Greetings, all,
What sort of rifle is this? I will email Mehul the photos to post for me when he gets the time.
It weighs 11-1/2 pounds.
The fully rifled bore is 0.984” from land-to-land, the 13 grooves are 0.095” wide and are about 0.030” deep.
The muzzle is 1.340” across the flats, and the breech is 1.320”.
The half stocked patent breeched octagonal Damascus barrel is 29-1/2” long.
One fixed sight leaf and four unmarked folding leaves with very sharp corners on them.
The dovetailed front sight is a disc 0.125” diameter, and appears to be fire blued.
The top barrel flat reads “BROWN & RODDA TITCHBORNE ST LONDON” and there are no proof marks visible anywhere on the barrel.
The front action lock is tastefully engraved and reads “BROWN & RODDA” and the hammer top looks sort of like a fish.
All the hardware appears to be steel, showing traces of fire bluing.
The stock is semi-fancy walnut with a red varnished finish.
Around almost all of the hardware are dark stains and no varnish, I suspect from gun oils getting under the finish via the inletting pockets.
The trigger guard is huge, perhaps for a gloved finger.
One-inch sling swivels are present on the stock and ramrod pipe on the barrel rib.
The ramrod is dark red and the bell end is missing from it.
It looks almost like a walking stick for a short man.
What market was this gun made for?
The barrel walls seem thin for any sort of heavy charges at about 0.150” or so on a side…
What did this gun fire, round balls, or conicals? Any idea as to the charge?
I’ve been contemplating making an 0.875” diameter round ball mold for it if it’d be safe to shoot it with them.
I suspect denim or soft deerskin would work for patch material.
Muzzleloaders with bores over .45” are legal for whitetails here in Indiana, heh-heh-heh…
Thanks for any assistance or comments anybody can enlighten me with.
MacNaughton360