Need help identifying Grandpas old black powder rifles

[ssconver777]

Hey guys, I recently lost my father and inherited a couple of my granddads old black powder rifles. Unfortunately, since his passing I have realized how many questions I never knew I needed to ask until my two greatest teachers were gone. These two black powder rifles origin being amongst that long list. The two have different bore sizes; I believe one to be near .30 cal and the other to be near .50 cal. They both have etchings around the actions.
The .30 cal has a number of brass embellishments and an "H" etched near the nipple that has an arrow as the cross member of the "H". It also seems to have two places for mounting rear sights. Behind the aft sight mount it is stamped "VII". Both rifles also have dual triggers; I believe one to be a set trigger for the very light (hair) firing trigger. The barrel is 39+5/16 inches from tang to muzzle.
The .50 cal. unfortunately has even less identifying markings. About 6" aft of the rear sight it has a "B" etched in little dots. Which, I suppose could possibly be a "13" but I'm pretty sure it's a "B". Just forward of the rear sight there is a triangle/ arrow, again etched in little dots pointing down the barrel towards the muzzle. The barrel length is 39+11/16 inches from tang to muzzle. Both rifles have a nice little cheek comb carved into them that combined with the curved butt stock make them quit comfortable to shoulder and aquire sight picture.
I'll attach as many pics as I can to demonstrate what I've got but I'm new here so I'm not sure how many I can post or exactly how.
I really appreciate any and all info you may have on them; even if it's only a link to other info resources. Thanks for taking time out of your day. And if your dad is still around.... Make sure to ask million questions while you can!View attachment KIMG0452.JPGView attachment KIMG0451.JPGView attachment KIMG0450.JPGView attachment KIMG0449.JPGView attachment KIMG0448.JPGView attachment KIMG0447.JPGView attachment KIMG0446.JPGView attachment KIMG0445.JPGView attachment KIMG0444.JPGView attachment KIMG0443.JPG

 

[ssconver777]

Hey guys, I recently lost my father and inherited a couple of my granddads old black powder rifles. Unfortunately, since his passing I have realized how many questions I never knew I needed to ask until my two greatest teachers were gone. These two black powder rifles origin being amongst that long list. The two have different bore sizes; I believe one to be near .30 cal and the other to be near .50 cal. They both have etchings around the actions.
The .30 cal has a number of brass embellishments and an "H" etched near the nipple that has an arrow as the cross member of the "H". It also seems to have two places for mounting rear sights. Behind the aft sight mount it is stamped "VII". Both rifles also have dual triggers; I believe one to be a set trigger for the very light (hair) firing trigger. The barrel is 39+5/16 inches from tang to muzzle.
The .50 cal. unfortunately has even less identifying markings. About 6" aft of the rear sight it has a "B" etched in little dots. Which, I suppose could possibly be a "13" but I'm pretty sure it's a "B". Just forward of the rear sight there is a triangle/ arrow, again etched in little dots pointing down the barrel towards the muzzle. The barrel length is 39+11/16 inches from tang to muzzle. Both rifles have a nice little cheek comb carved into them that combined with the curved butt stock make them quit comfortable to shoulder and aquire sight picture.
I'll attach as many pics as I can to demonstrate what I've got but I'm new here so I'm not sure how many I can post or exactly how.
I really appreciate any and all info you may have on them; even if it's only a link to other info resources. Thanks for taking time out of your day. And if your dad is still around.... Make sure to ask million questions while you can!View attachment 356582View attachment 356583View attachment 356584View attachment 356585View attachment 356586View attachment 356587View attachment 356588View attachment 356589View attachment 356590View attachment 356591

More pictures here:

Hey guys, I recently lost my father and inherited a couple of my granddads old black powder rifles. Unfortunately, since his passing I have realized how many questions I never knew I needed to ask until my two greatest teachers were gone. These two black powder rifles origin being amongst that long list. The two have different bore sizes; I believe one to be near .30 cal and the other to be near .50 cal. They both have etchings around the actions.
The .30 cal has a number of brass embellishments and an "H" etched near the nipple that has an arrow as the cross member of the "H". It also seems to have two places for mounting rear sights. Behind the aft sight mount it is stamped "VII". Both rifles also have dual triggers; I believe one to be a set trigger for the very light (hair) firing trigger. The barrel is 39+5/16 inches from tang to muzzle.
The .50 cal. unfortunately has even less identifying markings. About 6" aft of the rear sight it has a "B" etched in little dots. Which, I suppose could possibly be a "13" but I'm pretty sure it's a "B". Just forward of the rear sight there is a triangle/ arrow, again etched in little dots pointing down the barrel towards the muzzle. The barrel length is 39+11/16 inches from tang to muzzle. Both rifles have a nice little cheek comb carved into them that combined with the curved butt stock make them quit comfortable to shoulder and aquire sight picture.
I'll attach as many pics as I can to demonstrate what I've got but I'm new here so I'm not sure how many I can post or exactly how.
I really appreciate any and all info you may have on them; even if it's only a link to other info resources. Thanks for taking time out of your day. And if your dad is still around.... Make sure to ask million questions while you can!View attachment 356582View attachment 356583View attachment 356584View attachment 356585View attachment 356586View attachment 356587View attachment 356588View attachment 356589View attachment 356590View attachment 356591

More pics here:

 

[Eric Krewson]

I am not an old gun expert, it appears you have two very nice original rifles, circa 1850 or newer give or take a few years. The bottom is a southern half stock rifle, just a guess but the top rifle appears to be a 3/4 stock rifle from Ohio or the surrounding area, others will know more than what I am guessing on the top rifle.

 

[SDSmlf]

Hey guys, I recently lost my father and inherited a couple of my granddads old black powder rifles. Unfortunately, since his passing I have realized how many questions I never knew I needed to ask until my two greatest teachers were gone. These two black powder rifles origin being amongst that long list. The two have different bore sizes; I believe one to be near .30 cal and the other to be near .50 cal. They both have etchings around the actions.
The .30 cal has a number of brass embellishments and an "H" etched near the nipple that has an arrow as the cross member of the "H". It also seems to have two places for mounting rear sights. Behind the aft sight mount it is stamped "VII". Both rifles also have dual triggers; I believe one to be a set trigger for the very light (hair) firing trigger. The barrel is 39+5/16 inches from tang to muzzle.
The .50 cal. unfortunately has even less identifying markings. About 6" aft of the rear sight it has a "B" etched in little dots. Which, I suppose could possibly be a "13" but I'm pretty sure it's a "B". Just forward of the rear sight there is a triangle/ arrow, again etched in little dots pointing down the barrel towards the muzzle. The barrel length is 39+11/16 inches from tang to muzzle. Both rifles have a nice little cheek comb carved into them that combined with the curved butt stock make them quit comfortable to shoulder and aquire sight picture.
I'll attach as many pics as I can to demonstrate what I've got but I'm new here so I'm not sure how many I can post or exactly how.
I really appreciate any and all info you may have on them; even if it's only a link to other info resources. Thanks for taking time out of your day. And if your dad is still around.... Make sure to ask million questions while you can!View attachment 356582View attachment 356583View attachment 356584View attachment 356585View attachment 356586View attachment 356587View attachment 356588View attachment 356589View attachment 356590View attachment 356591

Looks like you have a couple of nice old guns with a family history.

First thing is to confirm neither have old loads in their bores, have you been able to do that?

 

[Phil Coffins]

You’ll get some good help here and try this forum too.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=3.0

 

[Tanselman]

Your top rifle with the distinctive inlays is a Jamestown, North Carolina, half-stocked rifle and very typical of that school of gunmaking. While some are marked by the maker on the top barrel flat several inches behind the rear sight, these guns are often marked with large initials, or name, on the rear oblique barrel flat near the breech. You should check those areas closely for any name or initials, since most of the gunmakers in this school are well-known. It's a nice rifle, and southern guns have become more in demand the last few years due to the freshness and new details they bring to the market.

The plainer half-stocked gun appears to be a southern rifle [south of the Ohio River], based on its iron hardware, strongly triangular butt profile, and what appears to be a longer, two-screw tang. These plainer rifles, with fewer distinctive details or inlay work, are harder to place. Perhaps its rather odd, rounded cheekpiece will provide some guidance in locating the maker. You should check the top barrel flat several inches behind the rear sight for any trace of a name or initials. Even if hard to rear, post a good picture of anything there, since we can frequently figure out what the name is.

Shelby Gallien