Help with information on this rifle.

[paint horse]

Let me start by saying this is my first time discussion on this forum. (Hope I'm in the right place) I recently got this rifle, and I'm hoping some if you can help with information on it. This barrel is a beast. The 4 holes on the end go in about ¾" not threaded. I've shown in the pictures, the markings on the barrel. I know Remington started out making, barrel blanks for other manufacturers. My guess is this is a target rifle? I haven't weighed the barrel but guess it's close to 10lbs. Any help would be appreciated, thanks

 

[Rifleman1776]

Hope you get some good help with this. A back action lock on a rifle is a bit unusual.

 

[smokeum54]

Don't have info on the rifle in question but the 4 holes are for a false muzzle. Don't have time to get into detail but it is essentially a ball/bullet guide so the flush cut barrel (no crown) wouldn't get damaged. I'm sure others will have more input.

 

[OLUT]

Isaac Briggs was a somewhat prolific gun maker in Ithaca, NY. I'd guess that this half stock rifle was probably made in the 1860 to 1870 range with all commercially available parts. The gun is somewhat typical of guns with a false muzzle ( to precisely center cast bullets for best accuracy) made in New York State. Briggs lives 93 years and died in 1888. Most of his guns that I have seen are well built half stock rifles, but I do have an earlier, very heavy, fixed breech over/under barreled combination gun by him

 

[OLUT]

Isaac Briggs was a somewhat prolific gun maker in Ithaca, NY. I'd guess that this half stock rifle was probably made in the 1860 to 1870 range with all commercially available parts. The gun is somewhat typical of guns with a false muzzle ( to precisely center cast bullets for best accuracy) made in New York State. Briggs lives 93 years and died in 1888. Most of his guns that I have seen are well built half stock rifles, but I do have an earlier, very heavy, fixed breech over/under barreled combination gun by him

I forgot to mention that the 1850 census shows that Isaac Briggs produced 50 guns valued at $1200

 

[paint horse]

Isaac Briggs was a somewhat prolific gun maker in Ithaca, NY. I'd guess that this half stock rifle was probably made in the 1860 to 1870 range with all commercially available parts. The gun is somewhat typical of guns with a false muzzle ( to precisely center cast bullets for best accuracy) made in New York State. Briggs lives 93 years and died in 1888. Most of his guns that I have seen are well built half stock rifles, but I do have an earlier, very heavy, fixed breech over/under barreled combination gun by him

Isaac Briggs was a somewhat prolific gun maker in Ithaca, NY. I'd guess that this half stock rifle was probably made in the 1860 to 1870 range with all commercially available parts. The gun is somewhat typical of guns with a false muzzle ( to precisely center cast bullets for best accuracy) made in New York State. Briggs lives 93 years and died in 1888. Most of his guns that I have seen are well built half stock rifles, but I do have an earlier, very heavy, fixed breech over/under barreled combination gun by him

Thank you for the information!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Let me start by saying this is my first time discussion on this forum. (Hope I'm in the right place) I recently got this rifle, and I'm hoping some if you can help with information on it. This barrel is a beast. The 4 holes on the end go in about ¾" not threaded. I've shown in the pictures, the markings on the barrel. I know Remington started out making, barrel blanks for other manufacturers. My guess is this is a target rifle? I haven't weighed the barrel but guess it's close to 10lbs. Any help would be appreciated, thanksView attachment 262752

May very well be a long range, muzzle loading, target rifle, of the era. It's the right configuration and caliber, and likely shoots a a conical, paper patched bullet. The targets for this particular competition were placed at 40 Rods distance [220 yards] .

This book will help you answer some questions The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle by Ned Roberts c. 1947

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Your rifle is a picket rifle, made to use a cloth patched bullet, likely about 1850. Remington Cast Steel barrels were the best in their day. Likely rifled with a gain twist and a choked bore. Nice old rifle!

 

[paint horse]

Your rifle is a picket rifle, made to use a cloth patched bullet, likely about 1850. Remington Cast Steel barrels were the best in their day. Likely rifled with a gain twist and a choked bore. Nice old rifle!

Thank you!

 

[krshade]

Let me start by saying this is my first time discussion on this forum. (Hope I'm in the right place) I recently got this rifle, and I'm hoping some if you can help with information on it. This barrel is a beast. The 4 holes on the end go in about ¾" not threaded. I've shown in the pictures, the markings on the barrel. I know Remington started out making, barrel blanks for other manufacturers. My guess is this is a target rifle? I haven't weighed the barrel but guess it's close to 10lbs. Any help would be appreciated, thanksView attachment 262752

Get a copy of The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle by Ned Roberts. It will describe in much more detail the working of the false muzzle and the percussion target rifles. Several places have them online.

​

 

[bigted]

Isn’t this the era and vintage of Pope style shooting and rifles?

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Before Harry Pope. Picket rifles with a cloth patched bullet were popular from the 1830's through 1860's.

Isn’t this the era and vintage of Pope style shooting and rifles?

 

[TFoley]

That beautiful rifle would be an absolute joy to shoot! It needs some TLC and research to discover the correct size bullet and load - something I'd love to help with if I did not live in Eastern England. The works of Idaho Lewis on this forum are well-worth the search - he shoots long-bulleted rifles of this ilk out to 1000 - 1200 yards with great success.