This is a percussion, full stock, heavy barreled plains rifle from the mid 1800's. It has an overall length of 44", with a barrel length of 29". The brown octagon to round barrel has no visible markings or stamps. The bore is .45 caliber and is dark with light pitting, the rifling is still very good. The lockplate has an engraving of a hunter and a bird in a wooded setting behind the hammer. Forward of the hammer is a partial scroll with the letters SHER still visible. It's gonna take a little detective work to figure out who made the lock. The barrel is retained by three iron pins, one of which is missing, and two tang screws. The ramrod pipes are secured to the stock by pins also. The wooden ramrod has been with this gun forever. The rear sight is a simple buck horn type. The front sight is a German silver blade type and dove tailed into the barrel. The mechanics of the lock work fine. The use of the set trigger makes the primary trigger very touchy! The butt plate, trigger guard, ramrod thimbles, side plate, nose cap and patch box are brass. All the brass has taken on a chocolate patina. The patchbox has some ornate engraving, the remainder of the brass furniture is plain. The stock is in good condition, showing a small loss of wood at the rear barrel retaining pin. There is a small amount of wood loss at the barrel channel on both sides at the nose cap. There are no cracks in the stock. I believe this is a Lancaster style rifle from the Pennsylvania or Ohio area. This rifle came out of the Ben Michele collection.

Item # AA2083

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