Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military auction! This is a wonderful heavy barreled "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. The thin curved stock design was popular for close to 100 years in the region.

This is a great example, with a lovely "Tiger" flamed maple stock, which has a beautiful finish and features all brass mountings. The rifle features a 39 1/4 inch long octagonal barrel with a bore of about 0.39", very common for these rifles, cut with six groove rifling. Overall length is 51 inches, and the barrel is very heavy for accurate shooting, much like "bench rest" rifles of the day. Overall condition is very good, with a lovely look and no major issues.

We checked the rifle thoroughly, but we were not able to locate any maker or other markings on the barrel or elsewhere. As with many rifles produced during this period, it is most likely fitted with a "trade lock", produced elsewhere and sold on the market. There is some floral engraving at the front and rear of the lock, with a large blank space in the middle, which is often where a retailer would mark the lock, however this one is still blank. It definitely looks to have been produced in percussion, as we can see no evidence of a removed pan or frizzen.

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. The mechanism is fully functional on this example, and the lock cannot be fired at all until the rear trigger is "set". For this reason there is no half cock position on the tumbler.

The barrel features a German Silver blade front sight and a simple fixed "flat-top" rear sight. We checked the bore, and unfortunately it was not cleaned after the last time it was used, leading to oxidation taking hold on the interior, which has made it impossible to see any of the rifling, if it still exists. Many guns in this situation would end up being smoothbored to use as fowling pieces, however this still has the original bore.

The stock is lovely, showing the "Tiger Flame" figuring clearly throughout much its length, and even some "burl" and "birdseye" type grain figuring. It is fitted with a lovely brass hook butt plate, and has a carved in German style cheek piece on the left side. There is also a lovely patch box on the right hand side of the butt stock. The brass trigger guard is very nice, and is with most we see, has a "pistol grip" style finial for a better grip. There is some stress cracking on the stock, but no major breaks or repairs we can see except for a crack on the left side right next to the nose cap. The cleaning rod is a display replacement.

A very nice example of an iconic early American gun design, with a beautiful stock and set trigger. Ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1850
Caliber: approx .36" seven groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 39 1/4 Inches
Overall Length: 54 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.