Half Stock California Rifle from TOTW

[Dave Markowitz]

I've been wanting a sidelock percussion rifle with open sights for shooting in the local woods walks and also for hunting. I'd been considering a Pedersoli Tryon but the other day I saw this on Track's website, and pulled the trigger (heh) today. I like the architecture and the dark wood.

A couple pics from Track of the Wolf:

The buttstock is symmetrical with no cheekpiece. I shoot lefty so that's fine. It has an interesting sideplate for the lock bolt. Looks kinda like the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

To reduce the time spent in transit and thus opportunity for bad things to happen I sprung for 2-day shipping, so I should get it Wednesday or Thursday. Hopefully I'll get to shoot it next weekend.

I've ordered supplies and parts from Track many times but this will be the first gun I've bought from them.

It's a .50 with a round ball twist. The lock is an L&R.

 

[WyomingWhitetail]

I saw that rifle on track. Looks like a very nice rifle that should carry well. Let us know how it shoots.

 

[chorizo]

Flying Spaghetti Monster is appropriate on a California Rifle!

 

[ZUG]

Looks like a very nice rifle should serve you well. Why is it called a "California rifle"? Looks like a half stock plains rifle to me .

​

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Apparently it is based on a rifle made by a gunsmith in California in the second half of the 19th Century.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Very nice! Attention turned from Beaver to gold but there was still a need for powerful, durable rifles for those headed westward. California here we come!

 

[Notchy Bob]

Looks like a very nice rifle should serve you well. Why is it called a "California rifle"? Looks like a half stock plains rifle to me .

​

This rifle is still up on the Track of the Wolf website, shown as "sale pending." Their description says, "This California style halfstock is based upon an example shown in the book California Gunsmiths 1846 - 1900 by L. P. Sheldon." I have that book, and out of curiosity I looked through it. The subject rifle most closely resembles one shown on page 77, described as "Plate No. 57 - Hunting rifle, barrel stamped "SLOTTER & CO. PHILA MADE FOR N. CURRY & BROS. SAN FRANCISCO CALA". Patent breech stamped WART GAIN TWIST 808. Lock stamped SLOTTER & CO. PHILA. All furniture is German silver, fore-end cap is fitted on type."

The subject rifle is not exactly like the original, which had a back-action lock and a "Dimick" style triggerguard, and the capbox was very slightly different. However, it is close enough to be recognizable. The book does not show the off side of the rifle, so we don't know what the original sideplate looked like.

Slotter & Co. was a Philadelphia-based gunmaker, but they were evidently very prolific, and they profited from the California trade. There are still a lot of original Slotter rifles "out there," many of them in good shape, and for pretty reasonable prices. This one would have been right at home crossing the buffalo plains, or hunting elk in California:





Identical or not, the OP got himself a nice-looking rifle. It looks to be very nicely built, and I'll bet it's a shooter! German silver furniture is under-represented nowadays, as are California rifles in general.

Congratulations to the buyer!

Notchy Bob

 

[Bad Karma]

Very nice! Attention turned from Beaver to gold but there was still a need for powerful, durable rifles for those headed westward. California here we come!

They still had plenty of grizzly bears in those days and apparently they were a fairly aggressive strain. One of my favorite artworks is this one.

 

[Bad Karma]

Of course I could understand the fierce reputation if a bunch of rowdy cowboys or vaqueros made a habit of sporting around with these bears… makes hand catching badgers look pretty tame doesn’t it…

 

[Mtblackdog]

Man Ive been eyeballing that rifle for two months. Was close to pulling the trigger many times. If it had been a .54 cal I would have done it weeks ago. Congrats I probably should of bought it. Hope its a good shooter for you. Ive been patiently hunting a custom .54 for months. Looks like Im gonna have to breakdown and order a Bergman or a Selb.

 

[Dale Lilly]

They still had plenty of grizzly bears in those days and apparently they were a fairly aggressive strain. One of my favorite artworks is this one. View attachment 197459

Is that painting by Remington?

 

[Notchy Bob]

Man Ive been eyeballing that rifle for two months. Was close to pulling the trigger many times. If it had been a .54 cal I would have done it weeks ago. Congrats I probably should of bought it. Hope its a good shooter for you. Ive been patiently hunting a custom .54 for months. Looks like Im gonna have to breakdown and order a Bergman or a Selb.

Track has a nice .54 Hawken by George Nelson up for sale right now. It ain't cheap ($2,799), but it looks like a nice one.

I have two Bergmann Hawkens, one halfstock with a GRRW barrel and a fullstock with a Hoyt barrel. I like them a lot. John is also versatile, and if you want a "California rifle," he could probably fix you up. His prices and build times are reasonable, and I don't think you'll regret ordering one from him. I have no personal experience with Brant Selb's rifles, but I understand they are top of the line and I would love to have one. However, I hear his wait times can now be counted in years, and his prices are somewhat higher than John Bergmann's. It wouldn't hurt to call either or both of them to discuss what you want, select one or the other, and get the process started.

I think the Hawken Shoppe now has builders lined up for their kits, so you can order a finished Hawken from them now. Their rifles are said to be top quality, and as close to the originals as you can get.

I hope you find what you want, partner. Good luck!

Notchy Bob

 

[Mtblackdog]

Thank you

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I, too, saw that. Great looking arm.

 

[necchi]

Nice one Dave, Hope you enjoy it.
As you can see, there's plenty here that will tell ya how to load it,,, lot's of shared info.

 

[ETipp]

Beautiful rifle indeed. Congrats. Hope it shoots well for you.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

This rifle is still up on the Track of the Wolf website, shown as "sale pending." Their description says, "This California style halfstock is based upon an example shown in the book California Gunsmiths 1846 - 1900 by L. P. Sheldon." I have that book, and out of curiosity I looked through it. The subject rifle most closely resembles one shown on page 77, described as "Plate No. 57 - Hunting rifle, barrel stamped "SLOTTER & CO. PHILA MADE FOR N. CURRY & BROS. SAN FRANCISCO CALA". Patent breech stamped WART GAIN TWIST 808. Lock stamped SLOTTER & CO. PHILA. All furniture is German silver, fore-end cap is fitted on type."

The subject rifle is not exactly like the original, which had a back-action lock and a "Dimick" style triggerguard, and the capbox was very slightly different. However, it is close enough to be recognizable. The book does not show the off side of the rifle, so we don't know what the original sideplate looked like.

Slotter & Co. was a Philadelphia-based gunmaker, but they were evidently very prolific, and they profited from the California trade. There are still a lot of original Slotter rifles "out there," many of them in good shape, and for pretty reasonable prices. This one would have been right at home crossing the buffalo plains, or hunting elk in California:

View attachment 197401



Identical or not, the OP got himself a nice-looking rifle. It looks to be very nicely built, and I'll bet it's a shooter! German silver furniture is under-represented nowadays, as are California rifles in general.

Congratulations to the buyer!

Notchy Bob

NB,

Thanks for posting this, it's great info!

 

[Mark E. Prickett]

I've been wanting a sidelock percussion rifle with open sights for shooting in the local woods walks and also for hunting. I'd been considering a Pedersoli Tryon but the other day I saw this on Track's website, and pulled the trigger (heh) today. I like the architecture and the dark wood.

A couple pics from Track of the Wolf:

View attachment 197377


The buttstock is symmetrical with no cheekpiece. I shoot lefty so that's fine. It has an interesting sideplate for the lock bolt. Looks kinda like the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

View attachment 197381

To reduce the time spent in transit and thus opportunity for bad things to happen I sprung for 2-day shipping, so I should get it Wednesday or Thursday. Hopefully I'll get to shoot it next weekend.

I've ordered supplies and parts from Track many times but this will be the first gun I've bought from them.

It's a .50 with a round ball twist. The lock is an L&R.

How much was shipping?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

How much was shipping?

Standard shipping to PA would've been about $70. Fedex 2-day was $140. It was worth it to me because several years ago UPS "lost" an antique Winchester 1892 in transit that I was shipping out to get relined. I figure with less time in transit there's less time for foul play.

 

[Mark E. Prickett]

Standard shipping to PA would've been about $70. Fedex 2-day was $140. It was worth it to me because several years ago UPS "lost" an antique Winchester 1892 in transit that I was shipping out to get relined. I figure with less time in transit there's less time for foul play.

I was wondering because UPS charged me $89 for a long rifle I won at an auction. Yikes. Have fun with your new gun.all the guns for sale in TOTW look high quality.