Help Identifying Long Arm

[ottsm]

I inherited a rifle from my grandfather. Of course he got it years ago before it was considered bad to re-blue and refinish the stock of any antique firearm. I need to talk with my grandmother (she's in her mid 90's) and get the story straight on how he got the rifle. My grandfather ran a funeral business and often he helped people out during hard times or who were poor and had nothing. I can't remember the full story but I believe someone gave it to him for helping them out.

The rifle has a double set trigger and has a name on one side that is very hard to make out (John W?????). Pictures aren't so good, took them years ago, rifle hasn't been out of the safe in awhile. It's around a 45 cal. The lock has some engraving on it. As I said he did refinish it, but it has more value to me being my grandfathers then anything else.

Anyone know anything about this rifle? Just curious as to the origin and history.

 

[wap41]

Looks like pennsylvania flint lock converted to percussion.

 

[wap41]

gun makers

I don't know if you can make out any other letters of the last name,but here are some names of gunsmiths in Pa in the late 1700's and early to mid 1800's.Hope this helps you findout something.John Walker about 1805 Lancaster Pa.,John White about 1850 Pittsburg,John Watt about 1850 Mifflentown Pa,John Watters 1778-1785 Carlisle Pa,John Wilcoxs 1775-1780 Deep River N.C.John Wilks about 1815 Albany NY,John Willis about 1775 Philadelphia,John Wood 1724-1805 Boston.However the name may be the gun owners name and not the maker.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I suspect that our dear John W. was the owner and not the builder. The sharp crescent shape of the buttplate suggests that the gun was made in the Federal Period (post Constitution) and the lock looks like it was converted from a flintlock.

I looked in both volumes of Chandler's Kentucky Rifle Patchboxes and did not find a match. Of course, it cannot be counted upon the a rifle maker would use the same design twice (he may, but who knows?).

It's interesting that while the gun is of the later Federal period, it is almost plain as it has no relief carving or decorative inlays. This is truly a working man's gun meant to be carried in the field and not just for the semi-annual beef shoot.

 

[ottsm]

My grandfather was from Orbisonia, PA, which is near Bedford. So assuming the rifle stayed in the area it may be from PA.

 

[ottsm]

Added some additional pics.

The bore is more like .51 cal, although if you use a patch it needs something in the .45 range.


The lock has some writing also, hard to read but it appears to be James ???cicher?




Still can't make the name out

 

[Jim K]

The name on the sideplate is almost certainly the original owner, not the maker.

Jim

 

[Jim Watson]

The lock has some writing also, hard to read but it appears to be James ???cicher?

Probably James Golcher.
There was a whole family of Golchers who were in the gunmaking and especially lock making business for several generations, over a century from 1755 - 1892.

 

[duelist1954]

It looks like a Bedford County gun to me too.

 

[ottsm]

I looked closer at the lock, I can indeed see that it says James Golcher. Where did the Golcher's reside, PA or somewhere else? Of course I realize the lock maker isn't necessarily the maker of the rifle.

Another interesting note, my grandfather had a Turner Kirkland Dixie Gun Works catalog (more like a pocket size booklet), it's catalog #109, and says "DO NOT USE THE CATALOG AFTER 1960". He had ordered a new drum and nipple for the rifle.

I have the original nipple and side drum mounted back on the rifle, he did shot the rifle before with the replacement parts. I myself haven't shot it and decided to put the originals back on. He also had a 1st model Remington Pocket revolver and had ordered new nipples from Dixie as well.

The catalog has very short write up and photo about a visit that was conducted in 1958 with General John Salling, a confederate veteran from VA, he was 112yo at that time and died May of 1959.

Thanks,

 

[Jim Watson]

The Golchers started out in England, came to NY in the USA, but soon shifted to Philadelphia and stayed there for years and years. Hmm.

Note that although some of the Golchers built whole guns, their main business was in mass production of locks. A Golcher lock does not signify a Golcher rifle.