Hey everyone. I bought these two rifles at auction. I want to learn more about them. the first rifle says Joseph manton and second one says J Priest Grafton St. Ohio. Rifle 2 is significantly heavier. What kind of rifles are they? How old? Thank you!
Rifle Identification Help
- Thread starter Dmon
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Thagomizer
40 Cal
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The Manton lock looks like a replacement on a cut down smoothbore.
Thagomizer
40 Cal
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2019
- Messages
- 230
- Reaction score
- 195
#2 looks like a well made target rifle with turned muzzle. One of the more knowledgeable guys may know more on the maker. Bore size?
The first one was originally a flintlock. Sometime in the past it was converted to percussion. I wonder if the name "Joseph Manton" on the lock is the Joseph Manton who was a very prominent gunsmith in England from about the 1780's into the early 1800's. He was especially noted for his dueling pistols, shotguns, and he also had a lot to do with developing artillery shells.
Anyway, that first gun appears to me to be a cobbled up thing made from various old parts. I can't be sure from the photo, but it looks like a smoothbore (shotgun) to me.
The second gun appears to be a nice percussion target rifle of the mid 1800's time period. I don't know the name "J. Priest", but the style of the gun does look to me like what is sometimes called an "Ohio Rifle".
Someone can probably look up the Priest name and maybe confirm his time as a gunsmith.
Anyway, that first gun appears to me to be a cobbled up thing made from various old parts. I can't be sure from the photo, but it looks like a smoothbore (shotgun) to me.
The second gun appears to be a nice percussion target rifle of the mid 1800's time period. I don't know the name "J. Priest", but the style of the gun does look to me like what is sometimes called an "Ohio Rifle".
Someone can probably look up the Priest name and maybe confirm his time as a gunsmith.
Uncle Miltie
50 Cal.
There were two gunsmiths named Priest working in Cleveland OH. Joseph Priest and Josiah Priest. Both had moved to Detroit MI by 1850: some feel they might have been father and son, though no records exist for either one past 1857, so J. Priest could be one and the same person.
The rifle is marked with the words Grafton St so while the rifle could have been made in Grafton OH (about 40 miles from the original city of Cleveland) it is likely there was a Grafton Street which no longer exists today, or was re-named at some point.
There were not many gunsmiths in Cleveland OH at any time during the 1800's.
You rifle is a good quality picket rifle likely from the 1840's. If it has target sights or at one time had them it would be a target rifle. If not it would have been a hunting rifle. Not all picket rifles were used to target shoot, as many used the picket bullet because it was heavier, would shoot flatter and had more killing power than a round ball.
Nice rifle, enjoy it!
The rifle is marked with the words Grafton St so while the rifle could have been made in Grafton OH (about 40 miles from the original city of Cleveland) it is likely there was a Grafton Street which no longer exists today, or was re-named at some point.
There were not many gunsmiths in Cleveland OH at any time during the 1800's.
You rifle is a good quality picket rifle likely from the 1840's. If it has target sights or at one time had them it would be a target rifle. If not it would have been a hunting rifle. Not all picket rifles were used to target shoot, as many used the picket bullet because it was heavier, would shoot flatter and had more killing power than a round ball.
Nice rifle, enjoy it!
Wow that’s great info. How did you find out about who J Priest is?
People weren’t really saying much
besides that they were ultra rare Joseph Manton tubelocks
Uncle Miltie
50 Cal.
I've been collecting and studying Ohio rifles for a while now, but know people who have far more knowledge on the subject than I'll ever have!
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