Dixie Lancaster rifle

[RWMC]

I came across a used (but very well taken care of )Dixie gun works Lancaster .45 caliber muzzleloading rifle. Has a nice long barrel that seems to just steadily hang in mid air as your shoulder the weapon. It is a percussion lock that is on the rifle, but it also comes with the Flint lock, Plus a nice powder horn and possible bag and some of the original paperwork that came with the rifle when it was new back in the 90s. It was made by Palmetto Armory in Italy.
Do any of you know of Lancaster's quality, or if it had a bad reputation? Is this a buy item or a turn around and run away? Thanks for your input and time.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Lancaster refers to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and a style of rifle built there in the 1700s to mid 1800s. Palmetto is the manufacturer, quality varies a bit from good to not so good. Depending on if you can get it for a good price take it.

 

[RWMC]

6 c notes

 

[J-Bar]

I look at such a purchase like this: I am only risking the difference between what I pay for it and what I could sell it for.

Worst case scenario, let’s say you buy it for 600 and later decide you don’t want it, for whatever reason. Do you think you could get rid of it for 400? That potential $200 loss is your risk.

The question becomes, do I like the rifle enough to risk losing $200 when I sell it?

Of course you may find someone who is willing to pay more for it than you did. Sweet when it happens, but not the way to look at a speculative purchase.

From your description, a combination flinter/cap gun with extras doesn’t sound like a great risk.

 

[RWMC]

I look at such a purchase like this: I am only risking the difference between what I pay for it and what I could sell it for.

Worst case scenario, let’s say you buy it for 600 and later decide you don’t want it, for whatever reason. Do you think you could get rid of it for 400? That potential $200 loss is your risk.

The question becomes, do I like the rifle enough to risk losing $200 when I sell it?

Of course you may find someone who is willing to pay more for it than you did. Sweet when it happens, but not the way to look at a speculative purchase.

From your description, a combination flinter/cap gun with extras doesn’t sound like a great risk.

Thank you J-Bar for the more in depth thoughts on the possible purchase. I had to double check the price today and I found out I was wrong. It was actually only $450.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Would be hard for me to pass up at that price with accessories. Go for it!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

To further elaborate, a Lancaster rifle would be one that was made by a gunsmith in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

This was the archetype of what was later commonly referred to as a Kentucky Rifle.

The long barrel, and drooping butt stock were developed by gunsmiths of German extraction who has settled in south eastern Pennsylvania, based on the earlier Jaeger Rifles common in Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_rifle

 

[RWMC]

Well I checked out the Lancaster rifle Again today.

This time I checked the bore and found that there were vertical lines in the bore as if it was from chatter marks during the rifling process.

As much as I wanted to get it, I let it pass, even though the bore did look like it was quite possibly unfired. Maybe a patched round ball would not be affected by those vertical lines, or maybe it would I did not know I chose not to take the risk.

Crazy thing; you have to work for that money you make, so I’m picky in trying to make a wise investment.