Restoration suggestions

[PAtoNM99]

So I’ve read a few posts on this forum and some google searches. Now I’m looking to tackle a project I’ve but off for a number of years. My late grandfather gifted me this beat up muzzleloader many years ago. As a small child/teenager I was enamored by this rifle. Especially being a civil war nut. From the pictures you can see a lot of problems, broken stock, broken hammer, rusty, donated paint, and other things I can’t explain. My limited research says it has a J Golcher lock which means it could be an antique. My plan is to “restore “ to hang. Or if things go extremely well maybe to fire. Now I’m looking for how to proceed next, in the tear down and rebuild.
thanks for any help from a complete newbie.

 

[PAtoNM99]

Ran into a limit. Not sure which pictures didn’t make it. Here are two more.
also if there is an expert gunsmith in New Mexico that I could take this to, I might consider taking the easy option.

 

[grey8833]

No expert here, but the rifle has a lot of aspects of a converted flintlock. Patchbox, Butt Plate, Trigger guard, Thimbles and Nose Cap. Plus that butchered side plate screams "I a bad addition" to this gun. Bore is a mess, but looks like it could be rebored. The split stock looks to be a result of the conversion (and that god awful side plate). Looks to have been repaired (poorly) once before. Repair and restore are going to cost. The toe on the stock is gone, missing wood on the forearm, and that poor wrist. Will take an expert restorer, time and money, but i would guess it would make "wall hanger" easily and probably a shooter. Seen some really poor rifles put back to shooting condition, but this one is not for an amateur to start out on. J Golcher made locks, so it looks like this was "mated" to the gun. Gun is older than the lock. (a good guess).

 

[nchawkeye]

The last thing you want to do is to restore that rifle...It will ruin the value...Have a gunsmith make you one like it...

I've seen that patchbox before, I believe on a North Carolina gun, it's possible it was made in the Piedmont of NC and went west...

 

[Red Owl]

Yes, is it an original?

 

[Notchy Bob]

From the photos, it looks original to me. I would agree with @grey8833 that the lock is a late replacement, and a poor fit.

In its current condition, I don’t think value is a realistic consideration… Rifles in this condition, unless signed by a well-known and desirable maker, are a pretty hard sell on the antique firearms market. This rifle is a mess, and it deserves to be respectfully restored. You’ll want to make sure it is not loaded, though, at the very least.

If it were mine, I would carefully disassemble it and go over the ferrous metal parts with bronze wool to take off the rust without damaging the patina, and then wipe it down with a good gun oil or surface protectant. I would gently clean the wood and start rubbing in some linseed oil. I would probably leave the brass parts alone. I would discard that godawful excuse for a side plate, reassemble the rifle, and resssess. I would examine the entire exterior of the barrel for any sort of maker’s mark. The Goulcher lock is old, but these were very common back in the day, and it really doesn’t tell us anything about the rifle’s maker.

I don’t know of a gunsmith in New Mexico, although I am sure there are some. I think Mike Roby, a true master of the craft, is in Arizona. I don’t know if he does restoration work or not, but he might be able to get you started in the right direction.

Good luck! Please keep us informed.

Notchy Bob

 

[Celticstoneman]

Well, I like it. A lot.
John

 

[rafterob]

I'm in the camp of preserve it, not restore it. I like the suggestion of having a copy made if you want to shoot it.

 

[rich pierce]

Agree it’s in rough shape and a good restoration job would exceed its value when finished. Even a stabilization job by a competent restorer would run over $500 to get it to hold together. Cool old gun. Sometimes seeing old guns in this shape tells more of a story than restoring them.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Well, I like it. A lot.
John

Same here. I like it a lot. It was a fine rifle in its day.

Notchy Bob

 

[Bill M.]

I do not know anything about restoration or about that gun. I like the gun. It certainly should have the stock decently glued back together. Clean the paint off without disturbing the patina below if possible. To me a project does not have to "pay for itself". I would be willing to drop some coin that is unrecoverable to get that gun to at least hand together buy itself. Shoot it...no, not me.

 

[TNBandit]

I tend to agree that it should be stabilized so it dosn't get any worse, maybe try to repair the stock, and hang it on the wall as a tribute to your Grandpa. I like it a lot myself but it's done it's job and it's time to retire. And this is a huge statement coming from me who has a tendency to want to restore really rough things whether it's guns or old cars. Your money will be better spent on finding another one that was taken care of.

 

[shunka]

This has the earmarks of a fur trade era trade rifle that Was badly converted from flint to percussion. If you can contact Ron Petersen in Abq he could easily ID it. He closed his shop on Central the fall before the start of covid, but still does business online

 

[Celticstoneman]

PAtoNM99,
I agree with what Bill M has said. It is a no bs direct and to the point assesment.
John