Help Identifying Old Long Rifle

[vtbuck223]

Suzkat...thanks for confirming my suspicion. Thus being said...It has a flintlock style patchbox which isn't uncommon for some early percussion rifles. And I think that Moore is probably a good bet but I would say circa 1850-1860.

 

[Okwaho]

Although not an exact match, the patchbox is very similar to the work of John Moore, Albany, New York as shown in "KENTUCKY RIFLE PATCHBOXES, ALL NEW VOLUME 2", CHANDLER & WHISKER, 1962, Old Bedford Village, Press, Bedford, Pa. Patchbox # 291.

The engraving is different but all of the general shapes of the exterior and piercings seem to match fairly closely.

The dates given for John Moore in the book indicate he was building from 1820 thru 1835.

I agree that the brass inlay under the cheek piece is for holding a vent pick.
These, IMO were seldom used for Percussion guns which would seem to indicate the gun was originally a Flintlock.

Of course the Moore speculation is just a guess but just for information, the book "AMERICAN FIREARMS MAKERS" by A. Merwyn Carey, 1953 has 3 listings for a John Moore.

"Moore, John 1803-1820. Shop located at 40 Mulberry Street, New York, New York. General gunsmith."

"Moore, John about 1835. General gunsmith at 11 Beaver Street, Albany, New York."

"Moore, John P. about 1823-1846. Located at 302 Broadway, New York, New York. Made flintlock holster and dueling pistols and, later, percussion pistols and rifles. His son, George G. Moore, and two grandsons, Henry M. Richards and John P. Richards carried on the business as gunsmiths and dealers at same location until 1888."

I believe the second John Moore is the one referred to by Dr. Whisker.

Zonie: I sold a gun in 1964 which, as I recall, had an almost identical box minus the pick holder.I don't remember any engraving. It was a flintlock conversion and was signed E FAY ALBANY N. Y. It had a fairly short barrel.In EARLY AMERICAN GUNSMITHS,1650-1850 by Henry J. Kauffman is shown;
Fay,Edward,
Sign of the Kentucky Hunter
7 Beaver Street,Albany,New York
Childs Albany Directory and City Directory
1831-32

I have no idea how this gun got to Georgia but there are several references to "country rifles" being adapted to Confederate usage.There is one in the Claude E Fuller collection at Chickamauga with the barrel turned round at the muzzle for a socket bayonet.Additionally there are a number of references and examples shown in "CONFEDERATE Rifles & Muskets" by Dr. John M. Murphy M.D.and Howard Michael Madaus. This book{the bible on Confederate longarms}is out of print and rather pricey but there's always interlibrary loan.
Also there is "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons"
{Second edition} by Dr. Murphy.
I cannot recommend too highly these two books to any one seriously interested in Confederate longarms.

In identifying these rifles,it is a good idea to check the barrels.There are basically two methods of ignition one is a drum and nipple and the other is a bolster. Normally on the conversion to military use the nipple will be the larger military style rather the smaller civilian style.

Additionally the caliber should be military {approximately.58} which was usually created by boring out the rifled barrels of the "country rifles".
Sorry to ramble on but I hope it helps answer some questions. :bow: :v
Tom Patton
the Happy Heretic

 

[Tumblernotch]

Which is one reason why not very many country rifles thus altered survived the War. From what I've read many barrels failed because of being weakened by boring out. Also some were further damaged by turning the barrel round at the muzzle for the bayonet.

 

[smo]

Does the patch box latch extend through the butt plate? :idunno:

 

[Rustcollector]

I don't think so.

 

[Dphar]

She was a dandy in her day.
Probably originally flint.
Lock fit was destroyed by the breaking of the stock.
Flint guns were commonly made into the 1840s and this rifle could be earlier than that.

Photo link is "private".
Dan