I got to fondle an antique.

[hotfxr]

I was asked to help identify a muzzleloader rifle that was given to a local historical society. It was found by a homeowner who had purchased an old ranch house and I am about 99% sure it is a genuine antique. It is a plains (half stock) rifle with  a 37" barrel and what was at one time a nice curly maple stock. I was able to take a picture of the lock, but they wouldn't let me take any other pictures of it just yet. After they found out that I do indeed know what I am doing handling an antique firearm, the curator has to go before the museum board to get approval for me to work on it. The stock is cracked and has been repaired with bailing wire, the ramrod is broken along with the hammer spring. However the bore, although rough and pitted isn't really that bad.
The lock let me identify the maker and era.



The rifle was made by J Henry & Son made somewhere between (from what I could find on the 'net) 1855 to 1860. It was a higher end sporting buffalo rifle. As soon as the museum board decides I am not a serial antique destroyer and turns me loose on it, I will take more pictures. If they let me restore it, I will take pictures of that too.

[Patocazador]

I sure hope they OK you 'cause I want to see more of it. 

[doggoner]

Good luck with the project if you get to do the work. Please keep the board informed and PICTURES are mandatory of course! You will not be reprimanded for the fondling but drooling is frowned upon.

doggoner

[Red Badger]

Good luck with the project if you get to do the work. Please keep the board informed and PICTURES are mandatory of course! You will not be reprimanded for the fondling but drooling is frowned upon.

doggoner

What he said.... 

[Hanshi]

WOW!  I do hope they let you repair that rifle.  I'm as excited about seeing more pictures as the others.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you, bro.

Ahem!  I will be happy to vouch for you to the board.  I'll list my qualifications as someone to give a expert recommendation....    Uhhh...Don't do that and don't even mention that you even know me; I might not be able to furnish your bail.  You have a reputation to protect.  'Bout all I got are "street creds".   

[hotfxr]

WOW!  I do hope they let you repair that rifle.  I'm as excited about seeing more pictures as the others.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you, bro.

Ahem!  I will be happy to vouch for you to the board.  I'll list my qualifications as someone to give a expert recommendation....    Uhhh...Don't do that and don't even mention that you even know me; I might not be able to furnish your bail.  You have a reputation to protect.  'Bout all I got are "street creds".   

Some folks have college funds, some actually have retirement savings. I am blessed by having a few friends who maintain bail accounts in a few different states for me. Given my proclivity for rash decisions, instant retaliation, and a general disdain for most rules and regulations, it has been a wise (if underutilized) investment.

Fortunately I have been able to keep my darker side well hidden from most civilians who are under the illusion that I am semi normal. 

[Hanshi]

I don't know, I just always hated "normal". 

[hotfxr]

I don't know, I just always hated "normal". 

It's highly overrated!   

[flintboomer]

I don't know, I just always hated "normal". 

It's highly overrated!   

If we were "NORMAL" we probably wouldn't be frequenting this forum! 

[William]

Good luck with the project if you get to do the work. Please keep the board informed and PICTURES are mandatory of course! You will not be reprimanded for the fondling but drooling is frowned upon.

doggoner

IBID; I gotta see more!

[hotfxr]

Yeeha! I got the go ahead to work on this beast. I am still cleaning up from some minor flooding in the house so it looks like after Xmas I will start on bringing this old shooter back to some semblance of life. I found out that one of the biggest roadblocks to my getting access to it was a few board members that were aghast, horrified, and shocked that there would be a GUN in the museum. Lock up the women and children and bar the doors. Goodness knows that no one ever needed a gun in the US 150 years ago.

[old salt]

I once had the privilege of working on a few museum guns. I was able to ID all but one. There were no id marks on  it so I just called it a barn gun. After the museum changed admin people I was told that there was never any guns called barns by a woman that dose not even have high school education.
I can not tell you what friend told her as this is a family site



Old Salt

[hotfxr]

I got it! After several months of the boards deliberations over even having an accursed firearm in the museum, They decided to let me have my way with it.
Not much time today so I will show a few pictures of what I am dealing with. Details to come later.

Here it is;



Bad repair!



Looks bad, but I think I can fix it without losing the "Patina" of it's age and usage.



Stupid camera.



Broken spring, already replaced. Had one that was the correct size and it fit with only a small bit of grinding.



I have a long way to go and more pics to share. It is at this time that I wish my old friend and mentor, Mongrel, was still here on this forum. Being that he is a human encyclopedia as far as muzzleloaders go, I would dearly love his input and advice on this project.

[beowulf]

looks like a lot of rifles that came out of ohio ! looks a lot like an s.l.walker piece !

[hotfxr]

looks like a lot of rifles that came out of ohio ! looks a lot like an s.l.walker piece !

It was made by J. Henry & Son in Pennsylvania somewhere around 1850. This was the sport version of their Indian trade gun in .52 caliber. The trade guns were smoothbore and had a plain lock stamped with J.Henry & ?Son. The sport rifles had deep rifling, a patch box, and used P.S.J. & Co locks.