Sam Houston's Rifle

[hawkeye1755]

American made sliding breech block which is also called a harmonica lock. It is a 5 shot, pill ignition. Inscribed "Houston." .This rare Henry Gross rifle belonged to Sam Houston.
Anyone who knows more about this rifle?

:hatsoff:

 

[Blizzard of '93]

beats me Andreas. fine looking rifle though, appears unfired. good fotos also. :thumbsup:

 

[Splais]

That is one sweet looking rifle. Wish someone would make a reproduction of it.

 

[Splais]

That is one sweet looking rifle. too bad nobody is making a reproduction. By chance,can you post some more closeup pics of it's parts?

 

[hawkeye1755]

That is one sweet looking rifle. too bad nobody is making a reproduction. By chance,can you post some more closeup pics of it's parts?

Sorry, but these are the only pics i found on the web.
:hatsoff:

 

[redwing]

J. Browning made this type of rifle for the Morman Militia. Could this rifle have been made by Browning? Both Browning and Houston lived during the 1850s. :hmm:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

They often are found in this condition. Perhaps they were prone to chainfires like the revolving rifles are rumored to have done and their owners were too nervous to actually fire them.

 

[kansas_volunteer]

The harmonica lock was used in the late 1960s on a five-shot test model grenade launcher considered as a replacement for the M-79. It seemed to work well. So, you see, the idea survived into modern times. The basic idea must have been a good one.

 

[davy]

http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=645

Davy

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

The basic idea may have been sound, but the modern version used self contained ammunition. Not much chance of a chain fire there. And you don't see many originals around--probably because not that many were made.

 

[rickjf]

predecesor to the revolving cylinder.