very old caplock.

[andy52]

I spent a good portion of my life up in Maine and guns with back action locks were very common, specially smoothbores. I have a number including 3 made in Augusta and can see no issues with a back action lock significantly weakening a stock with average usage. Now if you were going to beat a black bear or moose to death I might expect it to break but I'm getting too old to hunt that way. You mentioned the stock being delicate and that may be the limiting factor but again I wouldn't worry about the lock inlet so much. Have you considered having it lined to a smaller caliber?

Here are a few shots of the wrist area, there's a little glare on the second one but it's 1.100 and you can a small crack that has already developed. I guess my biggest concern is as was set up in .36 caliber with 47 inches with one-inch flats and I'm guessing the barrel weights over 10 lbs so there would be minimal recoil. If I were to go with a .45 and a 32-34 inch barrel the recoil would be heaver. Granted I could put a new 32 or 36 barrel on it but I already have a .32 rifle now. Here in my state a .40 is the smallest you can use on deer but I personally think a .40 is too small.

 

[OldSmoky1967]

I can make it shootable with a barrel replacement and keep to old one as is.

Just have the barrel re-bored. Bobby Hoyt is your man for that.

 

[andy52]

Just have the barrel re-bored. Bobby Hoyt is your man for that.

I call Bobby last week about having it rebored to a .40 cal. I've pretty much decided to go that route I just haven't packed it up yet.
I talked to him about having it sleeved so I could maintain the .36
but he told me due to its age and being an iron barrel it would shoot better rebored.

 

[springfield art]

It's your rifle, so do as you please, but if it were mine I'd make it shootable. I don't think that ruins the history of a nice old rifle like that. I think it continues the story for more chapters.

I agree. It's not a terribly valuable piece, there's just not a lot of "history" in it, make it shootable. It's not like it's a documented, "owned by" type thing, it's just an example of a common gun.

 

[andy52]

I agree. It's not a terribly valuable piece, there's just not a lot of "history" in it, make it shootable. It's not like it's a documented, "owned by" type thing, it's just an example of a common gun.

I wouldn't call it a "common" gun it's the only original chunk gun I personally have ever seen.

 

[Mulebrain]

Have you checked the bore with a drop in light? I have rescued some pretty cruddy bores, and it's worth a try.
I usually plug the nipple, and fill the bore with white vinegar. I let that sit for a week or so, and scrub the bore well, and check it. I will use Naval jelly as well sometimes. She may be a good shooter, don't know till you try.

 

[oldwood]

Love these old guns. I was blessed to be selected in 1971 , by a neighbor to refurbish great grandpa's gun. It came to Pa. from far down the Ohio River , out on the western tip of Ky. where the family lived. It had a back action lock , w/no half cock notch , and a single action set trigger. The stock was of plain maple and had only a small amount of patch work needed on the full stock. The barrel........ 43" long , 40 cal. with a rifled , but very rusty bore. The muzzle appeared to have been very r/rod worn ,slightly oval , and originally coned for speedy loading. The oddity was , the breech plug end , was 1 " , while the last 8" of the muzzle end was tapered to 1 1/16" . The under side of the barrel had a total of 8 barrel lugs showing the barrel had been flipped end for end at least once in it's life time. That would explain why the muzzle end was at one time the tapered breech end. Even back then , the barrel went to Bobby Hoyte for drilling , reaming , and rifling to .45 cal. .
The family and the rifle moved to Texas . A grand son called me one day and in conversation , said they shoot great grandpa's old rifle almost every week end, ...............oldwood