Longrifles made in the region of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, are immediately recognizable. These rifles are long, thin, and graceful, with a low comb. We know that rifles were made in Bedford County as early as 1776, and many were made between 1800 and 1890. This span makes the Bedford County rifle contemporary to the Brown Bess musket, the Hawken plains rifle, the Colt revolver, and even the Winchester lever action. The rifle is stocked in curly maple, and trimmed in engraved brass furniture. The Russ Hamm flintlock has the classic Bedford appearance with a long thin plate with square tail. Assembled and signed by contemporary builder Don King circa 970. Trigger reach is 13-1/4" which gives the rifle a very antique appearance, and should fit today's average size shooter. Weight is only 7.4 pounds due to the .45 caliber and slender barrel profile.
The 43-2/4" straight octagon barrel is likely the work of G.R. Douglas Company. They were one of the few barrel makers offering barrels of that length during the 1970 period. Cut rifled with seven lands and grooves with a slow twist for patched round ball. We recommend our .440" pure lead round ball, patched with .017" Ox-Yoke ticking, lubricated with Mink Oil grease, or other animal fat lubricant, if you require best accuracy for target shooting. The hunter may prefer our .015" Ox-Yoke precut patches, to allow easy loading in the field. The rear sight is a flat top dovetailed 10" from the breech. A steel blade front sight is dovetailed behind the muzzle. The barrel is signed D. King in script between the breech and rear sight on the top flat. The quarter flat is also engraved Wichita 1970.
Stocked in curly maple that has been stained to a deep cherry red with a hint of golden undertone to best display the contrasting stripes of figure. The buttstock has a low straight comb. The rifle features a line of raised carving to create a cameo wrist. The buttstock is fitted with a decorative patchbox with pierced head and side panels. The brass patchbox is hand engraved in a traditional folk art style. The engraved door has release in the buttplate between the toe and heel. Beneath the door is a deep cut cavity for storing flints, jags, or other accessories. The buttstock tapers into the offset cheek, and a slender wrist.
The toe of the rifle is fitted with a short brass toeplate. The toeplate has a hand engraved flower and heart designs around the mounting screws. The brass triggerguard is shaped with paneled finials and hand polished to a bright finish. The triggerguard bow is hand engraved with a flower. The ramrod pipes are formed from sheet brass. The 5/16" diameter ramrod is fitted with a brass tip with 8-32 threads for loading and cleaning accessories. A flat brass sideplate with squared tail is inlet flush with the side panel. The sideplate is hand engraved with a border and scroll designs with a 1970 date. In addition to the two lock bolts small brads secure the sideplate to the stock. The cheek piece is inlaid with a large oval, hand engraved with a Federal eagle with sheaf of arrows and olive branch. The silver inlay has darkened over time.
The Russ Hamm Bedford County flint lock features the classic square tail design. The lock is shaped with a waterproof pan with rain gutters to either side. The lock is decorated with hand engraving on the lock plate and flint cock., the finished to a smooth dark brown. See the similar locks in the book Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntington & Somerset Counties by Dr. James B. Whisker. The rifle has a single trigger with a decorative scroll back. The trigger is pinned high to provide good leverage against the sear.
The double set triggers are tuned to fire from both the set and unset position. You may cock the lock or set the triggers in any order. Adjust the screw between the two triggers, inboard to reduce set trigger release pressure, our outboard to require a stronger pressure. The set trigger can provide very light release, perhaps an ounce or two, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather.
In used condition this classic Bedford County longrifle shows only a few marks on the frizzen face. The rifle is stocked in curly maple, trimmed in brass furniture, with a straight octagon barrel and Russ Hamm flintlock. Signed by contemporary builder Don King circa 1970. 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.
