Interesting Rifle

[Claude Mathis]

Note the space around the lock and trigger guard. Does this look like a flint-to-percussion conversion?

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C1820 fullstock curly maple with interesting cartouche-style barrel maker mark "BAYERS" Very tight curl to stock grain. Early gun that was converted to percussion by inserting a new lock, along with a wooden shim to tighten the smaller percussion lock. Lock is marked "DUNLAP/PITTSBURGH" Octagon barrel about 39" long, caliber about .38. Metal free of pitting, except for a little in the bolster area. Metal has attractive medium to dark patina. Interesting plain swivel patchbox cover. Brass furnishings, including nice slim trigger guard. Stock very fine, showing even wear from use, missing a small piece near muzzle, has a small age crack in left side of butt. Mechanically good, sold as a collector item only, not warranted safe to shoot.

 

[musketman]

Does this look like a flint-to-percussion conversion?

Actually, it does and it also looks like that was not the original lock, you can see where the old lock plate was recessed and the new lockplate still used some of the older one in the front...

BTW, the trigger guard has been replaced too...

 

[Gary]

What musketman says. BTW, trigger guard is also a replacement.

 

[musketman]

As far as a collector's gun, yes, it would be a piece of history to own...

The conversion gunsmith more than likely utilized existing parts he had in his shop to complete the task, this would save him from making new hardware to fit the original mortis in the wood...

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

Are you considering buying that rifle?

 

[scott k]

In The Pennsylvania-Kentucy rifle book By H Kauffman there is a Herny Bayer listed as a barrel maker from Pine Creek, Pittsburgh. 1837. Interesting rifle, That's a usual lock mortise has to be unique to somewhere. :hmm:
Lehigh..

 

[Zonie]

Whoever installed that replacement lock and trigger guard ought to go down in history as
"The Most Inept Gunsmith Known to Mankind" :: :crackup:

It also can serve as a inspirational device for those who want to build a gun but are afraid of inletting locks and trigger guards. ::

Sorry Claude. I didn't know you shelled out a grand for it. :crackup: :crackup:
It is a very fine rifle now that I look at it again.

 

[oomcurt]

I'm not a historian, but if you are just going to hang it over a fireplace er...now this is just me...but that stock looks like a fine piece of wood. Would it be possible to use the stock and have a lock made to fit it? Same with the trigger guard and barrel. I guess the deciding factor would be if one is a collector or one who enjoys using something from the past.

 

I'm not a historian, but if you are just going to hang it over a fireplace er...

Maybe he's buying it "for" the fireplace, as firewood.

 

[robinghewitt]

I guess the deciding factor would be if one is a collector or one who enjoys using something from the past.

Difficult call, it's a personal decision :hmm:

I have a little percussion conversion shotgun which would be gorgeous if I reverted it it to flint, but it has a nicely engraved hammer which would get lost if I did.

I won't do that one, but I think I will do my goose gun and I would almost certainly do this one if it were mine.

I have been known to drill a hole under the butt plate and hide original parts because one day they will be repairable, if they find them. Send a piece of the past as a present to the future ::

 

[Tahquamenon]

Nice rifle!

Looking at the overall styling of the stock, it similar-ish to the DP Frontier to me.
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/ArmiCategoria.aspx?CategoriaId=190&lang=en

:hmm:

 

[silverfox]

claude: Nice looking rifle thought somebody stole mine. Had to look twice. Mine is a .58smoothbore looks like a carbon copy style wise. The lockplate is flat at the back and the drum looks identical. Is the black wood and light normal on the originals? Mine is marked kelker and Sons, Harrisburg, warrented on the lock no other marks. This is around 1850. Barrel is oct. to round. Also has a age crack on lower butt. Again nice looking rifle.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Sorry Claude. I didn't know you shelled out a grand for it. :crackup: :crackup:
It is a very fine rifle now that I look at it again.

It's not mine. I found it on a collectors site and thought it was interesting how the parts were replaced so carelessly.

 

[roundball]

.....thought it was interesting how the parts were replaced so carelessly.

I was glad to see it...makes my pitiful attempts to work on my stuff look like senior gunsmith apprentice results
::

 

[Claude Mathis]

Sorry Claude. I didn't know you shelled out a grand for it. :crackup: :crackup:
It is a very fine rifle now that I look at it again.

It's not mine. I found it on a collectors site and thought it was interesting how the parts were replaced so carelessly.

Now that I think about it, the owner may not have cared how it looked. After all, we're looking at it with today's eyes and budget. That may have been all he had and was damn glad to have it.

 

[Tahquamenon]

[/quote]

Now that I think about it, the owner may not have cared how it looked. After all, we're looking at it with today's eyes and budget. That may have been all he had and was damn glad to have it. [/quote]

Got that right, I could have been "repaired" by the original owner with limited skills (like me) and tools and was thankful to get his hands on a functioning lock.

Perhaps that repair helped to feed the family a good deal longer?

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

Now that I think about it, the owner may not have cared how it looked. After all, we're looking at it with today's eyes and budget. That may have been all he had and was damn glad to have it.

Got that right, I could have been "repaired" by the original owner with limited skills (like me) and tools and was thankful to get his hands on a functioning lock.

Perhaps that repair helped to feed the family a good deal longer?

Like they say... If only this gun could talk,
imagine the stories it would have to tell. :hmm:

 

[Mulebrain]

Claude,

Nice old conversion gun!

I looked at this before, but for 1650 I had to pass.

I love it, what a beauty.

Would like to see her return to flinter :front:

 

[Zonie]

Silverfox: My answer to your question " Is the black wood and light normal on the originals?" is; it is common on old guns which recieved minimal maintainance, for the stock finish to turn black.
This is due to the oxidation of the varnish or oils the gun was finished with.
The oxidized finish wears off of the areas which were handled a lot which explains the light wood showing in these areas.

Although the black oxidation can indicate great age, it is not to be trusted as a guide because it can be reproduced by people rather easily.

Many owners of newly made guns want this "look" for very legitimate reasons and unfortunatly some use it to defraud buyers. ::

 

[Tahquamenon]

[/quote]

Like they say... If only this gun could talk,
imagine the stories it would have to tell. :hmm: [/quote]

How true!