plains rifle

[lanedh]

To add to Zonie's observations regarding the lock:

Notice that the letters R S Clark are run off at an angle to the word WARRANTED. My feeling is that the lock is an import from England or the Continent, and R S Clark added his maker's mark with a one piece die.

The shape of the lockplate appears far too late for the lock to have originated as a flintlock, and in addition there are no traces of the screws and pins that would have mounted the frizzen and frizzen spring. The carving on the face of the hammer appears "extravagant"; perhaps a replacement hammer?

What really distracts me is the Wesley Richards patent nipple; if that's original to a rifle made in the US, why that and not the run-of-the-mill nipples available to every gunmaker? Damn...now I won't be able to sleep tonight! Honey, where's my Ambien?

Nice rifle, altogether.

Bluejacket

PS: the little circles on the muzzle are "just for pretty".

 

[gwynrees]

A couple of photos to prove the rifle works. My father has always wished he had been born during the 1800's and ventured in to the American West much like the original owner of the rifle. In fact you can probably see the 'far away' look in his eyes in the photo.

When my father found the rifle it was in the leather bag hence was probably made for it. My father likes to think that it was made by the Cornish man's Indian wife possibly as a wedding gift. The pattern could even be two interlinked tee-pees representing the joining of two families but this is probably stretching the theory a bit too far.

Many thanks for the replies above :hatsoff:

John

 

[paulvallandigham]

The Beadwork reminds me of some of the " Thunderbird " beading done by some of the Sioux and Cheyenne. Thanks for the closer look, but an expert would be using a magnifying glass to look at the beads, to see what they are made of, and how they were made. Google Beadwork, and you should find sources for this kind of dating information.

 

[lockjaw]

the beadwork is possibly indian done, but not likely sioux...cheyenne???...colors are not right any plains ndn's for 1860ish, the blue is good but the yellow is not the "greasey" yellow of the time and the green is more like beads i bought in the 1970's. and the black in the border is odd...but it's fairly nice beadwork, my guess is 20th century :hmm: ...but nice anyway

 

[Rebel]

Not sure about Cheyenne colors, but it is the wrong colors for Siuox.

 

[Tanselman]

This rifle appears to be made in New York. It has a New York style patchbox and wrist treatment, and typical New England single trigger. Perhaps the beadwork on the leather case comes from that area as well. Shelby Gallien

 

[Many Klatch]

I have seen several originals with a saw cut through the wood forearm. We have always called those "sea bag" guns. A lot of our GI's coming back from WWII brought souvenir guns back hidden in their duffel bags. They took the barrels out of the gun and then saw cut the stock into two pieces so it would fit in the seabag.

Many Klatch

 

I don't see any sign of the stock having been cut, and there wouldn't be any point anyway: The stock isn't any longer than the barrel, and the two are easily seperated. Which is what would have been done anyway to saw the forestock.
The curved stock and checkered wrist suggests an Ohio maker. By the way, the scabbard should be authenticated if possible. As an american indian artifact, it's probably at least as valuable as the rifle. Which is very nice, by the way.

 

[tg]

It is a beautiful gun no doubt, a good example to study for those who like to age/patina the wood, I cannot see that it was once a flintlock that was converted if the same plate was used as I could not see where the frizzen spring pivoted or was attatched. Thanks much for sharing.

 

The lock plate might have originally been for a flintlock: the fit of the plate at the rear of the drum is sloppy and the frizzen screw hole is missing because that part has been cut away. There is a hole that could be for the frizzen spring screw, if you look carefully at the pictures of the lock. I'm not making any definate claims, but I think its possible.

 

[Todd Rickard]

Nice rifle! I like the fact that it is still in use. If it was converted, it is a good job. Perhaps a look at the back side of the lock would shed more light on that.
The beadwork case should not be used until you have a chance to have it authenticated, as it may have substantial value. The fringe looks older than the '70's. The pattern is of lodges and the geometric style does suggest plains tribes.

 

[reddogge]

That is a beautiful rifle to say the least. It looks like the brass has been kept polished. I don't know if that would hurt the value (probably) but you may want to let it go back to patina as best as nature can do. I wouldn't artificially age it but just don't polish it anymore.

 

[Pittsburghunter]

Fow what it is worth, I have seen "Warranted" stamped on some fairly modern production gun locks. I am not sure where the locks are made and how long the company has been around.

The last piece I saw with the markings was a 20g percussion shotgun I almost bought but the barrel seemed to be too thin for my taste. The only markings on the whole gun was the stamp on the lock plate.

 

[Begor]

Appears the lock has two lock bolts. Have you pictures of the left side of the rifle?

 

[danndeb]

I have a RS Clark rifle. It is definitely percussion. I bought it in San Antonio, TX. in 1995. The reason I bought it was that I have a
R S Clark belt pistol which I bought in Vallejo, CA. in the 1970's. My understanding was that R S Clark was a gunsmith from
Albany, NY in the 1840;s. He probably originated from England.The pistol was done in silver.