Patrick Ferguson
32 Cal
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2020
- Messages
- 10
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- 4
I inherited this from a friend. I don't know much about muzzleloaders, but what I've found is it might be a Jaeger rifle from the "transitional" period (based on its barrel length).
Any information or input is greatly appreciated, especially when it comes to the origin, maker, and where I might find a quality replacement lock and jaeger profile barrel? I'm not planning on selling it, but restoring it to the point it can be safely fired and kept in the collection with long denied TLC. Any idea what the value of such a rifle would be?
When I first got it, it was heavily soiled and rusted, and the barrel was held on by old dried out masking tape. I machined a new screw for the barrel tang, and cleaned and repaired the lock as best I could. I cleaned the stock with laqeur thinner, and then coated it with linseed oil and then a 50/50 mixture of beeswax and mineral oil. Hand rubbed it to a satin sheen. 100x better than it was, but I did not sand it nor try to re-blue the barrel.
I plan to keep the old barrel and lock, even if replaced, so that it can always be remade to it's original (or at least as I received it) condition.
As I got it, the lock wasn't functioning at all. I did the best I could (as a machinist not a gunsmith), but there was too much damage at the sear to be safe at full cock. I'd like to either send it to a decent gunsmith who could rework this lock or get a new lock that wouldn't require me cutting the stock to fit it.
Thanks for the help...
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