This one I want to work over

[wpjson]

I hope to work over this rifle and get it hunt worthy, but I have very limited knowledge as to how to do that. But, doing is learning. So bear with me. Any Ideas as to how old this critter is? Overall length is 54 inches, barrel length is 38.

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I have some questions about the wood. There are dark lines running lengthwise along the stock. They wave with the vertical grain of the wood. They do not appear to be cracks. OK, so what kind of wood is this? Is the integrity of the stock compromised? Around the lock it appears, at first glance, to have been repaired or patched, but looking under the lock it doesn't seem to be. I think spliced might be the word, but it doesn't appear to be spliced. The dark lines you see have been filled with some epoxy like substance.

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The lock has some minor problems that I think I can deal with. It has what appears to be the word "WARRANTED" and the letter "B" on it.

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It appears to be about .30 cal. I would like to have it bored out to a larger caliber. Is the cost prohibitive having it bored and rifled? Thank you i advance.

 

[varsity07840]

With all due respect, hang it over the fireplace.

Duane

 

[wpjson]

Not worth it, huh?

 

[ZUG]

I agree with Duane :bow: -- not worth the effort and money. Go buy yourself a modern made repo muzzle loader that will be reliable to hunt with :v .

 

[MSW]

I'm agreeing with the consensus, here.

hate to sound like a naysayer or be a downer, but I'd rather do that than see someone make a big mistake. there's nothing wrong with wall hangers - I have a few ... I consider them my nod to common sense.

It appears that the wrist has been broken (perhaps in two places) in the distant past, and the repair was not something I'd want to risk shooting. The lock appears to be a 'back action' style, but this doesn't appear consistent with the style of the ramrod pipes and the trigger guard.

My take: it was something cobbled together a long time ago, and bringing it up to a condition where you could safely shoot it would cost a good deal more than a decent used ML. It makes an interesting wall hanger, but I wouldn't take it into the woods.

 

[hawkeye2]

Possibly 1840's, early back action gun. I believe it was always a back action lock and quite possibly the style of the pipes, trigger guard, etc. were carryovers from the local tradition of the area and time. I don't see any evidence it was cobbled together though it may have been built with used parts. If the glue joints are sound I would remove the lock, barrel and hardware and carefully drill down the length of the wrist for one or more steel rods to be epoxied in. They wouldn't have to be more than .25" diameter and if more than one was used they could be smaller. You said you could repair the lock so no issue. Bobby Hoyt can do that barrel and he is very reasonable. I'll bet you can get it in shooting condition for $250 or less including the barrel and materials but not your time. I have a '61 Springfield that I'll be putting together and the stock is broken completely through the lock area/wrist and when I'm finished I'm sure it will be as strong as if not better than it was before it got broken.

It looks to have been extensively "cleaned" years ago, possibly when the stock was repaired. It has very little collector's value so why not return it to a usable status? I wouldn't be surprised if the lengthwise dark lines were mineral stains in the wood.

 

[Cowboy]

The wood appears to be curly maple with hints of birds eye on the cheek piece and wrist? I am not sure about the birds eye part though?

If you could get it in safe shooting condition for $250, I would go for it! BTW, Thanks for posting the pics. We always love to see pics.

Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:

 

[Donny]

Meeeee...I would first be leery of the drum & nipple, and wouldn't bore it, just stuff down what ball fits, with a very small charge.

 

[Tinker2]

If it was mine I would make it useable.
If you have the tools, the time and the bore is useable it won’t take much if you’re doing it yourself.
If you must pay someone like me and you just want any gun, then not a good idea.



William

 

[hawkeye2]

The drum and nipple are easily replaceable and if Hoyt bored or lined the barrel he would have them out and they would be right when he got done with them. I have had worse than that brought back to safe condition (had a fowler that had been made into a lamp).

 

[galamb]

I would make it usable as well.

But in my case I would "restock it".

It's worth nothing in it's current conditions unless it was made by someone "uber-famous".

Because of that you are not "destroying" anything by restocking it "IF" the barrel is in decent shape.

(and notes from the few gun builders, back when, that kept detailed records show that most of them "restocked" 5 to 10 rifles for each one the built from scratch - so a restocked rifle is PC/HC)

The stock itself looks to be what is called "spalted maple", at least through the wrist which is, at least by the pics, mostly beyond salvage.

A new stock could be easily copied since you have the original as a template.

As was noted however, if this is beyond your personal capabilities you could end up spending more on the stock then the reconstructed rifle would be worth.

So one thing if you can do it OR it's a family heirloom that you want to return to function - quite another if this is simply a project gun.

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

Don't throw the old stock away if you do restock the rifle. It is still an expensive piece of wood and can be used for all sorts of non-gun projects.





for the barrel work:

Bob Hoyt
717-642-6696
2379 Mt Hope Rd, Farfield PA

 

[Tinker2]

carefully drill down the length of the wrist for one or more steel rods to be epoxied in.

That is great advice, done right it can’t be seen, he is sharp.

Only different is I use a good wood dowel so someday it can be removed if needed


William Alexander

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

carefully drill down the length of the wrist for one or more steel rods to be epoxied in.

This is a common practice on custom hand carved stocks for cf rifles chambered in safari calibers. Typically what is used is threaded steel rod and glass bedding.

 

[Tinker2]

(had a fowler that had been made into a lamp).

:haha:
Yup, bought a couple of lamps

 

[coloradoclyde]

Gun looks early 20th century to me...

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

Hunt smaller game in the words of Hawkeye " light lead and little powder, no bullet flies true from a kicking rifle"