Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original circa 1850 Pennsylvania style percussion rifle with a full length flame figured maple stock, heavy octagonal barrel, brass furniture, set trigger, and a percussion lock marked H. E. LEMAN / LANCASTER.PA. The overall architecture is consistent with Lancaster County rifle making, though it cannot be determined whether Henry E. Leman manufactured the entire rifle or whether one of his locks was incorporated into a rifle made by another gunsmith.

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 rifle is marked on the lock plate:

H. E LEMAN
LANCASTER.PA

for Henry E. Leman of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Leman was a well regarded Lancaster maker associated with a wide range of percussion rifles and other arms during the 19th century. No additional maker markings are visible on the metalwork. Because of that, the lock marking alone does not conclusively establish that Leman made the entire rifle. The stock architecture, however, is consistent with Lancaster County styling, including the three screw hinge arrangement on the patch box.

The rifle is built around a 38 1/4" heavy octagonal barrel with an approximate bore diameter of .43". Overall length is approximately 53 1/2". The bore is cut with heavy seven groove rifling.

The full length stock is made from highly attractive flame figured maple. In strong light the striped grain shows pronounced chatoyancy, giving the wood a shifting three dimensional appearance. The stock has darkened considerably with age, which makes the figuring less obvious in some areas but especially striking where the light catches it.

The rifle is brass mounted throughout and fitted with a brass nose cap, pistol grip style trigger guard, butt furniture, and a hinged patch box on the left side of the buttstock. The patch box uses three screws at the hinge, a construction detail consistent with Lancaster County styling. The left side of the stock also incorporates a cheek piece with an inlaid nickel silver alloy Hunter’s Star.

The lock was manufactured as a percussion lock rather than being converted from flintlock. A small brass plate is fitted to the stock immediately in front of the lock to help protect the wood in the area exposed to powder and primer residue.

The rifle is fitted with a double set trigger system. In its present condition, the rear trigger must first be set before the hammer will catch. Once set, light pressure on the front trigger releases the lock. There is no functioning half cock position as the mechanism is presently configured. The set trigger and lock mechanism function in this manner during hand testing. These observations describe only present mechanical operation and are not an indication that the rifle is safe to fire.

The nipple cone and bolster show oxidation and corrosion from old percussion residue. The nearby stock also shows localized erosion where it was exposed to powder and primer gases over years of use. The bore retains clearly visible seven groove rifling. There is old fouling and oxidation in portions of the grooves, but the rifling remains strong and no major areas of severe corrosion or other bore damage were observed.

The maple stock remains in very good condition overall and retains much of its old finish, which has darkened substantially with age. No major repairs were observed. There is cracking near the forward portion of the trigger guard and additional cracking ahead of the lock plate. Localized wood erosion is also present near the nipple cone.

A wooden rod is fitted beneath the barrel, but it is decorative only and should not be considered a functional or original ramrod.

With its Henry E. Leman marked percussion lock, Lancaster County style architecture, long heavy octagonal barrel, strong seven groove rifling, double set trigger, brass furniture, Hunter’s Star cheek piece inlay, and especially attractive flame figured maple full stock, this is a very appealing mid 19th century Pennsylvania rifle. The uncertain attribution of the complete rifle to Leman, trigger mechanism requiring the rear trigger to be set, absent functional half cock position, nipple and bolster corrosion, stock cracks and erosion, and decorative wooden rod are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Pennsylvania rifle, Lancaster County long rifle, Henry E. Leman, percussion sporting arm, or advanced 19th century American firearms collection.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1850
Caliber: about 0.43" - Seven Groove Rifling
Cartridge Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 38 1/4 Inches
Overall Length: 53 1/2 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.