As has been previously stated the rifle dates to the late FL era and may well have been FL originally. Without removing the lock its hard to tell.
I believe the lock is a replacement from the time it was converted to percussion, assuming it was originally flint.
If this plate was used on a FL it had a cock that stopped on the fence not the lockplate as there is no marking at that point on the lockplate or it was very heavily case hardened and there would likely still be some evidence.
Wood rot from cap flash has removed any chance of seeing the cut for the gooseneck cock in the stock if there was one. If the there is a hole for the front lock screw under the lock it was likely FL. If not and no provision for a hook at the front of the lock then the rifle may have been percussion when new. It could date to 1810 or 1840 or even later. But FLs were still being made in 1840 and its likely that the technology in this rifle, a "modern" nipple for "modern" caps was not commonly available until the early-mid 1830s. The percussion cap did not spring into being with the idea of detonating compound ignition, it took YEARS to prefect to the copper cap and it was not patented until about 1826 IIRC.
The caliber is not particularly unusual. If the rifle has seen a lot of use as appears to be the case it could have been a 44 originally and might still be a 44-46-48 down the bore 6". Getting a true bore size on old MLs can be tough unless the bore is clean and plug gages are used.
Dan
I believe the lock is a replacement from the time it was converted to percussion, assuming it was originally flint.
If this plate was used on a FL it had a cock that stopped on the fence not the lockplate as there is no marking at that point on the lockplate or it was very heavily case hardened and there would likely still be some evidence.
Wood rot from cap flash has removed any chance of seeing the cut for the gooseneck cock in the stock if there was one. If the there is a hole for the front lock screw under the lock it was likely FL. If not and no provision for a hook at the front of the lock then the rifle may have been percussion when new. It could date to 1810 or 1840 or even later. But FLs were still being made in 1840 and its likely that the technology in this rifle, a "modern" nipple for "modern" caps was not commonly available until the early-mid 1830s. The percussion cap did not spring into being with the idea of detonating compound ignition, it took YEARS to prefect to the copper cap and it was not patented until about 1826 IIRC.
The caliber is not particularly unusual. If the rifle has seen a lot of use as appears to be the case it could have been a 44 originally and might still be a 44-46-48 down the bore 6". Getting a true bore size on old MLs can be tough unless the bore is clean and plug gages are used.
Dan
