Today I picked up this left handed flintlock rifle at Dixon's.
Greg Dixon wasn't sure who built it but after getting it home I found it marked "C. Gibson '08" in the stock behind the patchbox. It's not signed on the barrel.
Some googling has not revealed any contemporary makers by that name, so I'm thinking it was put together by a talented hobbyist. Regardless, it's pretty well built and appears to have been fired very little.
Greg had actually done the engraving on the patchbox and toe plate, so I asked him to note that on the receipt.
The stock profile and trigger guard look very much like those found on the Isaac Haines rifle kits that Track of the Wolf formerly sold, which is nice because it's probably my favorite style of rifle.
The major components are all good stuff:
- Barrel: Green Mountain 42” long x 13/16” octagon
- Caliber: .36
- Twist: Unknown but my SWAG is 1:48"
- Finish: In the white
- Lock: Large LH Siler flint
- Triggers: Davis double-set
- Stock: Unknown wood, pretty plain grain but with some nice carving and a cheekpiece inlay.
Although a smallbore it's no lightweight rifle:
- Weight: 8.7 lbs.
- OAL: 58”
- LOP: 14”
It came with a vent pick attached with leather thong tied to trigger guard.
This is my first muzzleloading rifle smaller than .45 caliber. Along with the rifle I bought suitable ramrod accessories, a box of Hornady .350 balls, a bag of 0.018" ticking patches, and a bag of 0.015" patches to try.
The rifle came with a 5/16" ramrod but the channel in the stock is sized for 9mm or 3/8" rods, as are the thimbles. The top two thimbles have thin pieces of leather glued inside to keep the rod snug.
Depending on the weather I maybe able to get it to the range tomorrow, else it'll have to wait.
I'm looking forward to figuring out an accurate load and using it for target shooting, woods walks, and maybe small game.
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