Original Item: Only One Available. Recently acquired from a military auction, this is a particularly attractive Bedford County style Pennsylvania percussion long rifle attributed to noted gunsmith William Defibaugh. The rifle combines a heavy 33 1/2" octagonal .40 caliber barrel, seven groove rifling, double set trigger, extensive brass furniture, a graceful cheek piece, and a full length maple stock with striking flame figure throughout. Although the rifle itself is completely unmarked, the architecture, lock treatment, and especially the large decorative brass side plate have led to an attribution to William Defibaugh, a documented Bedford County gunsmith active during the middle decades of the 19th century.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The American long rifle developed from the Pennsylvania gunmaking tradition of the 18th century and gradually evolved into a number of distinctive regional schools. Bedford County, Pennsylvania became particularly well known for slender, graceful percussion rifles characterized by considerable drop at the heel, narrow stocks, distinctive lock and hammer profiles, and elegant brass furniture. These rifles retained the traditional full stock form well into the percussion era and were built for hunters, marksmen, and sporting use long after shorter half stock rifles had become common elsewhere.

This example measures 49" overall and is fitted with a heavy 33 1/2" octagonal barrel. The bore measures approximately .40" and contains seven groove rifling. The substantial barrel gives the rifle the purposeful appearance associated with later precision sporting rifles while retaining the graceful lines of the classic Pennsylvania long rifle.

The rifle is completely unmarked, so there is no signed maker's name or initial that allows a definitive attribution. However, the large decorated brass side plate, lock architecture, stock form, and other stylistic characteristics have been attributed to the work of William Defibaugh of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Defibaugh is well documented as a Bedford County gunsmith during this period, including in census, tax, and later directory records, and surviving signed rifles provide useful points of comparison.

William Defibaugh was active as a gunsmith by at least the mid 1840s. He appears as a gunsmith in the 1850 federal census and in Bedford County tax records during the early 1850s, making a circa 1850s date entirely consistent with his documented working period.

The full length maple stock is one of the strongest features of the rifle. It displays attractive flame figuring throughout, with considerable movement and chatoyancy as the wood is viewed from different angles. The stock has developed a warm red brown coloration that emphasizes the figure and gives the rifle considerable visual presence.

The brass furniture is equally appealing and includes a large decorative side plate, hooked crescent butt plate, ramrod pipes, and a pistol grip style trigger guard. A graceful cheek piece is carved into the left side of the butt stock, providing another characteristic feature of the regional long rifle tradition.

The rifle is fitted with a double set trigger. Pressing the rear trigger until it clicks sets the mechanism, after which only light pressure on the front trigger is required to release the hammer. Set trigger systems were widely favored on sporting and target rifles where a light and consistent trigger pull was desirable for deliberate shooting.

On this example, the rear trigger must be set before the lock will remain cocked at all. There is no functioning half cock position present. Once the rear trigger is set, the hammer will remain at full cock and the front trigger releases it correctly. This may reflect the original trigger and lock relationship or a later mechanical adjustment, but because there is no secure half cock position, the mechanism should be regarded as having a functional deficiency in its present condition.

The bore is in very good condition, retaining strong seven groove rifling and a mostly bright interior. There is some wear together with evidence of past oxidation and fouling, now largely cleaned away, indicating that the rifle saw genuine use during its working life.

Overall condition is very good, with wear consistent with age and service. As is often encountered on slender full stock rifles, the fore stock does show age related damage. A small section of wood is missing on the right side near the final ramrod pipe.

There is also a long crack measuring approximately 11" on the left side of the fore stock, beginning near the nose cap and running rearward approximately 1/4" below the upper wood line. The crack is clearly visible on close inspection and is fully disclosed.

A simple wooden rod is fitted beneath the barrel. This is a replacement intended for display and should not be considered the original ramrod.

With its beautifully flame figured full stock, heavy 33 1/2" octagonal barrel, seven groove .40 caliber bore, extensive brass furniture, decorative side plate, double set trigger, and graceful Bedford County architecture, this is an especially appealing example of the Pennsylvania percussion long rifle tradition. The documented presence of William Defibaugh as a Bedford County gunsmith during the 1850s makes the attribution worthy of continued study, while the rifle's strong regional character and exceptional wood make it desirable even apart from the maker question. It would fit particularly well in a collection of Pennsylvania long rifles, Bedford County gunmaking, American percussion sporting arms, or regional 19th century firearms.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1850s
Caliber: approx .40" seven groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 33 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 49 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

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.