1st addition CVA mountain rifle in 45 cal. This is the first one of these that I have seen in person. Bore looked pretty bad but after 100 or so patches and many, many strokes with a wore brush it cleaned up well. Really nice piece of maple for a production gun. The lock cleaned up nice too. Trigger is missing the wire spring on the front side that holds the set trigger and the small adjustment screw that is between triggers but still operates fine with the main trigger. 120.00 out the door dntn hntr . Couldn't pass this One up!
I'd say a very exceptional find. The rifle looks good and will likely make a fine shooting/hunting rifle. I once had an almost complete one in .45. I had the stock, barrel and most of the hardware; but no trigger or lock. I eventually used it in a trade for a hand-built .45 that I still own and like. Don't have any photos of the CVA but here's a photo of its replacement. I believe you got a good deal as those early ones were truly special.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1zHP1Lgj/PICT0689-zps77b16500.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I never seem to come across those deals, so congratulations, Cherrybow1.
Great find, congratulations.
Forgot to show the refinished rifle: very pleased with the wood! This was another first trying aqua fortis and a heat gun. Finished it off with tru-coat oil.
If the barrel proves unsatisfactory you can send it to Bobby Hoyt. Not sure at all about the "new" barrel situation.
those were good rifles , in 1980 I bought one of the at that time new big bore mountain rifles in .54 caliber , heck of a shooter , the guy who bought it from me still has it !
A nice one, and "on the cheap" as well.
Years ago I received a .50 CVA built from a kit. It had been indifferently assembled but with no glaring problems. It shot surprisingly well and I liked it. Over the years I killed deer with it and it was consistently reliable. I already had a .50 Traditions DeerHunter that had helped keep the freezer full; that rifle was a hunting companion for over 20 years (I also had a .50 Pedersoli Cub with both a flint lock and a percussion lock).
Then years later I happened to see this little "rugrat" rifle by Mike Lange and knew I just had to have it. I contacted Mike and ended up trading the DeerHunter, and, IIRC, that CVA barrel and a lock & some hardware. He only wanted a small bit of cash to finish the deal. Mike has always been someone I've respected a great deal. The "rugrat" is 25" X 15/16" X .45 and weighs 6 lbs 2 oz; the short, heavy barrel gives it perfect balance and lop works for my small stature. One thing I really like about it is the flat breech. The barrel has no markings and mike had no clue who made it.
The heavy barrel gives just enough muzzle weight for steady aiming and I've always done well in postal matches where this is the rifle I normally use. The lock is percussion and a good one at that. After a few years the trigger developed a problem. What occurred was the trigger, when set, was way too light for my liking and for safety. This coming from a shooter whose other rifles range from 11oz to 15oz when set. Some of them I even mostly fire unset as those guns are adjusted to my liking. The rugrats trigger is in the same range, unset, as the others are when set!
The little rifle has never been hunting in all the years I've owned it. Targets are all it has ever punched. Not saying I'll never give in to temptation because I've had a tough time leaving it at home over the years. The square cut rifling is nicely deep and the twist is just right. 60 grains of 3F shoots much better than I ever will. I've polished the crown so it will easily load the tight prb combo that I prefer. I've since blackened the brass but think I'll polish it off; it looks better in brass color.
I'm so used to hunting with flintlocks that flinters have done all the hunting for many years. See; my .45 underhammer is now a wall hanger and the .54 - an amazingly accurate jewel that has taken deer in the past - weighs 10-1/2 lbs. Yep, only that one, little percussion available for shooting on anything resembling a regular basis. I suppose that makes me "percussion poor" these days.
Anyone else got a story about a capgun(s) they'd like to relate? Come on, I know you're out there!
Wonderful job on the rifle!