58cal 3band from india

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CAMPBELL49T

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Well I came across a 3band infield, 58cal with bayonet. The Crown is on the lock.
The bore is fair, I haven't cleaned it yet. I think i might have trouble getting the nipple out. Yes I'm going to shoot it. For a 100 year old rifle it is in good shape. I'll just shoot light loads. The rifle came from India, I don't know if it was made in England or India. the markings on it will tell. Going to post a picture. What is this rifle worth? Would you shoot it? It is not a great find,for they made 1000s of these. How about a web site I can read up on it I'll post more on it tomorrow.
 
O.K. here is ever thing of the lock. There is a crown with a # 21 under it. 1857 TOWER..........There is a big crown with VR under the crown. Also I think it is a smooth bore about 58 cal. All markings on the rifle are in English. That is a plus......it might be worth more.
 
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I found out more on it. It is a Tower 1857. It is not from India. Everything is written in English. It may have been used in The Civil War. I got the nipple ou and a new one to fit it. I want to clean it up to shoot. What fun is there if you can't shoot.
 
blackpowdermagazine.com has a couple of good articles on restoring and shooting one of these fine old weapons.
 
Mick, It will be awhile before it is good enough to fire. But first I will make sure it is save. I'm trying to get all the things I need. I don't know if I should take bands off. So I can look at and take out the breach plug. Might be a good idea. Dutchman said he did and broke one of the wedges. It was rusted, but he got a replacement. If I get it apart and it is no good and not shootable. That is still fine. History hanging on the wall that is good,too. It would be great if it is a shooter......I hope
 
You can get replacement barrels for them if you want to preserve the original barrel or if it's too rough to shoot. I wish I could just "come across" one of those laying around!!!
 
Or you can reline the barrel at Der Freischutz Shoppe of Bobby Hoyt.
 
You guys got me thinking. Maybe I should buy a barrel be safer. I have all three bands off. Nothing has been broken. The barrel looks good all the way around. Inside of barrel came out great. So nice that I know it is not a smooth bore. I don't have a breech plug to pull. The plug and barrel are one. The out side of the lock shows its age. The inside of the lock looks pretty good. For being 150 something years old. By Friday I hope to have fired it.
 
I put it back together and tomorrow will be the day. I don't know for sure if I want to shoot it. The barrel looks good. In side is a little dark. Has no big pitting I can see rifling. But the metal being 160 years old. I don't know yet whether I will shoot it. Yea I let my wife shoot it a couple times first.
 
Use light charges and have fun with it. 30 to 40 grains of powder will be fine for a start. If you send the barrel to Bob Hoyt or to Dan Whitacre, they can taper the barrel so it will "drop in" the old stock without
 
Hawkeye, You never finished what you were going to say. The swamped barrel thing. I have heard of it. But don't understand it.
Getting ready to go shooting. Taking Gr.Gr. Grandpa along. Don't know if I will let him shoot today. I'll let you know when I come home.
 
Still have all my fingers. The musket shot good. Compared to its age. 160years. I have pics and tried to post but failed. Out of 6 rounds I got 4 of them in the 9 ring at 25yd. I started out at 25gr and went to 45. It was fun to shoot it. Every time I fired it, I went back in time. You know you kind of wonder........how many people shot or got shot.. with this rifle. Amazing to shoot and think things like that. Now I'll put the bayonet on and hang it on the wall. My wife wants to shoot it. She will do it tomorrow.
I will go and post this. Then try posting pictures.
I know i can............:D
 
That is awesome.Mine has been purposely broken,right at the lock,and trigger area,like by smashing the thing with an overhead full swing blow.My brother who is a history buff, says the Brits would do this when being over run,to prevent the weapon from being picked up,and used by the enemy.It's been crudely repaired,and put back into service.I wish our old guns could talk.Congrats!
 
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