length of 52”. The full length stock is maple and has a green coloring to it. The barrel and stock are held by three wedge pins. The rear sights are a little loose and could be tightened up by a larger rear screw. The front screw tightens up very good but rear one needs to be changed. The gun is in overall very good condition. I am asking $ 750 and I will pay the shipping fully insured . USPS money order, cashiers checks or personal check is fine. Please see all pics and if you have any questions Please feel free to contact me. Thanks for looking

 

[GDM]

More Pics

 

[GDM]

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[GDM]

More pics

 

[Mark Herman]

Your Resley rifle should make the right person a great shooter, he used fine equipment and new how to use it. This looks like a good example. It appears the tang may have been broken and repaired but overall the condition appears to be very good.

 

[hawkeye2]

I noticed the half cock notch has been ground off the tumbler.

 

[Mark Herman]

Many "target specific" rifles do not have a half cock notch.

 

[hawkeye2]

True, just something a potential buyer ought to know.

 

[GDM]

Hello,
The tumbler has not had the half cock ground off, but the gun will not go to full cock with the lock in the gun. You must pull the set trigger , then it will go to half cock , then use the hair trigger to fire it. It fires from half cock. If you take it out of the gun you can pull it to full cock. The tumbler does however appear to have had some grinding on it in front of the half cock position. I am no professional on locks so there may have been another position that was ground off or the half cock ground off and a “new” half cock position ground in, although it does look like this was done as the notches in the tumbler are consistent and appear original. As to what was ground off or why I do not know. Thank you for looking and everyones comments.

 

[GDM]

Here are some pics of lock. The first two in resting position,The second two in
what I believe to be half cock and then the last two in full cock. As stated by Hawkeye there is grinding on the tumbler. What it is I cannot tell anyone, unless there was a third position so hammer did not rest on nipple. Again thanks for comments and if anyone has any questions please feel free to reach out.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Do bench guns often have barrels set so low in the stock? The wood almost covers the sides of the barrel. Maybe for streingth?

 

[FishDFly]

Some of the workmanship on his rifles is rather rough.

 

[GDM]

What FishDFly said is exactly correct. I own 4 of these Resely’s and rough is a good characteristic. From what I have been told he was quite the character and made due with what he had and could scrounge at gun shows and from junk bins.
As far as the wood coming up high on sides this is the only “Bench style “ Blackpowder rifle I have owned so I have nothing to compare it too but it is a heavy thick super strong piece.

 

[hawkeye2]

I would say it has been "speed locked". The hammer fires from a position lower than the original full cock to minimize the time in falling. We generally think of the half cock position as a "safety" but the tumbler has been modified to remove that function so that the sear can no longer accidentally catch there and to make room for the new "full cock" notch. These modifications improve lock time and eliminate a possible problem. Since the gun is loaded and placed on a bench with the muzzle pointed down range before it is capped just before it is fired a "safety notch" is deemed unnecessary.

 

[GDM]

Roger that. Thank you for the knowledge. Makes sense. I appreciate the information.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Here are some pics of lock. The first two in resting position,The second two in
what I believe to be half cock and then the last two in full cock. As stated by Hawkeye there is grinding on the tumbler. What it is I cannot tell anyone, unless there was a third position so hammer did not rest on nipple. Again thanks for comments and if anyone has any questions please feel free to reach out.
View attachment 122748View attachment 122747View attachment 122749View attachment 122750View attachment 122752View attachment 122751

Lock appears to have Lieage .Belgian Marks..

 

[Spyder83]

Learn something new every day.