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Post by jimh on Mar 4, 2012 11:47:32 GMT -5
ok guys I had someone contact me about a rifle that is supposing to be from the civil war. it belongs to a elder woman whom they take care of her finances for as she is now in a home. this rifle as the story goes belong to that woman's Grandfather. my friends know nothing of firearms at all and I plan on going over there and look it over and take photos to post so maybe some of you guys can start to point me in the right direction of what it truly is. my question is what points of interest do I need to concentrate on if there are no legible markings? I'm headed over there Tue night and hope to post pictures then.
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Post by Jack on Mar 4, 2012 11:59:34 GMT -5
Jim, I don't think you have enough info to be very useful, yet. Particularly since the person describing the firearm isn't knowledgeable, it could be anything.
I'm sure you know that the vast majority of CW firearms were caplock muzzle loading rifles, but, particularly early on, there was such a shortage of firearms that about anything could have been used- smoothbores, flintlocks, shotguns, etc.
The Civil War took place when the technology of making cartridge firearms and breechloading firearms was just beginning, and there were a whole bunch of small makers with their own designs, and such a demand for weapons that a lot of them ended up in service. But, comparatively, breechloaders and cartridge firearms were hard to make and expensive, at that time, and comprised only a tiny percentage of the firearms used.
Get various views of the action, if it has one, and some pics of the entire firearm.
Also, any stock markings, stamps, etc.
Probably Twomoons will know more about that.
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Post by jimh on Mar 4, 2012 12:19:29 GMT -5
yea Jack I don't have a clue to what it really is because I haven't even seen it yet. but your comments of what to take photos of so we can identify it is exactly what input I was seeking at this point.
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bounce
Royal Member
Posts: 5,727
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Post by bounce on Mar 4, 2012 14:44:32 GMT -5
The most common rifle would be the 1861 & 1863 Springfild Rifled musket But you may run into most anything from revolving cilinders to sharps and around 20 carbines To rifles made by diferant makers as Colt to whitney & yes the Spencer repeating & Volcanic & Henery Rifle.
Just know way that we can just guess, have fun you in for a history lesson.
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Post by jimh on Mar 4, 2012 14:50:19 GMT -5
have fun you in for a history lesson. ;D ;D THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I TOLD THEM! looking forward to the homework/research on this one. |
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Mar 4, 2012 15:46:01 GMT -5
The most common rifle would be the 1861 & 1863 Springfild Rifled musket And the British Enfield. I think the Springfields have a curved butt plate and the Enfields have a straight butt. I'm going to take a guess and say it's one of these 2 rifles. If your friend is just south of St. Louis, it's probably a confederate / English rifle as I have several 2nd and 3rd cousins who have posession of Enfields in the Jeffco area. The timeframe seems to be about right for the war. I think as Jack said, it could be anything though. Is he wanting to sell it to you??? |
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Post by jimh on Mar 4, 2012 18:16:04 GMT -5
the family history has the rifle from the Rolla area Red. oh they would sell it to me I'm sure but if it ends up worth big bucks then I won't be a buyer. the old woman needs the $$ so if it were to turn out to be worth more than a couple of Bengies then I'm out of the running. however there is a powder horn and other stuff too so maybe I'll end up with something cool for what I can afford. it all boils down to the fact that I will be actualy trying to help these folks out so they don't get hosed. now it it turns out to be worth 1K but they decide to sell for a couple hundred well then thats their choice. my goal is not to broker the deal but to educate the sellers and let themselves decide what they want to sell it for.  |
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Post by jimh on Mar 6, 2012 21:13:12 GMT -5
ok as soon as I figure out how to download photos from this friggen IPad to my host site I'll post em!
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Post by jimh on Mar 6, 2012 22:17:40 GMT -5
ok it'll be a day before I get the pics uploaded because they are on my IPad and I have to use some app to load the pics with.
as soon as I figure out what a friggen app is then I'll post them up.
the front site looks to be either whale bone or ivory, does that make sence?
it has a double set trigger and looks to be a 30 cal. also it weighs a ton!
wood looks to be oak, there are no proof marks or mfr stamps that I can find.
it is a cap and ball rifle.
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Post by jimh on Mar 6, 2012 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Post by jimh on Mar 6, 2012 23:02:51 GMT -5
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Post by jimh on Mar 6, 2012 23:03:57 GMT -5
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Post by jimh on Mar 6, 2012 23:04:30 GMT -5
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Mar 6, 2012 23:04:52 GMT -5
A picture is worth a thousand words
I'm assuming it's not military.
32 caliber?
If it looks like ivory, I'm sure it probably is.
Could be pre or post war, who knows at this point.
Would the marks be on the bottom of the barrel?
I go back to my 1st sentance
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Post by jimh on Mar 6, 2012 23:05:28 GMT -5
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