Original Item: One of a Kind. This is truly splendid! This is a fantastic double barreled "Over & Under" percussion rifle, with a swivel, or "turnover" breech design. This allowed one lock to be used for both barrels, and is definitely something we only see on more high end examples. Both 35 1/2" long barrels are in approximately .39 CALIBER with 8 groove rifling, a very common chambering for "Pennsylvania" rifles, and the rifle is 51 1/2" in overall length. As we often see with over and under rifles, it is not fitted with any type of fore stock, just a fantastic "Tiger Flame" figured maple butt stock with a carved in cheek piece. The brass butt plate is heavily hooked, and the left side carries an oval engraved escutcheon with small "hunting horn" at one end. The other side has a lovely engraved oval patch box, which still opens easily.

The rifle is clearly maker marked on the lock plate amidst some lovely foliate engraving:-

PENNSYLVANIA
RIFLE WORKS

This was a mid 19th Century factory operated by George and Robert Dunlap from 1837 to 1858, located in Philadephia. Pennsylvania Rifle Works is often associated with the Pennsylvania (or "Kentucky") Rifle tradition, sometimes referred to as the "American Longrifle. The company produced high-quality muzzleloading, percussion, and long-barreled rifles with detailed craftsmanship, such as engraved over-under combination guns.

We estimate that this octagonal barrel over & under rifle was made about 1850, and it does have some great engravings on some of the components. It features all brass alloy mountings except for the decoration on the cheek piece, and has the usual "pistol grip" style trigger guard, which is relatively plain, but definitely of quality construction. There are also brass ramrod pipes on the sides of the barrel assembly, which have display replacement ramrods mounted, which are plain wood without any fittings. There is a long metal backstrap on the top of the butt stock, which has a button on top to unlock the swivel breech so that it can turn over. This is fully functional, though it can stick a bit at times.

As with most Pennsylvania 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, this example does not have any provision for a half cock position. The hammer is cocked, and then cannot be fired until the rear trigger is "set", after which a very light touch of the front trigger discharges the lock. The rear trigger can be set first, but that would defeat the purpose of setting the trigger, and also be unsafe.

We checked the bores, and both are in very good condition, with with clear rifling and a partly bright finish, showing wear to the lands from use, as well as some powder fouling and oxidation. Both barrels are fitted with nickel silver front sights, and simple notch rear sights. Overall condition is very nice, showing a lightly oxidized patina on the metalwork, with some signs of past removed oxidation. The "Tiger Flame" maple butt stock is beautiful, and has a high degree of chatoyancy in the light. It does not show any major damage, and really has a lovely color.

A fantastic Pennsylvania Over & Under swivel breech rifle by a known Philadelphia maker, ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1850
Caliber (Both Barrels): approx .39" eight groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 35 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 51 1/2 Inches
Action type: Back Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading Swivel Breech

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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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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.