Original U.S. Pennsylvania Percussion Rifle by J. Hillegas with British Trade Lock - circa 1840
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Original Item: One of a Kind. This just came out of the attic after a hundred years of storage together with a couple of hundred other guns. Here is an octagonal barreled Rifled "Kentucky" style rifle, which more correctly is known as a Pennsylvania Rifle. It was actually constructed using a BRITISH TRADE percussion lock mechanism, which is marked JOSEPH / GOLCHER on the plate. Joseph Golcher of King Street, Darlston, Staffordshire, England was a British gunsmith who worked between 1834 and 1865.
This Imported Trade Percussion lock was then acquired by American Gunsmith, whose name is stamped onto the top of the barrel:
J. HILLEGAS
POTTSVILLE
Gunsmith Joseph Hillegas of Pottsville, Pennsylvania manufactured rifles from 1810 to 1841, and examples are scarce today. He crafted this long rifle using the imported trade lock, and set it very nicely into this stock with a heavy 35 1/2" octagonal Barrel in about .45 Caliber. It is 51" in overall length.
The hook butt plate, trigger guard and small side plate are made of brass. The rifle is half stocked and retains an all wood ramrod. Looking down the barrel it is hard to still see the rifling as this may have been poorly bored out maybe after wearing out it was bored out to be used as a birding shotgun.
Most attractive and ready to display!
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: c.1840
Caliber: approx .45" - now smooth bore
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 35 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 51 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading
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- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is available for international shipping.
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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.
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