Niell Fields Rifle

[Shine]

A friend and I both picked up Niell Fields rifles at the Ancient Ones of Maine show this weekend.
I know He used to work for Green River rifle works. But that is about it. This rifle is nice, Its built on an original late period Mortimer lock, .50 cal,Number 309.
Lets dissect this rifle. Style?, Period?,Info on the builder? Worth?.
here are some pics

 

[azmntman]

One NICE looking rifle. :thumbsup: Especially the stock. I have yet to get one with a wooden patch box....do they have a tendency to swell?

 

[Shine]

Not bad if the wood is well sealed but it depends a lot on your climate.

 

[azmntman]

I would be safe, we have little of the "H" word here. Our shade works!! :blah:

 

[Shine]

Well humid is not an issue there LOL you'll be fine.

 

[Jim Evans]

Style- looks on the lines of a late Lancaster.

 

[Herb]

Neill lives about 5 miles from me, I phoned him. He said this is a special rifle. It has an original Mortimer lock in it, with a 7/8x36" .50 barrel and he finished it February 14, 1990. It is a small Beck style. He built it for Phil Lalana of Trinidad, CO, who died, and his guns were sold by some eastern auction house. This is SN 309, but Neill is over 400 ML firearms built now. He is a very skilled and fast builder. Worked at the GRRW until they went out of business, then moved to Austrailia to build guns there for a year. He has built so many Hawkens that I doubt he would build another one, but he sure helps me in my work with them. He likes early rifles. What was the other rifle?

 

[Shine]

WOW Thanks that is really cool. You done me a solid. My friend bought the Hawken LOL. When this was built I was a senior in high school. It was valentines day so I have an idea exactly what I was doing :wink: . But It has a safe home now. Ill get the serial number off my friends rifle.

 

[jamesthomas]

Shine, the pictures are gone?. And by the way you will get plenty of the "H" word down there in Florida! :grin: .

 

[Shine]

Does he remember what Make barrel he used?

 

[Vaino]

Nice looking rifle....you asked for a "dissection" so here goes. Personal preference would be a longer bbl, but that again can be a personal thing. The lock area is very well done....nice and slim. The combline is "swaybacked" a bit...sometimes the buttplate is at the wrong angle which forces "an ajustment" such as this. The pics of the butt are dark so can't comment on the carving. Nice piece of wood was chosen.....Fred

 

[Shine]

 

[rr11]

Very nice! :grin:

 

[wattlebuster]

Beautiful rifle Shine :thumbsup:

 

[excess650]

Dissect? To my eye the lock appears out of character for an otherwise, early Lancaster styled rifle. I can't tell if the lock panels are otherwise accentuated, but would have expected to see beaver tails behind at the very least. The angle of the cheek piece and trigger guard also reflect Lancaster rather than Beck....subtle differences in addition to what Fred already mentioned.

It IS a pretty rifle that most would be proud to own.

 

[Shine]

That's what I was thinking about the lock also. I think the gun was built around it . Being an original Mortimer English lock which is probably 1810 or later. It sparks like mad, has a rollered frizzen, very smooth internals. The rifle weighs in at just 6.5 lbs. Barrel has 8 lands and grooves. This dog might hunt. :grin: Im thinking I might pass this to my boy in a few years.

 

[smo]

That is a very special rifle you are a lucky man
:thumbsup:

 

[Ken Cormier]

Nice buy have fun

 

[Shine]

Have we met Ken?

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I'm thinking I might pass this to my boy in a few years.

Awhhhhhhh, and here I was thinking you'd be giving it to me ... :hatsoff: !

Nice buy. You must have bought that after we left the show ... as you didn't show me THAT, haha!