Questions re: H.Somer Percussion Rifle

[Pete44ru]

I've run across what might be a 40-rod gun from the mid-1800's (1840-1880) - but it also seems to have been made as more of a heavy sporter. I just don't know.

I still have a few questions, if anyone can help.

The .45 cal rifle, having a backaction lock and double set triggers, is marked in three lines as being made by "H.SOMERS", "BARNET", & "VT".

I traced two men named "H.Somers" , that were making guns between 1830-1880 in Barnet, Vermont, and believe they might be father/son - Hugh Somers (died ca.1873 @ age 72) & Henry Somers (died 1924).

I would opine that one of them made this rifle.

I would appreciate anything else I could learn of the makers - since although I found a tiny bit of bio info on them as the possible maker, I was unable to find anything about their guns.

Does anyone know how to distinguish a rifle betweem them ?

The wooden ramrod is plain, w/o tips, and is shorter than the barrel by a little over an inch - is it a wiping stick, or just a ramrod someone put on this rifle to make it look comlete ?

BTW - Since AFAIK the false muzzle idea was patented in 1840, I would presume this rifle (which is set up for one) is post-1840.

Ned H. Roberts mentioned a "H.SUMERS" of Barnet, VT in his book: The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle - most likely a misprint/misspell, since the rifle is clearly marked.

I do not believe that the false muzzle, currently with this rifle, is original to the gun, since I thought that all such had a post that obstructed the sight picture while it was installed - to preclude shooting with it "on".
This false muzzle has no such device, nor any evidence that it once had one.
Could it be original, since it's rifled to match the barrel and the pins fit - although the pin holes were drilled completely through the false muzzle ?

Could this rifle has once been set up with an early telescopic sight, and used as a sniper rifle in the Civil War ?
I'm asking because the rear barrel sight dovetail has an old/period filler blank in it, and the peep is threaded into the more forward of two D/T'd holes about 1" apart in the upper tang, which MIGHT have been the location fpor the rear scope base.

I welcome any of your additional thought/comments.

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[Pete44ru]

BTW - The barrel on this Somers rifle measures 1 1/4" across the flats and 33" long from the muzzle to the breechplug.

(Sorry - the "edit" button disappeared from my OP)

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[excess650]

He sure used a nice piece of walnut for that stock! As for the false muzzle, if the rifling matches and the holes line up, it most likely is original. The post that obstructs the sight picture was probably an adaptation after several FMs were shot off.

With these old guns its difficult to say just what all might have been in their history. This particular rifle has an obvious hammer repair, and possibly necessary from having the hammer replaced. The way that the hammer and nipple are slightly out of alignment suggests that possiblity to me. The short ramrod suggests that it was broken or else a poorly chosen replacement.

Possibly scoped? Very possible as serious shooters often do whatever they think might improve their shooting.

CW sniper? It isn't out of the realm of possibility as Berdan's Sharpshooters used their own rifles when first recruited. More than likely it was just a target rifle.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I think the False muzzle is original. Not all FMs had posts to obscure the sights. I believe that was a post civil war Addition, when target shooting with these guns was risen to much higher levels, competing with the early breechloading guns.

The only thing that threw me was the picture of the FM that shows it to be rather thin, and cut round, where the barrel was left octagon. But, short FMs were very common in the Pre-Civil War period. When you combine the plunger unit with that FM, the actual unit is quite large.

Are you sure that kind of Back Action lock was being made Before the Civil War??? They were popular After the Civil War, and showed up on many DB shotguns. Is there any marking on the inside of the lock indicating its origin?

The Slug gun shooters at Friendship will be the experts to consult on this type of rifle. They are familiar with all the old builders, and shooters, as there are only about 200 slug gun shooters( and builders) around the country.

 

[Pete44ru]

Thank you both for you observations and thoughtful comments - I appreciate them, greatly.

I haven't tried to remove the lock as yet, and have no clue as to exactly when back action lockes came into use - but it makes more sense to me that this is a post CW target rifle.

It's too bad there's no plunger with the FM - but maybe it never had one - since there's no side studs on the FM that it would hook into for leverage, nor any evidence they were once there.

Again, Thanks to all - and please accept my fervent wish that you all have a wonderful Holiday Season !

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[excess650]

The end of that barrel is round, and seems to match the FM, so seems plenty normal to me.

My Pope Stevens 44 in 38-55 had a round false muzzle. Its bullet starter fit over the round FM to center it, and the plunger was just pushed downward to load. I mention this just as an observation for some potential insight.

The CF FM schuetzen rifles were the next generation of target rifles after the FM MLers.

Have you checked the rifling twist? Knowing the caliber and twist will give you an idea as to what length/weight projectile it fired. The quicker the twist, the longer the projectile...use a tight fitting patch on a jag, mark the rod, and see how much rotation there is in 24". Also, see if you can tell if its a constant twist. A gain twist would be almost straight near the breech and increase towards the muzzle.

 

[fm50ford]

Peter
I don't know if this information may help you but here goes. I live in Danville VT which is a neighboring town to Barnet. There still are Somers in Danvile. About 30 years ago I saw several rifles made by the Somers and I believe you are correct that thay were father and son. There used to be a gun collector named Ken Blair in Danville who had several, and he told me about the makers. Ken has long passed away and I don't know what happened to his collection of guns.It has been a long time and my memory is not that good now. My neighbor is Scott Somers and His father Edward live in Danville. Scott lives at 1254 Rt 2W, Danville Vt 05828. phone is 802 684 1093. His dad lives in the village on Brainard st.ph# 802 684 3442
there is also a Hezzie Somers in West Barnet ph# 802 633 2883. I believe these are all direct relations. There are still more in the area. If you contact them maybe some information could be had here. Hope this helps.