This antique halfstock rifle is stocked in walnut and trimmed in nickel silver furniture. The barrel is stamped with a partial stamped mark on the breech with the number 8 and a very faint stamp that appears to be LITTLE, . The square tail percussion lock is marked Whitmore & Wolff, Pittsburgh, which dates the rifle to the mid-to-late 1850's. Trigger reach is 12-3/4", about average for an antique longrifle. Weight is 10.1 pounds.
The .35 caliber barrel is 1" at the breech with a very slight taper toward the muzzle, with an overall length of 37-1/2". The.35 caliber bore is rifled with six lands and grooves. The bore has clearly defined rifling with a frosted appearance, and some light pitting in the grooves, no excessive roughness can be felt with a cleaning patch. The exterior has aged to a brown patina. The breech end is pitted from the corrosive percussion caps used during the 1800's. The quarter flat is stamped 8 and what appears to be LITTLE under magnification. The firm of J&D Little outside of Pittsburgh in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania were noted as "gun and gun barrel makers". The placement of the stamp could indicate just the barrel was made by them. A modern brass flash cup has been added around the nipple. A flat top ear rear sight is dovetailed 8-1/4" ahead of the breech. A low silver blade front sight is fitted 2" behind the muzzle.
The walnut stock has a few scattered marks and the checkered wrist displays some wear from handling. All the nickel silver furniture is very well fitted. The buttplate is slender with a deep curve in mid-19th century style. The cap box is hand engraved with a acorn finial. The triggerguard has a large bow with finger spur and curled grip rail, found on Ohio school longrifles. The forend has a single escutcheon plate for the wedge key. A poured pewter forend cap protects the end grain of the stock. The bottom of the forearm is fitted with a nickel silver wear plate, original to the design. The ramrod entry pipe is nickel silver, while the forward pipes are traditional steel pipes.
The nickel silver toeplate is secured with four steel screws. A small initial plate is mounted between the toeplate and triggerguard. The nickel silver triggerguard has a well aged patina, with the areas that are frequently handled worn brighter. A lozenge style nickel silver sideplate is inlet flush to the stock. A single bolt passes through the stock to engage the lock on the opposite side. The oval cheek piece with accent line is fitted with a hand engrave oval finished flush.
The percussion lock has aged to the same brown patina as the barrel. The lock plate is die stamped with a game bird scene, scrolls, and Whitmore & Wolff, Pittsburgh. Whitmore & Wolff was located at 50 Wood St., Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1853. M. Whitmore, C. H. Wolff, Hugh Jones, Geo. J. Duff, were "Importers and Wholesale Dealers in Hardware and Cutlery". The firm underwent some name changes over time, with the likely progression: Whitmore & Wolff; Whitmore, Wolff & Co.; Whitmore, Wolff, Duff & Co. As with many percussion locks the tumbler has only a single notch, full cock. This simplified lock construction by eliminating the fly detent for use with set triggers. The single lever double set triggers will only fire the lock from the set position. You may cock the lock before setting the trigger, but the trigger must be set to fire the lock. The nipple appears to be a modern replacement, with a .270-28 thread. If you need a replacement order #ROS-20-I.
This antique halfstock rifle has a wonderful patina on the walnut and nickel silver furniture. The period lock and triggers are functional. The bore, while not perfect is shootable. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
