Mid 1800's Tennessee Long Rifle
Item #: AA2462
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This is a full stock Tennessee long rifle manufactured by an unknown gunsmith. This percussion rifle measures 59 1/2" in length with a 42 1/2" octagon barrel. The barrel has a dark plum patina with light pitting and surface rust from the barrel tang all the way to the muzzle. The barrel is retained to the stock by iron pins. The rifled bore is .45 caliber and is dark, but is not pitted. The rear buck horn style sight is dovetailed into the barrel 13" forward of the breech. The front sight is a German silver blade design, also dovetailed into the barrel. There are no visible stamps or markings on the barrel, but it has not been removed from the stock. The three iron ramrod thimbles are securely attached to the stock using iron pins. The lock plate is stamped Wm.R. SOWERS/WARRANTED, and has some simple floral designs. The mechanics of the lock have some issues, not locking in the cocked position at times. It has been converted from flint to percussion using the drum in barrel technique. The trigger and set trigger do not function and will require work. The trigger guard and ram rod thimble are made of iron, the ramrod is a modern replacement. The barrel, lock, trigger guard and thimble have the same dark plum patina. The stock is a medium brown color and is made of walnut. There are three noticeable areas of wood loss, on the right front of the stock where the nose cap would be located, forward of and to the rear of the lock plate. This gun does not have a nose cap and it never did. The barrel channel and ram rod channel edges are crisp. This old smoke pole has been around since the early 1800's, been converted to percussion and has managed to survive quite well.
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