[Crooked mouth]

Hello everyone! The other day i was at a friends house. And i came across a firearm that i'am very curious about. It appeared to be made in the style of a poorboy rifle. It had a hand forged lock and a octagonal barrel which looked to be between 50 and 52 caliber. the only markings i found on the barrel was the name W.M. Large. The rifle had apparently been restocked at some point. it had double set triggers and what appeared to be a well worn hickory ramrod.:) the hammer appeared to be a replacement. It was a percussion weapon. Can anyone tell me anything about this rifle. Thanks Crooked Mouth!

[Ferret]

Hmmm... this rings a bell in the back of my mind.
I believe (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) that a William (Wm.) Large was a barrel maker in the early to mid 1800's. If memory serves me right, his barrels were classed as some of the best that you could get. If you can, get someone to take a pic or three.

[Jim Watson]

The name was familiar to me, too, so I googled around.
Apparently W.M. (Bill) Large is (was?) a modern barrel maker of very high reputation most active in the 1960s.
Doesn't mean there wasn't an ancestor working earlier.
Pictures and a VERY full description will help.

[Derek]

Bill Large ,[1907-1985] was a legendary barrel maker, his beautiful barrels were on rifles in the winners circle at Friendship for years.He was one of the founding members of the NMLRA, along with Red Farris, Boss Johnson, ? Barsotti and the rest. I have Bill's own .50 Hawken, with etched bear-paw prints walking down the barrel and the leather slip-case he made for it. It still shoots better than I can hold.If I ever learn how to do it, I'll post a picture.