percussion rifle I found laying around my dad's house

[wsmithyv2]

It is in very poor condition, just want to find out what it is. It has two visible markings on the barrel although the medal is worn down. Behind the hammer it says "MILLS". The barrel goes from an octagonal to straight. No idea on year or anything else.

 

[user 48679]

It might have been made by a highly regarded mid-1800's gun Kentucky gun maker Benjamin Mills, who used back action locks extensively on his target rifles.

Your rifle, however, IMO doesn't look like a target rifle of the period - more like a sporting rifle.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I don’t see a rear sight so it could be a shotgun. What does the muzzle look like? The back action lock is typical 1850 or later. Mills was probably the lock maker and not nessasarily the gun maker. Proof marks to me indicates European made.

 

[wsmithyv2]

I don’t see a rear sight so it could be a shotgun. What does the muzzle look like? The back action lock is typical 1850 or later. Mills was probably the lock maker and not nessasarily the gun maker. Proof marks to me indicates European made.

It looks like there was a rear sight, there is a slot for one but it is very worn.

 

[desi23]

Muzzle looks like a smoothbore, can't see anything that looks like rifling and thin barrel walls too. Odd front sight on it. The profile of the barrel (octagon to round) looks like an old Belgian shotgun I have but without the under rib for the ramrod. The front sight/hood looks like something cobbled up in the shed. At a guess someone was trying to keep an old gun working after it suffered some damage.

 

[user 33882]

It is an inexpensive percussion shotgun with a Birmingham, England, proofed barrel.

 

[TDM]

Well it’s a great find. Hang it on a wall and enjoy looking at it.