Unknown flintlock muzzleloader

Hello, I recently acquired an old flintlock muzzleloader from my past father-in-law. It appears to be a Kentucky long rifle. The only marking it has is on the barrel, G. I’m not completely worried about the brand as I am the caliber. Using a pair of calipers I measured from land to land and got around a .40. Groove to groove I got around .45. It came with some old lead balls and grooved slugs (he bought them years ago in California, he lived in Pa for the last 30+ years) all are marked 440. I’m thinking it’s a .45 caliber. I want to verify not only to buy more lead and patches but Pa law is .44 and up. Any help is appreciated!

A .440 ball would indeed indicate a nominal .45 caliber. Is this a modern reproduction rifle?

Should have added that a picture or two would help ID your rifle.

Thagomizer said:

Should have added that a picture or two would help ID your rifle.

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I will once I get home. I’m at work.

Thagomizer said:

A .440 ball would indeed indicate a nominal .45 caliber. Is this a modern reproduction rifle?

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I will add some pictures ASAP. I’m at work at the moment. It does not appear to be a modern reproduction.

Here’s some pictures

Thagomizer said:

A .440 ball would indeed indicate a nominal .45 caliber. Is this a modern reproduction rifle?

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Pictures posted

Hopkins and Allen from the 1970’s. Believe they were made in .36 and .45 caliber.

Yup, A Hopkins & Allen Minuteman. I have one. Nominally a.45 caliber but actually a .44. I use a .433 ball. That star inlay on the cheekpiece is not factory but sure looks nice. Bought mine around '71 or '72.

Quite a lot of the rifles that were made in the early '70's were .44 caliber. I know the Kentuckian flintlock I bought at the time was a .44 and I also used a patched .433 diameter roundball in it.

Yeah I helped a friend's son "horse trade" for a flintlock rifle for very little green...1970's vintage .44 rifle, and I bought the youngster a .433 ball mold.

Andrew Kormos said:

Pictures posted

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Nice photos...please lower the cock from full position to completely down. My OCD is driving me nuts imagining you have that on a wall or in a rack fully cocked all the time.

LD

i had one in a 45 cap lock. it shot very good. I used 45 cal. balls in mine with no problem. then somebody told me latter they were actually 44,,,,,,,,,,,

As stated , the Hopkins & Allen Minuteman rifle by Numrich, came as built or kit (all parts were inletted). Not sure why they chose to list as .36 or .45 cal when they were more like 35 and 44. Marketing maybe ? I believe the barrels (not sure who made them) were the best part of the whole rifle ! Here is my kit I did back in mid 70s.

SamTex1949 said:

As stated , the Hopkins & Allen Minuteman rifle by Numrich, came as built or kit (all parts were inletted). Not sure why they chose to list as .36 or .45 cal when they were more like 35 and 44. Marketing maybe ? I believe the barrels (not sure who made them) were the best part of the whole rifle ! Here is my kit I did back in mid 70s. View attachment 19088

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That is such a cool photo...love the tie and shirt. The spice rack, pepsi can and the decor

Avocado! No, wait. What's the yellow called?

green shag in the living room!

Harvest gold.

Kansas Jake said:

Harvest gold.

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That's it. Also, nice pic Sam.

Zonie said:

Quite a lot of the rifles that were made in the early '70's were .44 caliber. I know the Kentuckian flintlock I bought at the time was a .44 and I also used a patched .433 diameter roundball in it.

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Agreed. My late 1960s Intercontinental Arms Kentuckian is a .44 and shoots a patched .433 or .430. It is marked as .44 on the barrel, though.

Yep! The group has it! Numrich H&A "Minuteman" rifle,
nominally .45 but actually .44. I'll bet that one was assembled from the kit and the inlay was added. The stock is darker than most that were factory assembled too, but that "paint spill" patchbox design is distinctive. All things considered, they were a fine rifle for the money.