Old ML rifle

glockman55 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:58 pm Post subject: Old ML rifle

I got another Old ML rifle, Looks like a 32 cal. A heavy hex barrel, about 1.5" across, I'll try to post some pics..29" barrel, over all rifle length is 45.5". I posted a couple of pics in my gallery..
Glock

glockman55 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

I'll try onther on..

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

I love those old octagon barrels. Man that alot of steel around that tiny hole though LOL!

-DallanC

glockman55 · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

I'm tring to find out some info on it, how old, etc. Cool Stuff.

PaulS · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:02 am Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

When you use mild steel instead of 4130 moly steel it takes a lot of steel.
From the looks of it I would bet it is cold rolled mild steel - maybe heat treated to T1 but nothing very fancy.

glockman55 · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

PaulS wrote:

When you use mild steel instead of 4130 moly steel it takes a lot of steel.
From the looks of it I would bet it is cold rolled mild steel - maybe heat treated to T1 but nothing very fancy.

Well I'm guessing that 150 years ago they used what they had. Nothing Fancy but It's Art to me.. Laughing

1895ss · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

Nice old gun there Glock. I like them old pieces as well. I don't have any but I see them here from time to time on display at gunshows. Let us know when you find more info on it. Smile

Gil Martin · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:29 am Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

Nice pictures. I am fond of those old classic rifles. All the best...
Gil

SwampFox · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:58 am Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

Glock,
Am I seeing the barrel right? Is the top of the barrel the angle and not the flat?
Ed

glockman55 · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

It's off center, I wasn't paying attention when I took that pic.. The front sight is at the top of the barrel. It was on an angle. I can't find a lot of info on this gun...I must be looking in the wrong places. Any Help?

4rum · Member Joined: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 211

The half stock and forend piece (if indeed that is what it is) just don't fit the style of "old". May be a 'built' gun from Dixie or some place similar. Also some Italian makers sold kit's of this ilk widely in the 60's and 70's. These guns, once checked for servicability are a hoot to shoot. I have a .32 made up from a CVA barrel, Davis 'squirrel' lock and a whittled out stock. I bought a mold and mold the little 103 grain maxi's. Shoots great!!!

glockman55 · Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

I'm not sure when or where it was built. My grandpa gave it to my Dad and he gave it to me, along with a Musket, which I have posted pics on here of that before. My Dad was born in 1932 and He said he remembers these guns back when he was a kid. The Musket was told to him it came from 1776, Passed down through the family, It was converted from flint lock to percussion cap. as far as the heavy barreled ML, I don't know much about that one. I've did some research on the musket and it does resemble the ones on line from that time (1770's) I'll try to post some more pics of the musket..

glockman55 · Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

glockman55 · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:46 am Post subject: 1862 Pocket Navy

1862 Pocket Navy, 36 cal. This is a kit I put together in the 70's..

SwampFox · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Old ML rifle

Glock,
Ok, start with what you have;
You can trace it to pre 1932
It is 32 Cal
It has a short barrel
It has iron Furniture
It has a pewter cap
It has a slight perch belly
It is a sporting rifle at 32 Cal, not a heavy hunting gun (45 or 50 cal)
No patch box.
It had a full ramrod at one time
It looks like the rear sight was never set forward.

Are there any marks at all on the top of the barrel, dots, stars, stamped or script letters? How about under the barrel. Look real close, rarely did a maker not mark the barrel in some fasion. There should have been a bag, a mould and horn with this gun at one time.

On the lock are that any marks outside or inside? This is the last place to look as most makers used commercial locks and the name on the lock usually means nothing.

Without further information I would say, just looking at the photos that you have an Ohio rifle or very similar piece and it looks to be a decent quality gun. If the owner did not set the rear sight forward it was probably made between 1860 and the turn of the century. When shooters got older they set the rear sight forward to focus on the rear sight better. Based on what you said about 1932 and the sight not being moved, the gun is probably a late BP era gun made just before BP guns were phased out. That is why the sight was not moved. In that time frame the plains rifle style was popular. The perch belly was popular in the mid 1800. The finest makers in the US went PA to Ohio to MO.

The musket is military. With the photo being dark it is difficult to see the lock and rest of the gun clearly.

I hope the above helps a little.
Ed