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Beebe ??

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Bo T

40 Cal.
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Trying to get some history. A friend has a BP muzzle loader that he believes is @ 1850. His step father and him put a new barrel on it probably 50 years ago. It has been passed down in the family. In talking to him he believes the gunsmith or maker was Beebe? Sorry, but no pictures. It has a set trigger, but you have to set it before you cock it. Not much to go on. Thanks for any info.
 
Its not likely anyone can help without photos but in lieu of them a very good description of all the details and specially any markings might be helpful. This would be specially true of markings on the original barrel if it still exists (see below). Knowing the area where the gun spent its working life and even better where it was made would also be a big help but even with all that it will likely be guess work. Anyone interested in preserving the history of a firearm should save all the removed parts and label them. The work done should be documented and reference to the existence of the replaced parts be made.
 
A listing of American gun makers shows two Beebe's.

One in Albany, New York, 1846-1849 and a Richard Beebe in Springfield, Ohio, 1861-1864.
https://archive.org/stream/gunmaker00satt/gunmaker00satt_djvu.txt

Members might want to save that link.
It has thousands of names listed and for many, it gives some information about them and the guns they made.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My friend says everything is original except the barrel. He kept the original barrel and if I get the chance I'll examine it in detail.
The reference has already yielded some fruit as the Albany Beebe matches the suggested time frame and the Springfield Beebe matches the suggested location. Does the set trigger mechanism have any relevance? The need to set the trigger before cocking the piece?
 
Got some information on the original barrel.
R Beebe Springfield O 33 5/8" long

So, If I read the reference correctly, the rifle was probably made by Richard Beebe in Springfield, Ohio sometime between 1861 and 1864? Thanks for the help.
 
Yes. It sounds like he is the one who built the gun.

As for the 1861-1864 date, that is the time period that things like tax records and the like list him as a gunsmith.

He probably made guns before and after those dates but those dates can serve as a good indicator of when he was active.

As for needing to set the trigger before the gun can be cocked, this can be due to several things.

There is a style of set trigger that will only fire the gun by pulling the front trigger if the rear, set trigger is first set.
It usually needs to be set before the lock can be cocked.

This is known as a "single lever" double set trigger.

There is also a style of set trigger that can fire the gun by just pulling the front trigger without the rear trigger being set.

The front trigger pull with the set trigger in the unset condition usually takes a 2-5 pound force.
Setting the rear trigger first reduces the force needed on the front trigger to a few ounces.

This is called a "double lever", double set trigger.
(The "double set" refers to there being two separate triggers.)

If everything is right on a "double lever" trigger, the lock can be cocked without first setting the rear trigger.

If a double lever set trigger is installed too deeply into the stock, it can prevent the lock from being cocked to the full cock position.
This can usually be corrected by putting shims under the trigger plate.

To easily see if the trigger is a single lever or a double lever style, remove the lock from the stock.

Look down the hole in the wood that is there to provide clearance for the "sear arm" that sticks out away from the internal lock plate face.

While looking down this hole, pull the front trigger back as far as it will go.

If you see a metal "lever" rising upward and blocking off a good portion of the hole, the trigger is a double lever style.

If you don't see anything rising to block off the hole, the trigger is a single lever style.
 
You might suggest to your friend to put the original barrel back on the stock. The value of the rifle is e significantly diminished without the original barrel (both financially and as a historic artifact).
 
I'll pass it on. Although, I am fairly certain that he already knows. His stepfather replaced the barrel so it was safer to shoot. I'm thinking that new barrel was fitted to the original breech plug, so it might go back together fairly easily. A group of us will probably get together later this month and I'll take a closer look at the rifle.
 
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