Unknown Make Full-Stock Percussion Tennessee Double Set Trigger, Browned 43” Single Shot Rifle & Extras, MFD 1870’s Antique
SOLD
LSB#: 160722GC02
Make: Unknown
Model: Full-Stock Percussion Rifle
Serial Number: NSN
Year of Manufacture: 1840-1870
Caliber: .36 Caliber Cap and Ball (The bore measures 0.361” across the grooves.)
Action Type: Single Shot Muzzleloading Percussion Rifle
Markings: There are no markings that we could find.
Barrel Length: The octagon barrel is 43” in length and measures 0.876” flat-flat at the muzzle.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short German silver blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a leaf with a wide square notch with a tiny “V” notch in the bottom that is dovetailed into the top of the barrel. The square notch is very wide and almost resembles a semi-buckhorn except the top of the notch is flat instead of curved.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one-piece walnut with a small wrist, thin comb and a grooved cheekpiece on the left side of the buttstock. There is a steel crescent shaped buttplate on the butt with upper and lower tangs that are inlet into the buttstock. The forend extends forwards to the muzzle, where it is capped with a steel nosecap. The bottom of the forend is grooved for storage of a ramrod, and has two steel hangers in the front half of the forend and a brass pipe in the back half of the forend where the rod disappears into the forend. There is a crack through both sides of the buttstock that extends across the bottom rear corner of the buttstock from the buttplate to its lower tang. There are a few scrapes in the left rear of the buttstock and a few dings in the right rear. There are numerous light scrapes and dings along the sides of the forend. The LOP measures 13 ¼” from the front of the forward trigger and 12” from the front of the rear trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has developed a thick plum colored patina with scabs of solid erosion. The buttplate is in about Fair condition. The stock rates in about Fair to Good condition.
Type of Finish: We think the rifle was originally blued with a case colored lockplate.
Finish Originality: There are no signs that the rifle was refinished.
Bore Condition: The bore is dark with light wear in the rifling. We didn’t see any erosion, but we couldn’t see very far down the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0% of its metal finish. The metal parts have all developed a thick plum colored patina with spots of solid erosion. There are a few scratches through the patina in the top of the barrel in front of the rear sight. There are several dings and scratches in the front foot of the barrel and a few tiny dings and a scratch through the patina at the back of the barrel. There is pitting under the patina at the back of the barrel, and in the lockplate, hammer and trigger guard. The nipple is disfigured with erosion. About half of the screw heads are disfigured. There are no markings. The forend is loose on the barrel. The forend is supposed to be held to the barrel with pins through small plates which are dovetailed into the barrel. The plates have come out of their dovetails and are laying on the top of the forend under the barrel, held by their pins. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer does not have a half-cock safety position. With the rear trigger set, the front trigger breaks crisply and with very little pressure required. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: There is a wooden cleaning rod about 44.5” long stored under the forend that extends about 2” past the end of the muzzle when it is screwed-in. The rod is cut-off square at one end and is threaded at the other. The rod shows a few small spots of oil staining and is in about Good condition. The rifle also comes with an animal hide possibles bag containing a cloth pouch with ten .36 caliber lead round balls, a lead ball mold, a small tin with three .30 caliber bullets, a piece of brown cloth to be used as patches, a wooden starter ball, a badly eroded rifle hammer, a tin of gun grease, a tin of Remington/UMC percussion caps (approximately 12) and a piece of leather that looks like it was once used to reinforce the back of the possibles bag where a strap was attached. Please see our pictures for a better description than we can ever put in words.
Our Assessment: This is a “plain” percussion Tennessee-style rifle chambered in .36 caliber. It has a one piece full-length stock with a crescent shaped steel buttplate and a steel nosecap. A wooden cleaning rod and/or ramrod is stored under the forend. The rifle is equipped with double set triggers. This is a nice example of a nineteenth century rifle that was used for hunting. It is not very fancy, but as a working rifle used for hunting, its important attribute was accuracy, not looks, and its long barrel and double set triggers gave it the accuracy it needed. The rifle is in about Good condition. The action works correctly, but the plates that are dovetailed into the barrel that hold the forend to the barrel have come out of their dovetails, leaving the forend loose on the barrel. This rifle would look great in a collection of other early American flintlock and percussion rifles, and comes with a vintage possibles bag full of goodies to form a complete package for the experienced collector who wants to add a little authenticity to his/her collection.
