Buffalo NY school gun?

[dogfood]

Hi all,
Recently acquired this fella and while I know enough about it to not post it in the forearms identification subforum, I was hoping for some input on the finer points of it.The barrel is marked MF Crandell Gowanda. Research tells me that the gunsmith lived and worked outside Buffalo NY in the latter half of the 1800s.

The ramrod pipes appear to me to be replacements. The adjustable rear sight replaced a simple dovetailed one at some time. But other than that I'm not sure how much is potentially original to the gun and how much is a 20th century rework. The adjustable rear sight replaced a simple dovetailed one at some time.

General description:The 30" long, 1" across the flats, .45cal barrel is pretty stout, and the stock sleek, making it nose heavy, but stable when shouldered. I've not yet removed the lock to look at rhe innards, but it doesn't have a (functioning) half-cock feature. Trigger is brass which is kinda new to me.

Was there a particular school style to mid-late 19th Century gunsmithery? If so, os this piece consistent? Apparently MF Crandell and others of the area made over/under rifles as well.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
dgfd

 

[Grenadier1758]

Half cock for many shooters of the time was considered to be unnecessary, especially if the rifle was to be used as a target rifle. I know of many rifles made in eastern Missouri or western Illinois that do not have a half cock notch.

 

[dogfood]

Anybody have an idea as to how much this is original versus reworked?

 

[GANGGREEN]

No idea, but I have what I believe to be a NY halfstock rifle (.35 percussion) that's in absolutely remarkable condition and I believe that it's been mostly or partly reworked. Oddly, it has a German silver tang on it that was added later by somebody and not very well done. Yours looks to be in very good shape as well.

 

[bud in pa]

Could the town be Towanda?

 

[dogfood]

Could the town be Towanda?

It's Gowanda. I found small bit of info on the gunsmith in my quest to decipher the words.
But you're thinking is exactly like mine was. Even without rhe first two letters, the word heavily implies upstate NY and the like with a Native name like that.

 

[pwbsmokey]

Could the town be Towanda?

It is Tonawanda, not Towanda. There is a Towanda in PA

 

[Professor flintlock]

Hi all,
Recently acquired this fella and while I know enough about it to not post it in the forearms identification subforum, I was hoping for some input on the finer points of it.The barrel is marked MF Crandell Gowanda. Research tells me that the gunsmith lived and worked outside Buffalo NY in the latter half of the 1800s.

The ramrod pipes appear to me to be replacements. The adjustable rear sight replaced a simple dovetailed one at some time. But other than that I'm not sure how much is potentially original to the gun and how much is a 20th century rework. The adjustable rear sight replaced a simple dovetailed one at some time.

General description:The 30" long, 1" across the flats, .45cal barrel is pretty stout, and the stock sleek, making it nose heavy, but stable when shouldered. I've not yet removed the lock to look at rhe innards, but it doesn't have a (functioning) half-cock feature. Trigger is brass which is kinda new to me.

Was there a particular school style to mid-late 19th Century gunsmithery? If so, os this piece consistent? Apparently MF Crandell and others of the area made over/under rifles as well.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
dgfd

I believe the drum has been replaced from your picture, it's hard to tell but that is a good thing.

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

Marvin F. Crandell operated Gowanda Gun Shop out of Gowanda, New York from 1850-1887. Gowanda falls within both Erie and Cattaraugus Counties. He was born in August 1829 and died at home of pneumonia on April 6, 1909. He built guns and also performed repairs. He served an apprenticeship, but does not say where or who under. An ad he ran in 1858 described himself as a Manufacturer and dealer in Rifles, Double & Single Barrel Fowling Pieces, Pistols & Revolvers. He is buried in Pine Hill Cemetery in Gowanda.

This info came from The New York State Firearms Trade Vol 1.

 

[ord sgt]

The drum appears to be new. The nipple is new and not square with the hammer.

 

[dogfood]

The drum appears to be new. The nipple is new and not square with the hammer.

Good eye. Thanks. Looks like I may have a bit of tinkering to do then.

 

[JCKelly]

Just to add to OldMaineWoodsman, the book is by H. J. Swinney, compiled by Tom Rowe 2003. It is five volumes of detailed information on New York makers. It is THE source for NY stuff.

 

[dogfood]

Just to add to OldMaineWoodsman, the book is by H. J. Swinney, compiled by Tom Rowe 2003. It is five volumes of detailed information on New York makers. It is THE source for NY stuff.

Thank you kindly. I will try to get my hands on a copy.