Rifle, flintlock

Firearm

-

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Rifle, flintlock

Entry/Object ID

VC.59.28

Description

Flintlock fowling piece: smooth-bore extra long iron barrel, with remains of browning, round, with single flattened face extending length of top; half-stocked, with wooden rib below barrel. Keepers on underside of barrel secured to stock and rib by small pins. Silver front sight; brass rear sight. Three brass ramrod ferrules secured by pins through rib. Brass cap at end of fore-grip. Stock cherry, with high combed butt, no patch box; buttplate brass, secured by screws, fitting over heel in a rounded curve; engraving on buttplate tang of floral and dentil motifs. Brass trigger guard,broad under trigger, engraved with foliate design, projects down beneath underside of grip. Forward part of trigger guard ends in shell shape. Engraved brass lockplate, foliate and dentil patterns again repeated. Raised elliptical silver medallion at top of grip of stock, engraved with wavy line, and dentil motif, and surrounded by silver pique (wire) inlay, in form of wavy line, with forms resembling closed swastikas at ends of medallion. Barrel at breech engraved with date and maker's name, and bearing punched floral (maker's ?) mark. Back-strap stamped with dentil decoration. Lock, complete with flint and leather, apparently original and functioning; goose-necked, flat-faced hammer; curved frizzen; open jaw screw. Barrel length: 49 1/4". Drop at heel: c. 3 1/4". Bore: c. 5/8". Cherry stock; iron barrel; brass hardware; silver decoration.

Firearm Detail

Manufacturer

D. Wright

Date Made

1753

Dimensions

Length

64 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 64 in. (162.6 cm)

Material

brass, Cherry, silver, Iron

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

WRIGHT, D.

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

Fowling pieces distinguished by light barrel, smooth bore; intended for either ball or shot, but primarily for use equivalent to that of modern shotgun, i.e., "fowling." Musket is primarily for use with ball. Rifle is characterized by rifling in barrel. Excellent and functioning. Ramrod probably restored; few small repairs to forestock; six marks c. 1/8" deep within barrel muzzle (early attempt at rifling?)

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Complex, Ferry House - Keeper's Room/SE