This fine quality longrifle is modeled after the antique longrifles that evolved in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Womelsdorf - Reading school. Assembled with a neatly finished raised and incised curly maple stock, Russ Hamm flintlock, and straight octagon barrel. This well made flintlock longrifle rifle was neatly hand made and signed D. Herman. This rifle has been used and has a few small handling marks, a streak on the stock from cleaning, and the brass has a natural patina that has developed over the decades. Weighing in at 9.3 pounds the rifle has a trigger reach of 13-1/2" making it perfectly suited for today's average size shooter.
The rifle is assembled around a .45 caliber, 7/8" straight octagon barrel 43-3/4" long. The bore is cut rifled with seven lands and grooves with slow twist for a patched round ball. The bore is mirror bright and well maintained. Finished a dark brown with the edges worn to a silvery gray, the only external marking is the builder's signature inset into a brass inlay, D. Herman, on the top flat near the breech. A flat top rear sight has been dovetailed 10" forward of the breech, while a silver blade front sight with brass base has been dovetailed behind the muzzle.
Stocked in curly maple the wood has been stained a amber brown that accents the striped figure found throughout the stock. In excellent condition the wood has a few scattered handling marks and one dark streak from water with black powder residue that extends from the breech along the wrist to the comb. The detailed close-up of the patchbox shows the level of work that has gone into the gun. The patchbox design is patterned from antique examples both from the Womeldorf - Reading school, one by L. Reedy and another signed A.F. thought to be Andrew Figthorn, and now believed to be Andreas Fichthorn Jr. Born in 1779 and died suddenly in 1822. Both men worked with John Bonowitz, one of the more prominent makers in that region during the early 1800's. The patchbox was neatly polished and hand engraved, it has aged to a speckled patina from decades of storage. The door is easily opened by depressing the button hidden in the buttplate comb extension; this disengages the internal latch and allows the cover to pop up, revealing the cavity below. The door has been domed to increase the capacity of the patchbox.
The Roman nose styled comb drops away from the wrist. Where the two features come together a line of raised carving can be seen. The carving is well executed with clean back grounds and crisp smooth curves. The wrist sweeps up into the lock panels that correctly taper widest at the rear. The forearm is very slender and just wraps the swamped octagon barrel on the forearm and forend. The barrel is mounted with four wedge keys though engraved nickel silver escutcheon plates. A brass toeplate is fitted to protect the toe during loading and cleaning. Moving forward on the stock the brass triggerguard comes into view. Properly pinned into position, as is traditional, the guard has a small amount of hand engraving and is neatly hand filed with crisp flats.
The wooden ramrod of the rifle is held in place by three brass ramrod pipes. The pipes have been finished with flats and rings on the ends. The wood ramrod is fitted with a brass tip with 8-32 threads to accept loading and cleaning accessories. A brass sideplate has been used on the rifle. Neatly engraved the sideplate is engaged by a pair of dome headed lock bolts, the bolts pass through both plate and stock to engage the lock on the opposite side. Further back on the gun the classic squared cheek can be seen and the stock is decorated with a combination of beautifully executed raised and incised carving. The cheek is inlaid with a nickel sliver man-in-the-moon inlay.
The Russ Hamm flintlock has a silvery gray brown patina. This lock captures the styling used on many American longrifles in the Golden Age period. The lock plate is very neatly inlet into the panel. A stainless steel vent liner has been installed in the barrel, positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash. Single lever double set triggers are fitted to this rifle. A single lever double set trigger does not have a front trigger bar and can only be fired from the set position. The triggers are properly tuned to allow the lock to be cocked, or the trigger set in any order. The set trigger can provide very light release, perhaps an ounce or two, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather.
A finely made flint lock, 45 caliber Pennsylvania longrifle that you will be proud to own, shoot, and display. 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.
