the Ludwell rifle: my best hunt 2015

[Armored farmer]

I would like to relate this story to the history buffs and and muzzleloader enthusiasts who hang out here in the BP section.
I hope that I haven't already written this story here.
In 2014 I began a quest to hunt and harvest a deer with the rifle that belonged to my great great great grandfather. He carried this rifle when he walked here (SE Illinois) from Ohio in 1852.
The rifle is almost certainly a flintlock that has been converted to percussion. It is a heavy working man's rifle. The hammer marks are visible under the full stock. The revealed surface of the barrel has been drawn smooth with a file.
My father had some work done to restore the rifle in the early 70s. I had extensive work done by my rifle maker friend. A new lock. The barrel was shortened on the breech end for a new breech plug, tang, and drum. The bore was in remarkably good condition. The rifle proved out to be safe and accurate.
I hunted with this rifle exclusively all of firearm season. On the evening of the last day of muzzleloader season. ...my last chance of the year.. I managed to tag a nice 8pt buck. I realized my dream of hunting with my ancestors rifle...on the very property that he bought in 1852. The rifle...and the land has been in my family all those years.
I am blessed.

 

[Armored farmer]

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Good shooting and a great story.

 

[rodwha]

That is way too cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

[[email protected]]

Great story and good shoot'n

 

[badvibes]

Great history there. You are a Blessed man!

 

[midland man]

I would loved to had that experience! congrats I bet it felt good!!

 

[midland man]

also don't retire that gun keep the tradition going!!

 

[Armored farmer]

It was perhaps my personal favorite hunt of my lifetime. I don't mind say that I shed a tear and said a prayer of thanks. I have killed bigger deer, and limited on quail many times, even limited with a .410 a few times. ... but this was a particularly satisfying hunt.

As an aside from my tale. ..i have the rifle that belonged to Ludwell ' s son. I had it rebuilt also. It had to be sent off to Pennsylvania for a complete rebore and re rifle job. I installed a new lock drum and breech plug and new sights. I shot it in competition last summer at the Illinois Territorial shoot and won a fair amount of respect with it there. I had every intention of hunting deer with it in 2016 but it developed an unsafe issue with the old original triggers just before season opener, so I tabled that project and hunted with my old .54 Hawken.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good story. A shot of the buttplate and trigger guard please. Is there a sideplate or just escutcheons?

 

[Armored farmer]

On the Ludwell rifle

Good story. A shot of the buttplate and trigger guard please. Is there a sideplate or just escutcheons?

 

[Acorn Mush]

Greta story, great pictures, great hunt. The spirits of every one of your predecessors who owned that rifle were there enjoying it with you also.

Merry Christmas, and many more!