Original New Hampshire Rifle

[Joemolf]

I receive joe’s weekly email looks pretty nice for some one interested in an original rifle built in New Hampshire
Anyone know anything about this rifle builder

• Hampshire Half-Stock Percussion Target Rifle by DH Hilliard
• 40 Caliber, 33 1/8" heavy octagon barrel with a fine, bright bore that has a small amount of mild freckling within the grooves at the muzzle. This is a handsome rifle, made by well-known underhammer maker David Hall Hilliard of Cornish, NH ca. 1860. The barrel is turned down at the muzzle for a no longer present bullet starter and has an overall mottled gray-brown patina that blends with the original browning towards the "D.H. HILLIARD / CORNISH / NH / CAST STEEL" marked breech. The rifle is outfitted with an embellished, "J. HAPGOOD" marked, back-action lock that has a strong mainspring and catches firmly at both the half and full-cock notches. The single set trigger works as it should. The walnut stock is fastened by two wedges and has an excellent reapplied oil finish with some minor handling marks and small surface blemishes scattered throughout. The stock has a pewter nosecap and is further decorated with numerous ornate German silver inlays, including a simple, but elegant trigger guard, patchbox (containing two spare nipples), and a crescent buttplate. The rifle has a period hooded front sight mated to an original rear aperture sight installed on the wrist, and comes with a brass-tipped ramrod. This is a fine example of a conventional percussion rifle, by a famous maker, and is in very good-fine condition overall. Antique

 

[leadhoarder]

Very nice.

 

[OLUT]

Hilliard was a major percussion gun maker in Cornish, which is near the Connecticut River separating NH and Vermont. I'm on a trip and away from my files, but there's lots about Hilliard on the web. There is an extensive collection of his papers in the small museum in Cornish. He is mostly noted for rather plain single barrel under hammer guns but Hilliard made all types. I believe that he bought the under hammer design from Nicanor Kendall who operated across the river in Windsor, Vermont. I have a nice percussion over under combination gun that Hilliard made

 

[Joemolf]

Hilliard was a major percussion gun maker in Cornish, which is near the Connecticut River separating NH and Vermont. I'm on a trip and away from my files, but there's lots about Hilliard on the web. There is an extensive collection of his papers in the small museum in Cornish. He is mostly noted for rather plain single barrel under hammer guns but Hilliard made all types. I believe that he bought the under hammer design from Nicanor Kendall who operated across the river in Windsor, Vermont. I have a nice percussion over under combination gun that Hilliard made

Thanks for your reply. It on Joe Salters website it looks like a really well made rifle and it is in beautiful condition!

 

[nhmoose]

Hillard is the BIG builder in NH, IMHO

100 years later. The only one better, for barrels, was Branch Meanly IMHO