• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Rifle ID help for a friend

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

TarponStalker

54 Cal.
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
593
Reaction score
591
Location
Florida
I was talking to a friend last night at a party. When he found out I loved muzzle loading rifles he told me about a gun his father inherited. It was supposedly a “turkey shoot” rifle. Possibly made in northern KY.
I asked for some photos. Here’s what I got. Not perfect but hopefully someone on here can help ID this gun. I’ve never seen a breech like this. Also there’s no ram rod and doesn’t appear to have any thimbles for one.
Thanks for any help. I’m sorry I don’t have more
upload_2020-1-1_8-51-25.jpeg




upload_2020-1-1_8-52-44.jpeg




upload_2020-1-1_8-54-19.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • upload_2020-1-1_8-50-50.jpeg
    upload_2020-1-1_8-50-50.jpeg
    80.1 KB · Views: 132
Thank you very much. I have passed this info to him.
Why is the breech area so different? Did they used extreme powder charges?
 
It does look like a Wesson rifle.
If it is, it was made by Edwin Wesson, in the 1840's. It might have barrel stamping's that indicate where it was made.

Edwin Wesson's company made high quality muzzleloading sporting and target rifles. The hammer being built into the receiver is one of the characteristics that separate some of his guns from the more common side lock guns of the time. The heavy barrel on the rifle shown in the photos indicate to me that this is a target rifle.

Edwin was the older brother of Daniel Wesson and taught him the art of gun-smithing. Daniel went on to form the Smith & Wesson company.
 
I also owned one back in the mid/late 1960's. Never fired it. Bought it from a friends Dad for I think $45.00. As I recall the top barrel flat was marked: C.P. Foster, or similar. It was about a .40 caliber.
 
Back
Top