Mystery rifle?

[R-71]

A number of years ago a firend of mine bought a rifle at a Local Gunshow. I believe it was concord NH. I Have never seen another like it.

The wrist and butt were similar to a Brown bess in shape, and all of the furniture looked very Bess as well. It was however rifled and .62 Caliber it was shorter with 36-38" swamped barrel. It was finished brite like a military
gun.The thing was perfect! it balanced and carried like a light Carbine but when shouldered it just hung as if there were no gravity.

The wrist had checkering I am sure the type has a name however I am not sure what it would be called, it looked almost like Fishscale.

My friend passed a few years ago and had only distant relatives. I did not know them and They received his estate. I have no idea what happened to it.

Ever since I have kept an eye out for another rifle like it to no avail.
My thought is that whoever made it has probably made another along the same pattern or maybe someone here has seen such a rifle. Any Ideas!

 

[nchawkeye]

Possibly a Ferguson???

 

[Stumpkiller]

Artillery carbine version of the Bess? .65 cal & 36" barrel. c.1758. But no wrist checkering on that.

The Fergeson looked like this:

0.600" cal, 36" barrel & checkered wrist. Cost you a mint (it's a breech loader with a unique twist-drop mechanism).

 

[buford87]

perhaps a Baker rifle.......................watch yer top knot..............

 

[R-71]

Thats pretty close, It was not a Ferguson at least not a proper breech loading one. It was very much along the lines of an officer fusil or carbine. It was pretty well made and if I recall he paid a $2-3000 for it. To my knowledge he never shot it! He offered to let myself and another friend take it out however neither of us could bear having something happen to it, so we declined. Fools!

Thanks for the replies, I'll see my other friend knows what gunshow it was.

He used to frequent the Big E show in Springfield Mass as well.

 

Could have been "British rifle of 1776" There's a pic of one on Mike Brooks site. It sure sounds like it. Not a Baker or a Ferguson. The rifle shop has a parts set for it. I believe the correct caliber is .62 Mikes copy is in .54

Bill

 

[Stumpkiller]

For an officer's fusil anything goes - they arranged to purchase those on their own. But a rifle, now that's a different bird.

The Pattern 1776 was based on German rifles the British had been using and was a 30" barrel.

Top one in this image (over a Ferguson). Not cut for a bayonet.

 

[Greg Henderson]

I remember this rifle. It had bright furniture, flats on top of the butt tang as well. As I remember there was a swell right behind the last ram rod barrel too. I almost think that the barrel was octagon and not round like a Bess.