Old Flintlock Rifle

[lennylouque]

This gun was my grandfathers and i am looking for more information on it, ant help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lenny

 

[Claude Mathis]

Any markings on the barrel or lock?

 

[lennylouque]

There are no other marking that I see. I have these additional photos, if they help.

Thanks,
Lenny

 

[wulf]

The frizzen spring and cock don't look normal..

 

[vtbuck223]

The first thing that comes to mind is that it has somewhat of a Dutch/ Germanic look to it...but also odd. More pics would help...from different angles...including the whole musket...also buttplate.

 

[Claude Mathis]

The frizzen spring and cock don't look normal..

And the trigger guard looks to be nailed on?

Does the butt look more modern than the rest of the gun?

 

[garra]

I has a military shape look to me, but no swivels.

 

[Cowboy]

Lenny, That's a pretty cool old fintlock you have there. Look forward to hearing what you or other members find out about it!

Thanks for posting the pics!

Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:

 

[lennylouque]

I have a few more pics of the gun below. A few things i noticed was that most of the gun is nailed together. The brass rings holding the barrel to the stock are nailed on, the trigger guard is nailed on. The only part bolted on is the are where the flint lock is. There is also a wooden ram rod. Hopefully some of this will help ya'll out. All the parts on the gun still move freely also. I am thinking it might have been a hunting fowling piece or a poor boy style gun.

Thanks for all the information

Lenny

 

[vtbuck223]

It is interesting...indeed...as you say appears to be cobbled together. What exactly is happening at the breech?

 

[cositrike]

Many years ago, I had a similar flintlock. That one was a trade gun, for the African trade. Not sure but this one looks like it could be for the same trade
Regards
Simon

 

[lennylouque]

That would actually make a little sense to me, I know he spent several years in Africa. Its possible that is where it came from.

Thanks,
Lenny

 

[hawkeye2]

Simon I think you nailed it! I was going to reply African trade gun till I saw your post. If he spent some time in Africa I feel 99 & 44/100ths. % sure that's what it is.

 

[54ball]

I concur, African Trade piece, likely made in the 20th Century. If you study American and Europeon guns from the 18th and early 19th Centuries you can tell that this is not one of those. If you notice it has somewhat crude features yet at the same time "modern". Examples are the round headed nails, modern stamping in the stock,the modern looking screw heads, modern screw pitch and the overall plainness or lack of artistry in say the lock. That odd breach is another clue. It looks like basically a tube barrel with a reinforced breech, very crude and very cheap.The crudeness and economy of construction suggests the African Trade although pieces were made for South America as well.
Guns like these were produced in Belgium, some with left over musket parts into the 1950s.
I have no idea where this one was made.

 

[nhmoose]

Still a nice gun IMHO