Long rifle at pawn shop

[oconeedan]

I was at a local pawn shop, they had a beautiful long rifle with curly Maple stock. The stock had curl from one end to the other, a full stock. The lock looked like a quality lock, the double triggers look like quality triggers, the wood had some nice carving basically 3 D relief carving and it was fairly well done. They only wanted 100 bucks for the rifle.
I look down the bore and it was cruddy rusty. It appeared to be 50 caliber and it was rifled. I pulled the ram rod and ran it down the barrel, and it appears that the barrel is loaded. On the other end of the barrel the drum and nipple are missing. When you look in the hole where the drum is, it was solid. So either this gun was left loaded and is going to be a challenge to clean out, or someone filled the bottom of the barrel with something to make it a wall hanger.
The hammer on the action was full cocked, and pulling the triggers would not drop it. neither trigger would move at all like they were jammed. I am betting that I could get the lock in the triggers to working, probably something minor. But the barrel I have questions about. I don't know if you can make a rusty boar shoot worth a darn especially pushing club patched round balls down the bore.
I am thinking of going back and offering them 25 bucks for the rifle as a wall hanger. The barrel has 3 options, possibly 4. Either leave as is and use with a rough bore, assuming I can clean it out. Coat the bore with something to smooth it out, like fuel tank liner type stuff. Replace the barrel, or possibly get it rebored to 54 caliber or drilled out and lined.
There were no makers marks on the gun at all, I don't think it was a kit gun, but a gun that somebody put together from parts such as from track of the Wolf, it's etc.
I am pretty sure I can get the lock and trigger working well, but what are your thoughts on how to deal with this rusty bore barrel?

[nueces5]

I would buy it thinking of the worst option. The most expensive will be to change the barrel. Consider that in the budget.

[LAGS]

Those are the types of guns that I try to find.
I do all my own work short of Reboring the barrels.
I have made a few gems out of what others would consider Wall hangers.
And I got them at a good price.
If nothing more, they let me practice my Skill Set, so I know what to do when I come across that Rare Find that is well worth my time to go all out and restore it.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Maybe the owner will dicker on the price, but based on your description even for 100 bucks I'd buy it. As you said, I'm sure the lock's problem can be solved, and the barrel can be re-bored to a larger caliber. Also, there is just a possibility that, since you can't find any maker's marks, the rifle could be handmade by one of the backwoods master rifle makers and be quite valuable. That possibility aside, it still sounds well worth the money.

[Markopolo]

if the stock if purty and curly, that alone is worth 100 bucks...

[725]

I'd buy it and fix whatever needs fixin'. Even if I had to re-line or re-bore and re-breach it. Sounds like a future gem to me.

[pietro]

.

I can think of a couple of scenarios about how it got into pawn.

The gun may have been built, but the ignition channel got overlooked/undrilled, so the owner pawned it.

If the trigger's adjustable, someone who didn't know what they were about might have "adjusted" them until they were inoperable, blocked - and it was likewise pawned.



For $100 (or less, if dickered) I'd buy it, and remove the breechplug to see what's really in there.


Resolution or not, you can go from there.


.

[waksupi]

For a hundred bucks, buy it. Parts for a rifle run around a grand now. Some of those old sewer pipes shoot fine.

[Texas by God]

I would hurry back Buy It Now.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[oconeedan]

I bought it. I have a sling on my right arm, due to surgery, show this will be a project in a few weeks when I lose the sling. Thanks to all who have replied. I need to figure out how to post photos.

[oconeedan]

246715

[Beerd]

From your description and the photo I think you done good.
Let us know how this project progresses.
..

[woodbutcher]

:D Right purdy Sir.When you get some time,post up some more.We like pics.Hope all goes well on your heal up.Get well soon.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Pressman]

oconeedan , while you are waiting to heal check with these guys, there's a bunch of them that have the experience to give you great help. www.muzzleloadingforum.com/

[oconeedan]

OK, I have figgered out how to post pics, photo bucket was screwing with me.
https://i.postimg.cc/RqPNFT7F/20190814-191929.jpg (https://postimg.cc/RqPNFT7F)
https://i.postimg.cc/TpphWW0c/20190814-191910.jpg (https://postimg.cc/TpphWW0c)
https://i.postimg.cc/D8H0QyY3/20190814-191839.jpg (https://postimg.cc/D8H0QyY3)

[oconeedan]

https://i.postimg.cc/5HqtM59f/20190814-192203.jpg (https://postimg.cc/5HqtM59f)
https://i.postimg.cc/GTptKBCd/20190814-191951.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GTptKBCd)
https://i.postimg.cc/hz2PXS7w/20190814-192048.jpg (https://postimg.cc/hz2PXS7w)
https://i.postimg.cc/ygjW0m2L/20190814-192008.jpg (https://postimg.cc/ygjW0m2L)
https://i.postimg.cc/FdN7fWCf/20190814-192116.jpg (https://postimg.cc/FdN7fWCf)

[LAGS]

Please keep us posted on what else you find out now that you have the rifle in hand.
The rifle IMO was well worth what you gave for it.

[oconeedan]

Please keep us posted on what else you find out now that you have the rifle in hand.
The rifle IMO was well worth what you gave for it.
Thanks!

[Doubletap]

Well, you have a Siler lock there, so that's about a $100 dollar lock. The triggers appear to have been misadjusted. That little screw between the triggers controls the amount of the trigger bar sticks up and contacts the sear. Back it out, you should see the front trigger start creeping towards the front. If not, take the triggers out of the gun and look. Could be a broken flat spring, easy to make from hacksaw blade, and jamming things up a bit.
You did good! Clean the heck out of the barrel, install a new drum, drill it for the nipple using a Track of the Wold drum drilling jig (not expensive) and enjoy!!

[oconeedan]

Well, you have a Siler lock there, so that's about a $100 dollar lock.
You think so? The lock and the triggers are clean and they do work. the triggers are a double set target style, and must be set before the trigger can be tripped. The lock may be a conversion lock, as there is a spot that looks like it was silver soldered and is miscolored. The lock has a tiny "I" stamped inside. The trigger has "DRU" stamped on the side.
I am still trying to figure out exactly what I have. the barrel is 40 1/2" long, 15/16" across, and 50 caliber. I do think the barrel is loaded, but cannot pull a ball right now because of my shoulder. After I pull the ball and clean it out, I will try to clean the bore as advised above. Thanks for all of your help! Dan
https://i.postimg.cc/BjM0cJgB/20190815-135116.jpg (https://postimg.cc/BjM0cJgB)
https://i.postimg.cc/5XvPbgHY/20190815-140706.jpg (https://postimg.cc/5XvPbgHY)
https://i.postimg.cc/GBt1X6gw/20190815-135221.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GBt1X6gw)

[redhawk0]

Man...that's a sweet ML....I love the maple. You done real good.

redhawk

[taco650]

Wish I could find one of those around here! Good luck on the repair.

Stuart

[Good Cheer]

Awesome find.

[StrawHat]

It looks like you would be able to unscrew the breech and shove whatever is in the bore out.

Be careful drifting the barrel pins out of the stock. While I can not see the pins, I do not see any inlays to protect the wood.

Kevin

[oconeedan]

Kevin, I didn't see any barrel pins or wedges either,
Remove the ram rod and there is a screw that attaches the barrel to the stock at 6 o'clock. There is a screw from the front of the trigger group that securs the barrel at the rear. There may me another I have missed.
I haven't removed the barrel yet...maybe today. Thanks for your warning.

[oconeedan]

One problem I see is the trigger is awfully close to the front of the trigger guard. I may change to single trigger configuration.
Other options are heating and bending front trigger, or moving the trigger guard forward, which may be hard to do and keep it looking clean.
Dan

[pietro]

I didn't see any barrel pins or wedges either

Remove the ram rod and there is a screw that attaches the barrel to the stock at 6 o'clock.

There is a screw from the front of the trigger group that securs the barrel at the rear.




The screws holding the barrel to the stock look like a modern "build" to me.

Traditionally, long rifles (as noted by Kevin) are built with the barrel pinned to the stock.

That puppy looks like it's worth waaay more than you paid for it - congrats !




.

[GregLaROCHE]

After seeing those pics, I don’t think you went wrong buying it. Good luck and have fun tinkering with it.

[dogrunner]

Don't discount that bore...........I fitted a cartridge cylinder to a Ruger Old Army for a close friend..........bore looked like an old coal mine shaft and the BP cylinder was nothing short of a basket case.

With the ctg cylinder that gun shot TIGHT cloverleaves at 20 yards with both factory and handloads..........rough to clean as y ou 'd never get a clean patch out, but by golly it shot.

[mazo kid]

Is the breech end threaded for a drum? I would use a small brass rod (brazing rod!) and pick away at whatever is in the barrel. Could even be a ball. If that won't work, remove the barrel and unbreech it ( after the arm is healed!). Be sure to put anti-seize on the threads before putting the breechblock back on. Good luck; you have a very nice rifle.

[oconeedan]

I get this sling off tomorrow, but will be very wimpy for several weeks.
I sprayed Kroil down the bore to let it soak.
I will first see what size the drum threads are, and see if I have a grease fitting that fits. (I am a forklift mechanic). If so, I'll try to pump it out with a grease gun.
If not, I will try to pull the ball with my range rod, with help from someone, the old fashioned way.
Dan

[bob208]

I would buy them all day long for that price. even if the bore was toast just make a trip over the mountain and see bob hoyt.

[jimb16]

At $100 I'd have bought it in a second! My arm would now be in a sling from straining it to get the wallet out fast enough! You got yourself a real winner!

[GOPHER SLAYER]

My only question is, why did you have to think about it? Even if it was only a wall hangar, it was worth the price. The stock would cost more that a "c" note as a blank. Great find.

[oconeedan]

I bought a drum with nipple. Removed the nipple, installed a grease fitting. Used a power grease gun and pushed the load out. Used compressed air and blew out most of the grease worm. It was a freaking mess.
It took a while, but after a few cans of brake cleaner, patches, and a fair amount of cussing, I got this barrel unloaded and cleaned out. It cleaned up better than I hoped for. Not perfect, but shooting and swabbing will make it even better!
I can't get the nipple clocked right, without making a shim. So I will order another drum, this time with no nipple. I will drill and tap the nipple myself.
I got my arm out of the sling, but still pretty crippled.
One step closer....

[nekshot]

been there and done it also, what a mess is putting it lightly! You have a nice gun for sure!

[bigted]

Following along. You have found a pearl in the mud ... sounds and looks like.

Fun project and you really bought rite ... congrats!