Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military auction! This is a very nice U.S. Civil War era heavy barreled percussion target rifle, typical of those used by early Yankee / Union sharpshooters during the conflict. This is most unusual in that it was made in the style of a Pennsylvania long rifle, sometimes referred to as a "Kentucky Rifle", with a full length CURLY MAPLE stock and all brass mounts. It features a 36 inch long octagonal barrel with 7 groove rifling and a bore of .43", one of the typical sizes seen for Pennsylvania rifles. Overall length is 53" and the barrel is very 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 TRUITT BROS & CO. Research indicates that Truitt Brothers & Company operated in Philadelphia as "Importers and wholesale dealers in foreign and domestic hardware". They are listed as operating during the 1850s and 1860s, and it is very possible that the lock is in fact a British trade lock, marked by the company before sale.
The top facet of the barrel is stamped on the breech end with J & D LITTLE, a known barrel supplier and gun maker based in Bellefonte, PA, operating in the mid 19th Century. The top of the barrel is also signed by the maker who built the gun, J. Hetrick & Co., in elegant cursive script behind the rear sight, though the marking is somewhat hard to see. John Hetrick (1828-1896) operated shop on Third Street in Newark, Ohio circa 1850-1870. This is exactly the correct period one would expect to see for an early Civil War sharpshooter's rifle.
As with most target and sharpshooter 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 rear trigger must be "set" before the lock will fire at all. There is no half cock position due to this.
The rifle is in overall very good condition, with wear commensurate with age and service. The stocks on "Pennsylvania" style rifles are somewhat thin, so cracking is common and this example is no exception. There are stock cracks on both ends of the lock plate, as well as on both sides of the fore stock along the grain lines. Tiger maple is very attractive, but not the strongest wood due to the compressed grain pattern. The bore is in good condition, with with strong rifling and and some light oxidation and fouling in the grooves. There is a simple wooden cleaning rod installed, which is just for display.
This fine rifle very likely was pressed into service in the early part of the Civil War by the Union. A very fine example in very collectable condition.
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: c.1858
Caliber: approx .43" eight groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 36 Inches
Overall Length: 52 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.
- This product is available for international shipping.
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.
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