Small and light percussion styles

Most percussion rifles built in America in that time frame were light slim and small caliber. There is the romance of the big plains rifles, but these were specialty guns, made for conditions most people didn’t live in.
After the cabin was built and the crops planted chances were deer and bigger were hunted out. But small game was the norm and hunting reverted to a sport, not a feeder.
Today we have a plethora of guns to choose from, and we have all sorts of ink spent on high powered caliber, but most shots by sport shooter are .22

I often think about a Hawken style flintlock along the lines of a Seneca. I would build it with a slightly longer barrel 32 or so inches, slightly longer LOP 14" or so, double key barrel wedges and with traditional sights. 3/4 inch barrel a plum brown color with a slender high grade curly maple stock and iron furniture butt plate, toe plate and nose without a patch box. Available in 32, 36 and 45 caliber with a Kibler lock. I would probably work a ton of overtime and end up with a three gun matched set. Maybe I think too much.

1BadDart said:

Out of curiosity, what is considered a light rifle? Weight of course, not caliber.

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I consider anything under 7 lbs light.

tenngun said:

Most percussion rifles built in America in that time frame were light slim and small caliber. There is the romance of the big plains rifles, but these were specialty guns, made for conditions most people didn’t live in.
After the cabin was built and the crops planted chances were deer and bigger were hunted out. But small game was the norm and hunting reverted to a sport, not a feeder.
Today we have a plethora of guns to choose from, and we have all sorts of ink spent on high powered caliber, but most shots by sport shooter are .22

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So that's what I'm getting at. Surely there were lots of gentleman's guns built but the modern day kits and parts don't seem to support this sector very well. If you want a percussion gun you basically have the choice between any number of clunky Italian attempts at a "plains rifle" or the other suppliers (track of the wolf, pecatonica, etc) offer a kit for a hawkin or a Vincent. Which the Vincent's are very nice but seems like there had to be other exceptional examples as well. I've been going through the library over on the ALR site looking at Ohio and Midwest guns, some of which are very nice.

Keep in mind that many flinters were simply converted to percussion. So, in theory, you can pick anything you want and build it as a percussion rifle to represent a caplock time period firearm.

TOTW offers more than just the Hawken and Vincent in percussion. They also have a Bedford, and two Tennessee styles. With a 36" barrel the Tennessee should come in sub 7# in the larger calibers for the two barrel widths offered.

Phil Coffins said:

He asked about “graceful”.

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Billinghurst underhammers can be quite graceful.. .

Uncle Miltie said:

Billinghurst underhammers can be quite graceful.. .

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So I had seen underhammers but I had never really researched them or given them much thought. Was bored last night so started looking at them and they really are pretty neat. Ended up ordering a little 10 dollar book this morning that details several old designs. The billinghurst design is a quite nice design. Apparently a few years ago an action kit was available but it doesn't appear that it is anymore.

I think a Bedford rifle, properly scaled down could really be something special. Imagine what Dave Person could accomplish with something like that!
I have seen a few New England / New York and California caplocks recently that were pretty smart looking and weighed between 6 and 7 pounds.

This is a .45 cal 30" barrel rifle, currently on Track Of The Wolf - listed as 6 lbs even.
Can could also spend the coin to join TOTW 'Archives' and see hundreds of guns they have sold.

WyomingWhitetail said:

So I had seen underhammers but I had never really researched them or given them much thought. Was bored last night so started looking at them and they really are pretty neat. Ended up ordering a little 10 dollar book this morning that details several old designs. The billinghurst design is a quite nice design. Apparently a few years ago an action kit was available but it doesn't appear that it is anymore.

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The Log Cabin Shop has a few action kits from an estate but they not last long.

This is a Lehigh, .50 cal, weighs under 7lbs. Could easily make the same in percussion.

The best recent example of a light and stylish muzzle loader were the TC Seneca and Cherokee rifles which seem to be loved by those who own them. I have owned and shot a Cherokee for 39 years now and I wouldn't trade it for any other rifle. Strangle though despite the devotion from their owners and the high prices they command, they haven't been copied by any Italian manufacturer.

Uncle Miltie said:

The Log Cabin Shop has a few action kits from an estate but they not last long.

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I actually ran across those earlier today. They want almost 150 bucks for 4 little pieces of metal though. Might have to home brew something.

Pietro said:

The New England sporting styled were generally among the lighter rifles (like the U/H).

AFAIK, the now discontinued T/C Cherokee & Senecas were styled after them.

Not all U/H rifles are fugly

View attachment 188066

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I think its a photoshop

The late Ted Fellowes came up with an Ohio type rifle he christened the Beaver Lodge, an affordable nicely balanced gun available in both full and half stock. I love them, my guess is most were .45s. Ted told me his two favorite caliber were .45 and .54. He didn't build many .54 Beaver Lodge guns but I managed to talk him into one, it's a dandy. I had a fullstock .50 I regret selling, another of my amorous adventures that left me short on cash in my younger day. Those youthful exploits also cost me a .50 GRRW Leman, Browning 1886 45-70 rifle, a satin nickel finish .45 ACP Colt Combat Commander and a Ruger M77 .270. As Forrest Gump said, "I'm not a very smart man." Believe me, you can put a price on a good time. I'm sure glad I finally landed in the right place.

The Hawkin brothers also made light rifles for the local trade in St Louis.

Pietro said:

View attachment 188066

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I have seen it all now.

I keep looking at WB Selb’s plains style squirrel gun.
I like half stocks and hook breech. He makes some beautiful guns, from what I see on the net. Only problem are my pockets aren’t deep enough, plus I’ve hear it’s a long wait.

My idea of the perfect light Rifle would look something like this, although it is at the maximum weight. The rifle is a New England style target rifle by N.G Whitmore and the photo is from Phil Sharp's book The Rifle in America published in about 1940.

Bighorserider said:

The Hawkin brothers also made light rifles for the local trade in St Louis.

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This photo is from the 2022 Hawken Classic. The second rifle from the top is one of the “squirrel” rifles made for the local customers by the Hawken shop. I didn’t get the barrel length or caliber (my first time seeing so many original Hawken rifles, I’ll do better next time). The top rifle is the bigger rifle made for those heading west.