Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military auction! This is a simply MASSIVE "Pennsylvania" percussion hunting rifle, often referred to as a "Kentucky" rifle. The design developed in Pennsylvania, and then spread down the Ohio River Valley to Kentucky, where it was very popular. This is a really substantially sized example, featuring a 35 ¼ inch long octagonal barrel with HUGE bore of about 0.75", with heavy 7 groove rifling. Overall length is 50 inches, and the barrel is relatively heavy for accurate shooting, much like "bench rest" rifles of the day, and it weighs in at just under 14 pounds!

The rifle has a beautiful full length "tiger" or "flame" figured maple stock, a very common wood to use on Pennsylvania rifles, and the mountings are of brass and iron. The stock still features the iconic gently sweeping curve of the wrist of the style, but it is far more substantially made to support the massive barrel. Rifles like this are often made for sharpshooting or target use, but with such a huge bore, we almost think it would have been used to take down buffalo or other large game! Definitely a very interesting example, unlike any we have seen before!

As with many rifles produced during this period, it is fitted with a "trade lock", in this case marked by a somewhat remarkable British maker:

R.T. PRITCHETT
LONDON

Robert Taylor Pritchett (24 February 1828 – 16 June 1907) was a true Renaissance man, being a remarkable gun manufacturer and innovator, as well as a renowned artist and illustrator. He painted royal ceremonies for Queen Victoria, and he illustrated Darwin's The Voyage of the Beagle. As a firearms designer he worked with William Ellis Metford, developing a new type of bullet, and he received quite a bit of business from the East India Company. As with many British gunmakers of the time, he also was involved in trade to the United States, sending locks and later was a supplier during the U.S. Civil war. We checked the rest of the rifle, and there are no other markings that we can see.

As with most hunting rifles, this example is fitted with a "set trigger", where depressing the rear trigger first until it clicks and just touching the front trigger discharges the weapon, hopefully with great accuracy. It is fully functional at present, and the lock can be fired without "setting" the rear trigger, but it takes a long trigger pull with a bit of effort. It does have a functional half cock position, and will not fire from there even if the trigger is set.

The rifle is in overall very good condition, with wear commensurate with age and service. It features an interesting "Loop" back sight with a front sight that looks to be made from horn or bone. The bore still shows strong rifling, with a partly bright finish. There is some oxidation and fouling present in the grooves, but nothing major. The metalwork shows a lovely aged patina, showing surface oxidation and peppering, but no major rust. There is a wooden ramrod under the barrel, which looks to be a working life replacement.

The stock is lovely, with great tight "tiger flame" throughout. There is a very nice cheek piece on the left side of the butt stock. There is a bit of cracking towards the rear of the lock plate and around the left side plate, however these do not look to be structural. There is a bit of gouging on the right butt stock, and what look to be two small chiseled holes in the left side, the purpose of which we do not understand.

A truly MASSIVE .75" bore Pennsylvania Percussion target rifle with a lovely stock and a great set trigger. Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1850
Caliber: approx .75" with 7 groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 35 ¼ Inches
Overall Length: 50 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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