Stocked in curly maple and trimmed in polished brass furniture. The design of this Colonial era longrifle appears to have been highly influenced by examples from the Tidewater region which had considerable trade with the English. This rifle shows the blend of English and Germanic influences. The large wide buttplate and square cheek piece are of Germanic influence. The large round faced English lock is designed for fast, reliable ignition. This is a fine reproduction of a rifle which would have been used as a tool for daily life during the 18th century. Neatly carved and finished with a slight patina by contemporary maker Mike Compton. The trigger reach is about 13-3/4" to fit today's average shooter. Weight is 9.4 pounds.
The 43-1/2" length .54 caliber Green Mountain swamped barrel is cut rifled with eight lands and grooves with a slow twist for a tightly patched round ball. Green Mountain Barrels are machined from high quality American made bar stock, A.I.S.I. 1137 modified, stress relieved, annealed, certified rifle barrel quality steel. All barrels are drilled from solid stock, reamed to a high degree of smoothness, then optically checked for straightness. Very close tolerances are maintained. The swamped barrel is light weight due to the taper and flare of the swamped octagon barrel. The thick breech makes the barrel very strong. The thin waist saves weight, and the muzzle flares to bring the front sight to the same sighting plane as the rear sight. The brass blade front sight is dovetailed 2" behind the muzzle. The flat top rear sight is dovetailed 11" ahead of the breech. The barrel is finished to a smooth even chocolate brown.
This longrifle has a comfortable wide flat buttplate, probably circa 1750 to 1780. The buttplate has a slight patina finish and engraving on the comb. The stock is decorated with a combination of raised and incised carving at the transition from wrist to comb. A raised molding from the toe to the triggerguard creates a sliming effect. The stepped wrist gives the rifle a Germanic influence. The two piece brass patchbox is neatly hand engraved. The small brass button on the comb of the buttplate actuates the patchbox release spring, allowing the door to snap open. Beneath the door is a deep cut cavity for storing flints, patches, or other shooting accessories. Lock panels gently taper widest at the rear in early long gun fashion. The flared tang of the breech is surrounded with a panel of raised and incised carving with a beaver tail design.
The bottom view shows the toe of the buttstock is fitted with a short engraved brass toeplate. The Germanic influenced brass triggerguard, with long grip rail, is mounted with pins. The bow of the triggerguard is signed M. Compton. The forend is slim and graceful, with a very slight Germanic palm swell just behind the ramrod entry pipe. The ramrod pipes are brass with a raised thumbnail skirt on the entry pipe. Incised carving decorates the area directly above the entry pipe and runs along the ramrod channel. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a steel tip for 8-32 threaded loading and cleaning accessories. A brass muzzle cap protects the end grain of the stock. The large engraved brass sideplate dominates the side panel. Two domed lock bolts engage the lock opposite. The classic longrifle cheek piece is surrounded by attractive early style raised and incised carving, not too elaborate. Later guns were often more highly decorated than earlier guns.
Ignition is provided by a round face Virginia lock. Sometimes called a “Queen Anne" lock, this best quality round faced flint lock actually dates from the 1730 to 1770 era, well after Anne's reign ended. The dark brown finished lock is lightly engraved and requires our #FLINT-ENG-7 7/8" knapped English gun flint. The bottom of the pan is stamped # 122. The stainless steel vent liner is positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. The vent hole has been internally coned to provide good ignition. 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. The single wide curled trigger has good leverage, giving this rifle an easy trigger release, and good feel.
We recommend this simple and attractive longrifle for the French & Indian War era reenactor or the Revolutionary War volunteer, seeking a suitable gun for militia duty. This longrifle is new, unfired. 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.
