Photos Of My GGGrandfathers Rifle

[grant]

I'm not too good at these picture things but here goes.

This rifle has a H. Deringer barrel half octagonal half round. It's approximately .50 cal. and exactly 36" long. I believe it started out life as a flintlock around 1820 then converted to caplock in the 1860's with a patent breech. The stock has been expertly repaired twice. The rear sight was moved about 4" toward the muzzle at some time, and the original dovetail filled in. No marking on the lock at all. I think the barrel migrated from Tennessee with the family to Texas when it was recycled in its present form. Trigger pull is 13" to the front trigger, weights 9 lbs.

 

[tnlonghunter]

That's really cool. I'm sorry if I misunderstood, but is that stock original, or was it made for the barrel later? I was just curious b/c it has the pistol-grip on it, and didn't know when that started being made. Really great to see any gun that old still in family hands. Thanks :hatsoff:

 

[grant]

We don't know for sure but I suspect not. Since it was converted to caplock a new lock mortise would be needed and also the barrel was shortened. It was used a lot. The wood in the area around the nipple is eroded away. I really like the way they repaired the stock. They took the time to inlet small metal plates across the cracks to stabilize them. The lock mounting screw is tapped into the tang of the breech(it's stripped now).

 

Very beautiful rifle.
Condition looks excellent.

 

[ratgunner]

Sweet.Thats the real deal. :v