September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
barrel is 36", .60 bore-percussion. Offered is a early gunsmith conversion of the US Harpers Ferry military rifle (Model 1803). This rifle was the type of rifle used by the Lewis & Clark expedition. The lock is stamped Harpers Ferry 1817 and was converted into a sporting rifle sometime in the mid 19th century. It was converted by installing a part octagon sporting barrel with fixed rear sight, dove tail brass front sight. The stock was converted to a half stock and an under barrel rib was attached utilizing the original military stock. The lock was converted from flint lock to percussion, the brass trigger guard, patch box and butt plate are a dark rich mustard hue, the barrel is a mix of brown and gray with age freckling, the lock has 2 later replacement brass screws, the barrel has US proof marks. That they could have manufactured a military sporting rifle for an officer, we have no way of determining. This is an interesting military sporting rifle. The stock is very good with no cracks. Further research through Springfield Armory may turn up some more interesting facts about this sporting rifle.