Recently acquired vintage half-stock percussion rifle

gharrod · Jul 18, 2013

Rifleman1776 · Jul 18, 2013

Neat old rifle. Definitely pre-factory stuff. The Ashmore name sounds familiar, probably a common import lock from England. Using penetrating oil and a good nipple wrench you should be able to get that buggered up nip out and replace.

gharrod · Jul 18, 2013

I had the breach end soaking for two days in a jar of Kroil to loosen up the old nipple. I was going to take it down to Al Edge yesterday to see if he could replace it with the right nipple and put on a new front sight and new rear sight adjusting screw, plus tell me what the rate of twist is, but his wife said he was not available until early next week.

gunmaker43 · Jul 18, 2013

That's a really nice example of a late period rifle. Best have it appraised for insurance reasons. Might surprize you...

George T. · Jul 18, 2013

Very nice you can be proud of that rifle. Those front sights were sure tiny compared to what we have today. Geo. T.

Heelerau · Jul 19, 2013

That is a real quality rifle, I am betting the bore is good to, the blokes on the AmericanLongrifles Forums would be able to give you a good rundown on it. Good on you a real win !! Post a target when you get it shooting. I am guessing that the foresight is probably normall ver fine.

Cheers

Heelerau

hawkeye2 · Jul 19, 2013

Excellent piece. It looks to be high quality and quite possibly a New England gun. I only wish it were mine!

gharrod · Jul 19, 2013

It probably is a New England rifle, since my step-mom's step-father's family was from Massachusetts.

Rifleman1776 · Jul 19, 2013

Geo T said:
Very nice you can be proud of that rifle. Those front sights were sure tiny compared to what we have today. Geo. T.

Many rifles I have seen in museums have those really tiny low sights. I don't understand it. Even when I was younger they were hard to see for me. And, back in the day, there wasn't an optometrist office every quarter mile in the woods. :idunno:

gharrod · Jul 19, 2013

I guess it doesn't show that well in the photo, but the front sight is totally MISSING, except for what looks like a sliver of the base still stuck in the slot and below flush with the barrel flat.

Billnpatti · Jul 19, 2013

It is obvious that you will need a good bit of an excellent penetrating oil. The best penetrating oil is a 50/50 mixture of automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Do not get it on the stock because it will damage the finish. Place a plug of some kind into the nipple to plug it thoroughly and then fill the barrel with the acetone/transmission fluid mixture and let it soak for a few days. It is best to remove the barrel from the stock to do this if you can. When you remove the nipple, rock it back and forth as you unscrew it. This breaks up the rust and keeps it from jamming up in the threads as you unscrew the nipple. Once the nipple is removed, measure the threads and use that tap to chase the threads to clean them up before replacing the new nipple. Use a dab of choke grease or anti-sieze grease on the threads of the new nipple before replacing it.

gharrod · Jul 19, 2013

I already soaked the breach end of the barrel in a jar of Kroil for two days. That should loosen it up. The nipple is bent and needs to be cut off so a nipple wrench can get a grip on the flats. I don't have any taps, so I will get Al Edge to take care of that when I take it to him for a new front sight and rear sight adjusting screw.

Billnpatti · Jul 20, 2013

Sounds like you have a working plan. That's great. :thumbsup: Just an FYI, the mixture of transmission fluid and acetone will out perform Kroil as a penetrating oil. A study was done where they compared several different penetrating oils and home made mixtures. The transmission fluid/acetone mix beat them all when it came to loosening rusted bolts. I think the study was posted on the Forum a few weeks ago. You might search for it if you want to read their findings.

I am pretty sure you have heard from others on the subject but do as little to your rifle as you can. DO NOT refinish the stock or re-blue the metal. Making anything more than the basics to get it running again will reduce any collector value. Collectors want everything in all original condition, That inclused all the rust on the metal and the dirty finish on the stock. Unfortunately, even putting it into working condition will diminish the collector value somewhat but if you do nothing more, any loss in value will be minimal. It is a beautiful rifle and I sure hope it is a good shooter when you are through putting it back into shooting shape. Keep us posted.

gharrod · Jul 20, 2013

Getting a new nipple and getting the sights squared away is all I plan to do to it. I want the new front sight to be period-correct also. And, maybe a period correct tang sight too, if that's what the empty screw hole in the tang is for.

gharrod · Jul 25, 2013

I took the rifle down to Al Edge today for his evaluation and repair. He was quite impressed with the overall quality of the rifle and said that based on the stock hardware, the style and quality of engraving on the hardware and the type of stock finish, which he said was most certainly the original, that he estimated it's production date as sometime in the 1840's.
He took the breach plug out and found it and the threads to be in fine shape. The six grove rifling in the barrel was strong and when held up to a light, not a rust pit could be found. He also replaced the nipple, then gauged the barrel for rate of twist. It came to 1 turn in 25 inches (!), and he checked it once more to be sure it was right. I left it there with him to install a new front sight, widen the rear sight notch a bit and replace the elevating screw, and fix the broken inside prong on the right side wedge escutcheon. He has a range on his property, so I'm looking forward to trying it out when I pick it up.

BrownBear · Jul 25, 2013

Excellent news! Keep us posted, and more photos, please!

F.G. Ford · Jul 25, 2013

Really great find/gift!
A good gunsmith can easily replace your front sight with a sliver of silver, and nobody the wiser.
There is some fine engraving on the metalwork.
Even the nose cap and ramrod grove is very interesting.
Please keep us posted.
Fred

varsity07840 · Jul 25, 2013

gharrod said:
I took the rifle down to Al Edge today for his evaluation and repair. He was quite impressed with the overall quality of the rifle and said that based on the stock hardware, the style and quality of engraving on the hardware and the type of stock finish, which he said was most certainly the original, that he estimated it's production date as sometime in the 1840's.
He took the breach plug out and found it and the threads to be in fine shape. The six grove rifling in the barrel was strong and when held up to a light, not a rust pit could be found. He also replaced the nipple, then gauged the barrel for rate of twist. It came to 1 turn in 25 inches (!), and he checked it once more to be sure it was right. I left it there with him to install a new front sight, widen the rear sight notch a bit and replace the elevating screw, and fix the broken inside prong on the right side wedge escutcheon. He has a range on his property, so I'm looking forward to trying it out when I pick it up.

Al Edge is a gentleman and very skilled. He's done work on several of my guns and the work was first rate. A real pleasure to talk to him on the phone.

Duane

gharrod · Jul 25, 2013

A gentleman he is alright, and a real fountain of knowledge on old rifles.

Recently acquired vintage half-stock percussion rifle

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