This halfstock rifle has the appearance of a 1860 or later era longrifle. Stocked in walnut an trimmed in period nickel silver furniture. The furniture includes a crescent buttplate and triggerguard with finger spurs. The stock is fitted with a poured pewter forend cap, single wedge key with escutcheon plates. The breech/wrist has a saw handle design with a back action percussion lock marked J. H. Woods. The barrel is a Remington blank and is marked on the top flat. The step adjustable rear sight is a later cartridge era alteration to the rifle. This is a very well preserved antique rifle with a functional lock, double set triggers, and a very bright bore. Trigger reach is 14" and this rifle weighs 10.2 pounds.
Forming the base of the rifle is its 34-1/2" length, 1-1/16" tapered octagon .38 caliber fast twist rifled barrel. The bore is rifled with seven lands and grooves and the bore is bright in excellent condition. It is very likely that this rifle was intended for use with a picket ball. Picket bullets (also called Picket balls, or Sugar Loaf bullets) are described in detail in Ned Roberts' book, The Muzzle Loading Caplock Rifle. They were a unique American experiment, during the transition from round balls to elongated bullets. While the military selected the hollow base Minie bullet, which was quick to load, target shooters were searching for a better bullet design, despite the need for a separate guide starter (plunger) to engrave the rifling, and the need to clean the bore after every shot. Development of the Picket bullet rifle was abandoned after the Civil War proved the effectiveness of breech loading cartridge firearms, but the Picket bullet rifle was the choice of match shooters during America's 1840 to 1860 era. The muzzle end of the barrel is turned round, typical of a rifle designed for use with a guide starter. The barrel is fitted with a front sight with a ivory blade. Be careful of hooking this front sight in a gun case. Ivory is not as durable as metal front sight, but does make a very easy to see blade. The rear sight is a later step adjustable sight from a lever gun circa the 1870's. The top flat of the barrel is marked Remington Arms Co. Ilion NY Cast Steel. The breech end has a few marks. The tang is a straight design, and two of the three screws are finished flush. We suspect the domed head screw is a filler screw and this rifle likely had a very basic tang mounted peep sight at one point.
The walnut stock has a scraped finish that is visible as the rifle is rolled in the light. All the metal work is flush with with stock with the exception of the bottom edge of the forend cap stands just proud of the stock now. The stock has a saw handle design with a straight tang finished into the wrist. The barrel has a hooked breech which allows for easy cleaning. To dismount the barrel, put the lock on half cock, withdraw the ramrod, drift the key past the underlug, and the barrel can be lifted from the barrel channel for ease of cleaning. Remove the nipple and place the breech end of the barrel in a bucket of soapy water. Run a wet patch down and up the bore, the pumping action will flush all the fouling from the barrel. Once the bore is clean, run a dry patch down the bore to pick up any moisture followed by a oily patch. Dry and oil the exterior then reassemble the rifle. The barber pole striped ramrod on the rifle is a modern replacement and is fitted with a 8-32 threaded nickel silver tip. The side panel is fitted with a small steel sideplate finished flush with the stock.
This back action percussion lock is marked J.H. Wood Helena Ky, This is a very well made lock with a crisp action. The lock has a half cock notch, which not all period percussion locks have on the tumbler. The double lever double set triggers will fire the lock from the set or unset position. You may set the triggers or cock the lock in any order. The 1/4-28 threaded nipple is surrounded by high flash fence on the hooked breech to protect the wood at the breech from repeated cap flash.
This antique halfstock rifle has a bright shootable bore. The period lock and triggers are functional. 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.
