Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military auction! Here is an octagonal barreled very substantial percussion target rifle. It is in one of the standard calibers we usually see these in, .43", and has a very heavy octagonal barrel with six groove rifling. These were intended for target shooting, or sometimes hunting, fired from a prone position. The heavy weight reduced recoil significantly, while also increasing accuracy.

The front of the barrel is fitted with a 1" long "false muzzle" or muzzle protector. This device was made to help with loading of the rifle, while at the same time protecting the front of the barrel and the main bore of the gun. It helps to form the bullet to the rifling, and is somewhat tapered internally, reducing wear to the bore at the muzzle, which impedes accuracy. The rifling inside matches the rifling of the barrel exactly. It is also keyed so that it cannot be installed incorrectly, and has a ball on the top so that the shooter can see through the sights if it is still installed. Firing with it on the front of the barrel would send it flying.

The top of the barrel is marked N. DELANY, for Nelson Delany, a well known Pennsylvania Gunsmith in the mid 19th century. He first operated out of Bethlehem, PA, before moving to Reading, PA, and made firearms circa 1847 to 1885.

The rifle was made using a British percussion "trade" lock marked clearly on the side:

British references list this maker as Richard Ashmore, lockmaker, located in the village of Wednesbury, Straffordshire County, England. He was active 1827-1855, and had a military contract for locks in 1838. He exported a lot of locks to the United States, and many examples of Pennsylvania / Kentucky Rifles have been made using them.

We estimate that this octagonal barrel rifle was made about 1855, and it features iron mountings of the trigger guard, butt plate and barrel tang. The nose cap, side plate, and barrel wedge escutcheons are "German Silver" cupronickel alloy instead. It also has an adjustable spring steel rest on the bottom of the butt stock, which has a brass turn screw for adjustment, which has a storage hole behind the rear sight.

The rear sight itself is a nice brass "peep" aperture sight, with a globe front sight inside a tube. There looks to originally have been an adjustment piece for the rear sight, but it is now missing. The half length stock is lovely, made of very nice black walnut, complete with carved in cheek piece on left side of the Butt Stock. There is a replacement wooden dowel in the place of the original ramrod, which are almost always missing. The bore is in great shape, clean with bright finish and clear rifling, showing only light use.

As with most target 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 is really close to a "hair trigger". It should only be set once the lock is fully cocked and ready to use due to how sensitive it is.

These sharpshooting rifles became the back bone of the opposing armies in the following Civil War. The first war where shooting with deadly accuracy made a real impression. A fine pre Civil War weapon that possibly got forced into combat, especially on the Confederate side. Ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1855
Caliber: approx .43" six groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 33 Inches
Overall Length: 50 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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.