Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military auction! This is a very nice "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 great example, with a beautiful full length "tiger" or "flame" figured maple stock, a very common wood to use on Pennsylvania rifles. The stock is quite thin with a lovely gently sweeping curve, which along with the ornate side plate around the patch box cover is a hallmark of the Lancaster area.

The rifle features all brass mountings, including a lovely spring loaded patch box on the right side of the stock, opened by sliding up the release on the rear of the butt plate. The rifle features a 37 ½inch long octagonal barrel with a bore of about 0.37", with heavy 7 groove rifling. Overall length is 52 ¼ inches, and the barrel is relatively heavy for accurate shooting, much like "bench rest" rifles of the day.

As with many rifles produced during this period, it is fitted with a "trade lock", in this case marked LONDON / WARRANTED. There were numerous lock makers in England pumping out large numbers of locks for the export market, where they was definitely a need. 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 with a bit of effort. There is no half cock position due to this.

The rifle is in overall very good condition, with wear commensurate with age and service. It features a simple rear notch sight with a front brass blade sight, with no signs that other sights were present in the past. The bore still shows strong rifling, with a partly bright finish. There is some oxidation and fouling present in the grooves. The metalwork shows a lovely aged patina, though there is a bit of dried grease and staining present overall. There is a wooden ramrod under the barrel, which looks to be a working life replacement.

The stock is lovely, with great chatoyancy throughout. There is a very nice cheek piece on the left side of the butt stock. As we often see due to how long and thin Pennsylvania rifles are, there is cracking on the fore stock, in this case on both sides over much of their length, which has been repaired. Towards the front this looks to have been done with wood filler, and in front of the lock there is a large wood graft repair, which was unfortunately not executed with flamed maple wood. There is also some cracking and repairs around the lock plate area, as well as by the side plate.

A very nice Pennsylvania Percussion Hunting rifle with a lovely stock and a great set trigger. Ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1845
Caliber: approx .37" with 7 groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 37 ½ Inches
Overall Length: 52 ¼ Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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