Constructed in the manner of those longrifles originally built in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, this rifle was neatly assembled by contemporary builder Mike Compton. The curly maple stock is stained and finished to best display the figure over the length of the stock. The rifle is trimmed in brass furniture, and the buttstock is fitted with a sliding wooden patchbox. The large Siler flintlock is finished to a silvery gray, while the Colerain swamped octagon barrel is finished to a dark brown. Weighing in at 9 pounds, the rifle has a trigger reach of 13-3/4", well suited for today's average sized shooter. This rifles is new, unfired.
The heart of the rifle is a .50 caliber swamped Colerain octagon barrel. The 42" swamped octagon barrel is thickest at the breech for strength, tapers to a narrow waist to reduce weight, and flares at the muzzle to align the sights. Colerain rifle barrels are drilled from solid steel, cut rifled with six “round bottom" grooves with a 1 in 56" twist for a tightly patched round ball. The “radius groove rifling", Colerain uses eliminates the sharp inside corner that accumulates fouling. Colerain rifle barrels are the favorite choice of today's best muzzle loading gun makers, because knowledgeable shooters demand Colerain's accuracy, inside and outside. Founded by two entrepreneurs, Scott Keller and Scott Kelly were tutored by Bob Paris, the famous rifle barrel maker who was first to perfect the technique for production of correct swamped barrels. A steel blade front sight is fitted behind the muzzle and a flat top rear sight is dovetailed 11=1/2" ahead of the breech, which many shooters with "older" eyes or corrective lenses will find easier to use.
This rifle has the angular lines common on rifles from the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania region. The stock is stained to a golden brown to best display the figure. The bullet shaped patchbox is notched at the base with thumb relief. To release the door compress the spring toward the lid and slide the door to the rear. Beneath the door is a deep cavity to store flints, jags, or other shooting accessories. At the point where the comb transitions into the wrist a line of raised carving can be seen. The brass buttplate is well fitted to the stock. The buttplate comb is shaped with paneled flats and wedding band transition. Ahead of the comb the wrist is defined by a line of raised carving that transitions into C scrolls. The wrist sweeps up to the flared tang of the breech and is accented by a raised and incised carved Fleur de Lys design. The tang and barrel are finished to a dark brown.
The bottom flat of the stock gently narrows from the toe to the lock panels. The brass triggerguard has been neatly finished with well defined flats, the bow is hand engraved with Mr. Compton's signature. A raised and incised carved Fleur de Lys framed the ramrod entry pipe skirt. The ramrod pipes are octagon with raised rings at the ends for strength. A 3/8" diameter ramrod serves the barrel, the end is fitted with a brass tip with 8-32 threads to accept loading and cleaning accessories. An Lancaster County square tail sideplate is retained by two dome headed lock bolts that pass through the plate and stock to engage the lock on the opposite side. The sideplate is hand engraved with a border and floral design below the rear lock bolt. The raised carving on the cameo wrist transitions into a square cheek with a stepped face. Opposing raised and incised C scrolls decorate the stock behind the cheek.
Ignition is provided by a large Siler flintlock. This lock was assembled decades ago by L&R Lock Company, and is marked on the inside of the lock plate. Fitted with a heavy mainspring, the lock sparks very well when combined with our #FLINT-ENG-6 hand knapped 3/4" English flints. The lock is finished to a silvery gray and engraved M. Compton by the builder. The double lever double set triggers are correctly adjusted, you may cock the lock, or set the trigger, in any sequence. Turn the tiny set trigger adjustment screw, between the two triggers, inboard to reduce the set trigger release tension.
Notice the stainless vent liner that has been installed on the rifle. This vent is perfectly positioned, well above the bottom of the pan. A vent serves as a window, allowing the heat of the flash to be instantly transmitted to the main charge. It should not be located low in the pan, serving as a drain, where it will slow ignition, causing the classic "whoosh - bang" delay often associated with flint longrifles. With this geometry, ignition appears to have no such delay.
In as-new unfired condition, this contemporary longrifle will be a joy to shoot! The lucky buyer will own a treasure that will last a lifetime. 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.
