info for c. 1840s squirrel/trade rifle

oldscot3 · February 16, 2015, 10:37 AM

My stepson inherited an old family heirloom in the form of a rifle which was handed down through the generations, but whose history is lost due to the passing of the last of those generations.

I know little about muzzle loaders and net research can quickly get confusing. Here's what I have figured out so far...
it's a percussion ignition lock
seems to be about 40 cal.
trigger guard, butt and other appointments were iron
full stock
" *J*M* " stamped on the barrel.

It seems consistent with the firearms that went west to the frontier from the mid 1830s to about the 1850s, can anybody point me to a good source of information for more research?

**4V50 Gary** · February 16, 2015, 10:41 AM

Start by posting pictures.

If you can attend the National Shoot at the Ben Avery Range near Phoenix, AZ, I'm sure you'll find some experts there. The shoot is 3/3-3/9.

oldscot3 · February 16, 2015, 10:56 AM

I'm working from my tablet. I have a couple of pics but they're too big and the resoluton isn't that great anyway. If I can figure out how to change the settings so TFL will let them attach I'll post them.

Perdasoli makes a reproduction ".Alamo rifle" that shares many similarities in appearance.

Model12Win · February 16, 2015, 08:25 PM

CVA makes or made an excellent repro squirrel rifle.

oldscot3 · February 16, 2015, 08:48 PM

I'm not looking to buy a rifle, I mentioned the Perdasoli because its lockwork is very similar in appearance to one on my son's rifle. His rifle is probably 175 years old... I'm hoping to find a good source of information regarding its origins.

bedbugbilly · February 17, 2015, 12:26 PM

A lot of guessing going on here . . . it could be anything from the description.

Without pictures . . . it's a "could be, might be, probably is".

Not being sarcastic or critical . . but photos . . . good ones . . of the entire rifle, the furniture, the stock shape, both sides of the butt stock, the lock side and the opposite side where the lock bolt goes in . . all those things will give possible hints as to the origin of the rifle. There were many "schools" of rifle making, many geographical styles, etc. that can help identify or at least give a hint as to the origin of the rifle.

Your guess on the 40 caliber gives a hint that this was made for areas where small game was the usual fare on the table . . . but that too, is a guess. Full stock . . does it have a nose cap? Iron or poured or none at all. Does it have an entry pipe or none? Etc. All those things help in the identification of any rifle and can help at least to give a possible area of origin which could be anywhere from New England to the Carolinas to Kentucky/Tennessee, etc.

oldscot3 · February 18, 2015, 07:26 AM

Based mainly on the lock work, but other factors considered, my best guess is it's a Pennsylvania long rifle from the period of roughly 1836 to early 1840s.

A cousin of the late owner is coming for a visit in few weeks, he is a history professor at a state college. I'm hopeful he has some knowledge of their heritage that can shed some light on the old relic.

I fully understand the issue of pictures but can't figure out how to achieve the high resolution needed and comply with TFL's limits on picture size at the same time, especially with this darn tablet. I'm thinking of ditching it for a laptop that has a (wonder of wonders) usb port. Then I can actually use a dedicated camera without having to go to a different computer, download pics, then email to the tab, then download again, then attach if the settings are correct.

Hawg · February 20, 2015, 09:12 PM

Upload them to photobucket then copy and paste the img tag in your post,

hartcreek · February 21, 2015, 07:13 AM

PM sent to you oldscot3

February 16, 2015, 10:37 AM	#1
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	info for c. 1840s squirrel/trade rifle My stepson inherited an old family heirloom in the form of a rifle which was handed down through the generations, but whose history is lost due to the passing of the last of those generations. I know little about muzzle loaders and net research can quickly get confusing. Here's what I have figured out so far... it's a percussion ignition lock seems to be about 40 cal. trigger guard, butt and other appointments were iron full stock " JM* " stamped on the barrel. It seems consistent with the firearms that went west to the frontier from the mid 1830s to about the 1850s, can anybody point me to a good source of information for more research?

February 16, 2015, 10:41 AM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Start by posting pictures. If you can attend the National Shoot at the Ben Avery Range near Phoenix, AZ, I'm sure you'll find some experts there. The shoot is 3/3-3/9. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 17, 2015, 12:26 PM	#6
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	A lot of guessing going on here . . . it could be anything from the description. Without pictures . . . it's a "could be, might be, probably is". Not being sarcastic or critical . . but photos . . . good ones . . of the entire rifle, the furniture, the stock shape, both sides of the butt stock, the lock side and the opposite side where the lock bolt goes in . . all those things will give possible hints as to the origin of the rifle. There were many "schools" of rifle making, many geographical styles, etc. that can help identify or at least give a hint as to the origin of the rifle. Your guess on the 40 caliber gives a hint that this was made for areas where small game was the usual fare on the table . . . but that too, is a guess. Full stock . . does it have a nose cap? Iron or poured or none at all. Does it have an entry pipe or none? Etc. All those things help in the identification of any rifle and can help at least to give a possible area of origin which could be anywhere from New England to the Carolinas to Kentucky/Tennessee, etc. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

February 18, 2015, 07:26 AM	#7
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	Based mainly on the lock work, but other factors considered, my best guess is it's a Pennsylvania long rifle from the period of roughly 1836 to early 1840s. A cousin of the late owner is coming for a visit in few weeks, he is a history professor at a state college. I'm hopeful he has some knowledge of their heritage that can shed some light on the old relic. I fully understand the issue of pictures but can't figure out how to achieve the high resolution needed and comply with TFL's limits on picture size at the same time, especially with this darn tablet. I'm thinking of ditching it for a laptop that has a (wonder of wonders) usb port. Then I can actually use a dedicated camera without having to go to a different computer, download pics, then email to the tab, then download again, then attach if the settings are correct. Last edited by oldscot3; February 18, 2015 at 07:35 AM.

February 16, 2015, 10:56 AM	#3
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	I'm working from my tablet. I have a couple of pics but they're too big and the resoluton isn't that great anyway. If I can figure out how to change the settings so TFL will let them attach I'll post them. Perdasoli makes a reproduction ".Alamo rifle" that shares many similarities in appearance.

February 16, 2015, 08:25 PM	#4
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	CVA makes or made an excellent repro squirrel rifle.

February 16, 2015, 08:48 PM	#5
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	I'm not looking to buy a rifle, I mentioned the Perdasoli because its lockwork is very similar in appearance to one on my son's rifle. His rifle is probably 175 years old... I'm hoping to find a good source of information regarding its origins.

February 20, 2015, 09:12 PM	#8
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Upload them to photobucket then copy and paste the img tag in your post,

February 21, 2015, 07:13 AM	#9
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	PM sent to you oldscot3