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 relatively thin with a lovely gently sweeping curve, which along with the three screw side plate around the patch box cover is a hallmark of the Lancaster area.

The rifle features all brass mountings, including a lovely patch box on the right side of the stock, which has a small oval door. The rifle features a 39 inch long octagonal barrel with a bore of about 0.38", with heavy 7 groove rifling. Overall length is 55 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", however due to past oxidation and cleaning, we can no longer see the markings under the cap nipple cone bolster. There is a "flash guard" installed around the nipple cone, but it does not seem to have been able to prevent oxidation from occurring on the lock plate and barrel breech. 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 cannot be fired without "setting" the rear trigger. 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 an adjustable rear "buckhorn" style sight, though the adjustment wedge is currently stuck, and the front has a very nice silver blade sight. The bore still shows strong rifling, with a mostly bright finish. The grooves are a bit dark, probably due to fouling, oxidation, and dirt. The metalwork shows a lovely aged patina, with some past pitting and peppering visible. There is a wooden ramrod under the barrel, which looks to be a working life or display replacement.

The stock is lovely, with great chatoyancy throughout. There is a very nice cheek piece on the left side of the butt stock. The fore stock shows some staining, but unlike most we see, there is not any cracking we can see. The figured maple is somewhat delicate, so cracking is common, making this one of the few examples we have had that still has a nice solid stock.

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

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1840
Caliber: approx .38" with 7 groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 39 Inches
Overall Length: 55 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.