Original 1860's target rifle

Hello All,

You guys (and gals) are all a huge help a few months ago when I needed help with info on a custom flintlock that I bought. I'm hoping to tap into your collective wealth of information again!

I recently purchased this .45 caliber targer rifle that I believe to be original to about 1860. The only markings on it are "D. BLOOM Ganges, Ohio" and four star designson the front of the barrel. I was told that this was possibly a union sniper rifle early in the civil war, before troops were issued any. I find this hard to believe due to the condition that its in, but I'm no historian. It has a single set trigger, with no markings on the lock. I bought it from a gentleman in Michigan, who purchased it from an estate sale in Colorado. I don't have many more details than that, but would love any help that you can provide. Please let me know if any different pictures would help.

Thanks,

Matt https://www.flickr.com/photos/142364761@N03/albums/72157701191142075

Flickr says, when I click on your link,

"This is not the page your looking for.
It appears the album you seek doesn't exist".

Could you try to get a link that will work?

To post pictures I've stored on Flickr I open the picture, one at a time in another tab.

Going to that tab, the picture has a bent arrow in the lower right hand area.
Clicking on it opens several options to share the picture with others.

Selecting the BBCode option, I copy it.

When I return here I just "paste" the address in my topic.

One thing I do is to remove some of my name towards the end of the address just to minimize information about me on the web.

FLINTLOCK-PICKS by James, on Flickr

I haven't tried setting up a album and sharing it on the web yet so I can't help you with that.

According to Flickr: "Matthew Lake hasn't made any photos public yet." (or created an album)

Sorry about that, is this better?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142364761@N03/albums/72157701191142075

I believe that I figured it out..
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmsfbd8F

Still can't see it

Sorry about that, try this

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmsfbd8F

Lovely piece, a swiss style sheutzen rifle for off hand use, hence the palm rest. I doubt it would have been used during your late dissagreement as a sniper rifle. You would use a paper patched bullet. Have a look in Ned Roberts The Caplock Muzzle Loading Rifle, that will give you all the information to set her back up and going.

So which one of those Kiblers are you going to sell me Zonie?

Please dump the checkerboard eyetest background in the future. Difficult, at least for me, to see.

I see a percussion schuetzen rifle as evidenced by the palm rest, buttplate, sights, and turned muzzle. Checking the twist might reveal whether it was rifled for ball or bullet.