Help identifying this rifle

[TLitton]

Hi
I pick just up this very old looking inline muzzleloader up a few weeks ago. At first look from a distance I thought it was a old 22 or toy gun by just looking at the bolt and spring in the back. After looking around in the shop and glancing up at the wall again I notice size of the barrel. asking the shopkeeper if I can take a closer peek at the rife. It was just something weird about it having an old antique patina . barrel band had a hammered surface. As for the rear bolts when pulled back you could see the nipple. Their are no markings that I could see. The wood stock is not machine made you can tell in few places it wasn't completely sanded down right in hard-to-reach places. The bore is 10.4mm and with an endoscope I could see some faint riffling or grooves. The ram rod has a worm made on the end and doesn't screw come off like modern ones .This gun has all traits of being very old but this is a design I never seen before

someone at some time installed thumbtacks on the gun to make it look more like a trade rifle


Could someone help me find information on this

 

[dbowling]

looks homemade maybe, definitely a wallhanger whatever it is.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I think you may have something home made. an inline "plunger" style that old is very cool. I would be looking to antique fire arms guys for some info.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

Can you get the barrel out of the stock? Maybe there are some markings under there. Im super intrigued by that thing.

 

[deermanok]

Welcome from Oklahoma. Looks like a cool old gun. I like the duel bolt knobs. For right or left hand shooters, Lol

 

[TLitton]

I did try muzzleloader forum first they would not comment on inlines. They said it was forbidden on there site even thought in my research inline's been around since before 1860's. I have not taken the barrel off because it has punch pins ( that's what I call them ) like my 1831 Pennsylvania rifle has. Those pins are driven through the stock to lock the barrel in place. This gun will set on the shelf for a while. Until I finish with the other guns

 

[deermanok]

Yes, the other site has pretty strict rules as to what it acceptable for discussion. Traditional sidelock rifles, pistols, flint or percussion only. No scopes, modern bullets, etc.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I was thinking you might check out places like armscollectors.com or oldguns.net. They'll most likely be more helpful than the traditional muzzleloader forum guys.

 

[bandicoot]

My advice would be : Destroy It! Before someone tries to use it and gets maimed or killed.

 

[MrTom]

Looks pretty primative. Also. it appears that a wood screw is in the stock based on the picture showing the end of the receiver. If I had this I'd clean it up as best I could and hang it on the wall. I'd also attempt to find out if it is indeed a home brewed contraption or if the gun was actually made for use. Sometimes the history behind these things can be quite interesting.

 

[Matthew323]

Email or call Doc White.

He has made working replicas of the original percussion inline rifles from the late 1830's/early 1840's.

www.whitemuzzleloading.com

 

[Confederate rifleman]

My advice would be : Destroy It! Before someone tries to use it and gets maimed or killed.

Granted it looks home made, but to destroy it? However unlikely, the poor thing might have been someone's " proof of concept". Making it inert? Yes. Destroy it? I wouldn't.