Original Item: Only One Available. Just purchased at a recent military auction! This is a very nice heavy barreled "Pennsylvania" percussion 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 full length "tiger flame" maple stock and all brass mounts. The rifle features a 34 inch long octagonal barrel with 8 groove rifling and a bore of .50", one of the larger sizes seen for Pennsylvania rifles. Overall length is 50 1/4" 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", and in this case the lock plate is marked with the manufacturer information (partly worn away):

This is a known maker of locks in Pittsburgh, which we have seen on Pennsylvania rifles before. The top facet of the barrel is stamped near the breech end with Wm CRAIG — PITTSBURGH, for known gunmaker William Craig, who worked in Pennsylvania during the 1850s, associated with Daniel J. McDonald and Iron City Gun Works. Pittsburgh was known as "Iron City" at the time, and we have seen other guns made by this smith. Definitely some nice research potential here. There is also an 1879 date punch stamped on the top of the barrel by the initials HP, probably from an owner at that time.

The rifle has lovely fittings, mostly of brass, including a great "hook" butt plate and a lovely patch box on the right side of the stock. The trigger guard and nose cap are also brass, however there are decorative nickel silver escutcheons down both sides of the fore stock, and some small decorative inlays on other parts of the rifle. There is also a magnificent engraved Federal Eagle on an oval plate attached to the cheek piece of the butt stock.

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, especially with the heavy barrel. The "flame figured" wood is also quite prone to cracking due to the grain patterns. It cracked through the lock screw area long ago, which was expertly repaired. This also looks to have caused damage to the barrel tang. Since then there has been some additional cracking, such as on the left side barrel wood line. Otherwise the stock is lovely, with the "tiger flame" easily visible. The bore is in very good condition, with with strong rifling and a bright finish. It does show some wear and past oxidation, so this rifle definitely did see some level of use during its service life. There is a simple wooden rod fitted under the barrel, which is for display only.

A very nice example of a "Pennsylvania rifle" with some fantastic adornments, ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1855
Caliber: approx .50" eight groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 34 Inches
Overall Length: 40 1/4 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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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. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.