Green River Rifle Works Leman Trade Rifle .58 Cal Percussion ATF Antique
SOLD FOR: $846.01
WOA#: WY240209TL003
Make: Green River Rifle Works (Carl Walker)
Model: Leman Trade Rifle
Serial#: 1561
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Caliber: .58
Action Type: Muzzleloading, percussion cap
Markings: The rear left side of the barrel is marked “1561”, “.58”, and with Carl Walker’s maker’s mark. The top of the barrel is marked “GRRW” and “Roosevelt, Utah”. The underside of the barrel rib is marked “1561”.
Barrel Length: Approximately 31”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a shallow blade dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch buckhorn blade dovetailed into the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The wood stock has a straight grip, pewter nose cap with cut out for the included ramrod, two ramrod pipes, left side cheek rest, and brass buttplate. The buttplate is worn at the heel and toe, with some oxidation on the top surface. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. The left side lock plate flat has more and deeper drag marks than the rest of the stock. There are also a few lines of discoloration. There is some slight discoloration on the underside of the stock. The underside of the buttstock has a couple spots of dried adhesive. The LOP measures 14” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Browned, brass
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with sharp rifling. There is moderate erosion in the bore and some stubborn fouling throughout.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 6 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. There are scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There is light wear along the edges of the barrel and areas of oxidation along the stockline. The brass trigger guard assembly has some spots of oxidation and tarnish. The trigger has multiple spots of oxidation and the finish on the front is mostly worn away. The screw heads show light use. The pins have some light to moderate marring. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The percussion cap nipple is missing and will need to be replaced to render the rifle functional. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This is an example of a Green River Rifle Works Leman Trade Rifle made in 1978 by Carl Walker, who was one of the main gun makers at Green River Rifle Works. Green River Rifle Works, or ‘GRRW’, was a black powder rifle maker based in Roosevelt, Utah during the 1970s. They were well-known for their Hawken and Leman style rifles, and offered a range of customization options. The 1970s and 80s saw a rise in the popularity for contemporary made Hawken style rifles, something on which GRRW strove to capitalize. GRRW’s success was short lived, however, and the company was forced into bankruptcy near the end of 1979. The stock on this example has some wear to it, though most of it is focused on the left side lock plate flat. The metal retains most of its finish with some areas of wear and oxidation throughout. The bore is gray with sharp rifling, but it has a lot of stubborn fouling that will need to be cleaned out before use. The rifle is missing its percussion nipple, which will need to be replaced before it can actually be used. This would fit into any contemporary percussion rifle collection. Please see our photos.
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