An old flintlock, discovered and rescued

[White Walker]

About 31 years ago, I was given an old flintlock Pennsylvania Longrifle. The person who gave it to me was an old timer who used to trap for a living in Missouri as a young man. He told me that he'd found the rifle one day inside of an outhouse on an old abandoned homestead. That's all that I know. Anyway, It has a 47" long barrel. It has a .40 bore, rifled to 1 turn in 48". The top barrel flat has *LEMAN-LANCASTER PA* stamped near the breech. It has a modern replacement front sight of Silver that replaces the original silver sight that had been twisted off years before. It has a 13" pull to the front or release trigger. There was never an entry thimble installed on the rifle.
I've been told by an advanced collector and expert on the subject that the rifle is undoubtedly one of Henry Leman's very first rifles that he built with his own hands in his small shop that he'd established inside of his fathers beer brewery. I'm told that the rifle was probably made in 1834 or 1835, before any of his government contracts had been made. Beats me because I'm no kind of expert on the subject. Anyway, I thought that some of you guy's would find this interesting. Here are some poor photo's of it that I took many years ago...

Fred

Here are some of the cuts that were inflicted on the barrel. Long ago I'd taped each of the cuts closed. Maybe I shouldn't have. But with no absolute proof that they were made by a saber, they could've been made by a kid with a corn knife.



The rifle had been broken at the wrist long before and had been repaired with a copper band without any glue being used. I clued the wood together again and replaced the copper band.

 

[White Walker]

 

[White Walker]

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I dont know anything about that maker or that type of rifle.... but it's very interesting.... Thanks for posting it.

 

[White Walker]

 

[pbearperry]

It looks terrific to me.

 

[White Walker]

Click on the video to see it being shot several years ago... I'm not sure if the link will still work...

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

If you will go to the American Longrifle Forum at: http://www.americanlongrifles.org/forum/

Register yourself, and post a half dozen photos, to include view from butt to forward of the lock - both sides, full-length view-both sides, and view of the lock and wrist with the copper band. You will receive the most substantiated background history on your rifle.

Many of the posters are custom gun-makers, students of the American Longrifle, and serious longrifle collectors.

Post it in the "General discussion", under "Antique gun collecting" and stand back.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Off the top of my head I dunno who made it. One screw for the patch box is unusual and it is a later gun.

 

[White Walker]

Buck, thanks for the information. Actually I've already shared the rifle on that site and that's where I was told that without a doubt it was a very early Leman rifle.
The rifle is even in their Library now. Thanks again!

Fred

 

[shunka]

Leman was one of the great manufactorers of flintlock and percussion long rifles, trade rifles, and trade "guns" during the Fur Trade era from about 1830 . Yours is a classic example of the small-bore rifles. They were simple, but good. The Leman Trade Rifle is nearly as iconic as the Northwest Trade Gun.

Here is link to an article by Hanson:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...G1pqm3CRlGoYEepUJ5IHiiQ&bvm=bv.83339334,d.bGQ

hth
shunka

 

[White Walker]

Thanks 4V50 Gary, Thanks shunka.

 

[Hanshi]

That is a very nice old rifle.

 

[72coupe]

An interesting piece of history.

 

[White Walker]

Thanks guys. Yes, Imagine all of the hunts and camp life that it has seen. I guess that it was put away one day in that old outhouse and forgotten. I had somebody add wood to the forearm areas that were missing it. Not a first rate job, but this wasn't one of the rifles from the Golden Age. When I received it, there was a piece of surgical tubing holding the stock and barrel together. The for end cap and front thimble were missing of course as well as the original ramrod. The tang was twisted a bit too.
I think that the irregular shape of the patch box finial was to prevent the whole affair from turning on the one screw.

 

[Curator]

Henry Leman was one of the early gun manufacturers, not just a gunmaker. He had a number of craftsmen and gunsmiths working for him producing rifles and fowling pieces for the civilian market in the 1830-50s. He established the Conestoga Rifle Works in Lancaster PA. in 1834. This was the era of expanding commercial ventures like dry goods/hardware stores. Leman sold to locals as well as to both middlemen and retailers. He landed a government contract to supply the US government with gift rifles to be used in the negotiations leading up to the implementation of the Indian Removal Act. Many hundreds of these Leman rifles ended up in the hands of Creek, Cherokee, and Seminole men who attended the Treaty signing. Yours is an early rifle and somewhat rare in that it was not converted to percussion. (assuming it has not been re-converted back to flint) Leman made several grades, from very plain to somewhat fancy for Chiefs or other important people. Many westward travelers carried a Leman rifle or bought one when they arrived.

 

[White Walker]

Thanks Curator, I sure do appreciate the information!