Hacker Martin?

So, I saw this gun.

Image

This is the only info I got.

H. Martin Percussion Rifle, .52 Bore, 23 3/4" Octagon Barrel, Modern Produced Gun, Browned Barrel Is 95%, Lovely Tiger Striped Maple, Eight German Silver Inlays, Elaborately Engraved Patchbox, Inside Latch Broken, Wood 95%, Very Good Mechanics, Single Trigger

Would this be Hacker Martin?
What’s it worth?


William Alexander

It might be worth the 800 bux but it looks like its cracked and it wasn't mentioned in the description. To me it looks like it was rode hard and put away wet. Might be a sewer pipe inside. Somebody will know the value. :v
Larry

Martin was an old time maker and was even in one
of the Fox Fire issues...His quality went down a
bit as he aged [mine too]. This hammer doesn't line up well with the nipple and is square showing
no fancy "clean up" measures...I don't know the
price but they may be relying on the name to give
it value...JMO...
Wulf

At Cherry's listed for 2 times what it's worth IMO.

Certainly looks like some of Hacker Martin's work. He started making muzzleloaders in the 1920's in a continuation of the basic styles from the last of the lines in the late 19th century. He didn't follow any particular "school" as we use the term now, but made his guns from whatever parts he could find or make. This looks like a later gun...I'd guess from the late 50's on. Not sure why it is so short unless someone wanted to follow the style used in the south during the early years of TWBS, when Kentucky/Penn. style rifles were shortened down to 17" to 20" barrels to arm Confederate cavalry.

Hacker Martin's guns have become very collectible since his death in May, 1970. From the 1950's, he started using DGW as a source for parts and the late Turner Kirkland left a fitting tribute to him, worked into a story for the 1974 "Guns & Ammo Complete Guide To Blackpowder". A very few of his rifles have the original price sheet marked "Maude & Hacker's Old Mill Gun Shop"...prices ran from $250 to $400 for finished rifles! :wink: Them were the days.

From the photo, it's virtually impossible to verify whether it's really one of Hacker's guns. Much more extensive photo coverage would be necessary to give a good guess, but as I said, it does look like his kind of work. Not much solid help, I'm afraid...just be careful it's not been stamped with a bogus name to increase value.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your reply’s

I passed on it, interesting gun, slow twist and very wide grooves. If it had been a
smaller caliber I might have taken it home with me.


I did come home with 14 more guns so the trip was not wasted



William Alexander

There ain't no way on earth that's a Hacker rifle!!!!!!!!!The Museum of Appalachia has a few i've seen in person. That "thing" ain't even on the same planet, with a true Hacker gun!!! Black and White!!! Sorry. It's still a shooter, though.

Tinker2 said:

Thanks guys, I appreciate your reply’s

I passed on it, interesting gun, slow twist and very wide grooves. If it had been a
smaller caliber I might have taken it home with me.


I did come home with 14 more guns so the trip was not wasted



William Alexander

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you can never be too thin, too rich, or own too many guns

“you can never be too thin, too rich, or own too many guns”

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I don’t know, I am beginning to wonder.
If you are ever in my neck of the woods stop by and we will take a tour of my storage units.



William Alexander

Ft. Jefferson said:

There ain't no way on earth that's a Hacker rifle!!!!!!!!!The Museum of Appalachia has a few i've seen in person. That "thing" ain't even on the same planet, with a true Hacker gun!!! Black and White!!! Sorry. It's still a shooter, though.

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That was my instant impression of the photograph. The other thing is that most of the Hacker Martin rifles I've see had very long barrels but "never say never".