Quote:
Originally Posted by fred cook
(Post 10372847)
TRUITT or TRUETT BROS. & CO.— Most likely Philadelphia, Pa. Makers of flintlock Kentucky rifles. This one is what is referred to as a "Hawken" style rifle. These guns were usually made in a heavy caliber (50 cal or bigger) and used to take big game such as buffalo. This is a purely iconic American arm probably dating to about 1830-1850 or thereabouts. The lock is referred to as a "back action" lock which became popular about the same time. You will see the same style lock on double barrel shotguns from the same period. The round insert in the stock is what is known as a "patch box" used to hold greased patches for reloading the rifle. All in all, a nice example and certainly valuable. The double set trigger is indicative of a higher priced gun and should add to the value. You should document the known provenance back to your great grandfather (names, dates, etc.) as that will add to the value. Hope this helps!
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The Truitt Bros Co were extant in Philadelphia from 1847 until 1861 when it became Truitt Co closing in 1863. They were Lock Makers only. So the rifle was made by someone else using a Truitt lock.
It is a half stock percussion rifle made in a whole gamut of calibers from .32 to over .60...Most were in smaller calibers as they were small game rifles or target rifles. Most popular would be .40 or .45. This type of percussion rifle was made from about 1840 until 1880 when metallic cartridges supplanted the now archaic muzzle loaders.
You rifle is a standard configuration Back Action lock which was common and has no real extras. It could have been ordered out of a catalog. As far as shooting it goes get a light down the bore to see how much pitting there is and how much rifling is left? The lock is a two stage, half cock and full cock, see if it works and holds. You have Double set triggers, pull the back trigger to set the front which becomes a "hair" trigger. They can be adjusted by the little screw in between the triggers. Use a Nipple Wrench to pull the Percussion nipple to make sure it comes out. It maybe rusted in place, that can be remedied either with penetrating oil and or a bit of heat...The idear here is if you do shoot it you want to be able to take it apart before you shoot so you do not run into trouble taking it apart after you shoot it.
If everything looks good to go, mic the bore to find out the caliber and then proceed to learn out how to load, shoot and CLEAN the rifle...With Black Powder you can not let them sit they must be cleaned to prevent them from rusting. They mostly are ball & patch affairs.
I have a Great Western Gun Works (1865-1923) JH Johnson of Pittsburgh, PA 40 cal percussion rifle that I shoot... I got that from a MO estate of the son of a back in the day black powder shooter who passed away in 1960.
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