Need help identifying flint rifle

[tonytorres4934]

Hello, so I went by my local pawnshop and came across this flint style rifle. Asked workers and no one had any background into the rifle. I couldn't pass this up for the $ they had it listed. There are no markings on it and wanted to see if anyone here could assist. Thank you.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

So that's a percussion, not a flint. But that's also an excellent price. I hope the bore is in good condition

LD

 

[rich pierce]

Custom rifle, not signed. Unusual mix of styles but it looks good!

 

[EndoftheLine]

Hello, so I went by my local pawnshop and came across this flint style rifle. Asked workers and no one had any background into the rifle. I couldn't pass this up for the $ they had it listed. There are no markings on it and wanted to see if anyone here could assist. Thank you. View attachment 276626View attachment 276627View attachment 276628

It looks like a Hatfield Plains Rifle. I don’t think many were made, but they were good quality. If the bore is good, that price is a steal.

 

[nit wit]

Drop a AAA battery down the bore and shine a flashlight on it.
Nit Wit

 

[tonytorres4934]

Drop a AAA battery down the bore and shine a flashlight on it.
Nit Wit

What am I looking for? How do I know the bore is in good condition?

 

[Steve Wagner]

If it's super shiny and smooth, you got ripped off. Bad barrel. Not to worry, I will take it off your hands for $100.
Ok, being serious, you are looking for rust pitting and/ or really rough tooling on the rifling. Either way, since you own it now, shooting it will tell you what you need to know. But if it is pitted at all, or rough, I would give it a few rounds or 0000 steel wool on a jag to polish her up inside. Otherwise, if the bore looks good, clean, smooth and unpitted, you should be fine. Nice find tony. SW

 

[tonytorres4934]

If it's super shiny and smooth, you got ripped off. Bad barrel. Not to worry, I will take it off your hands for $100.
Ok, being serious, you are looking for rust pitting and/ or really rough tooling on the rifling. Either way, since you own it now, shooting it will tell you what you need to know. But if it is pitted at all, or rough, I would give it a few rounds or 0000 steel wool on a jag to polish her up inside. Otherwise, if the bore looks good, clean, smooth and unpitted, you should be fine. Nice find tony. SW

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback. Yes I am super excited about this find. Really appreciate all your help.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

Hello, so I went by my local pawnshop and came across this flint style rifle. Asked workers and no one had any background into the rifle. I couldn't pass this up for the $ they had it listed. There are no markings on it and wanted to see if anyone here could assist. Thank you. View attachment 276626View attachment 276627View attachment 276628

Nice find. Good luck. Semper Fi.

 

[WalnutRed]

Nice find. The tag is marked .50 caliber but the barrel is marked 54. I'd lean towards the barrel marking being correct, not the tag marking.

 

[Notchy Bob]

@tonytorres4934 ,

You got a great deal! That looks like a nice rifle.

Respectfully, I get the sense that you may be relatively new to muzzleloading. For any used muzzleloader, the very first thing you’ll need to do is check to make sure it isn’t loaded. If you don’t know how, that’s fine, just ask and we can tell you. It’s easy.

I see a .54 stamp on the barrel, and assuming it hasn’t been bored out or lined, you probably have a .54 caliber rifle. Storekeepers, bless their hearts, are sometimes clueless.

I would strongly recommend getting a basic muzzleloading manual, and look up cleaning and loading recommendations before you take it to the range.

Make sure you load black powder or an appropriate substitute only. This is very important. If you have any questions, please ask!

You got yourself a spectacular deal on a nice rifle there, Bub. There are fun times ahead. Just be safe!

Notchy Bob

 

[Hammond79]

Use this forum for a TON of information on the care and use of this rifle. Light rust in the barrel can be remedied with scotch brite pads on a cleaning jag (search in the forum).

As others have said that price was a steal.

You have an excellent deer/bear/hog rifle there.

 

[n.h.schmidt]

That nipple is rather badly mushroomed .You can easily save it though. A electric drill and a file will take care of that. You did well with this.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Drop a AAA battery down the bore and shine a flashlight on it.
Nit Wit

The AAA battery can be a bit long and cover pitting where the ball would rest on powder at the breech. The video bore scopes are a better means of looking at the barrel at the breech, but are more expensive.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I should have offered a better option for viewing the bore. The lighted arrow nocks or the fishing bobber lights are much shorter than the AAA battery. The light provides much more light to see the condition of the barrel and these are considerably cheaper than the bore scopes. It's worthwhile to have one with you when going to look at a bore.

These are available at many of the big box sporting goods stores.

https://www.fishusa.com/Thill-Nite-Brite-Battery-Lights/?sku=111699
And, of course, Amazon or Ebay.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lighted+...3_13552456&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_2sxanvqe2l_e

 

[Y2GREY]

That is a Wildernesses Rifle Works “Elk Hunter” in .54. They were manufactured with leftover parts when Missouri River Rifle Works ceased production on the last generation of Hatfields. That rifle is 100% American made. The lock will be an L&R. The only difference between that and the last of the Hatfields is the lack of the name. Here is a shot of my .50. If you pass drop me a PM and I’ll buy it!

 

[Y2GREY]

If you remove the barrel and lock there should be a production number scribed in the barrel channel and lock plate. My rifle is #24