It appears to be a variation of a Freemason's cross. Many people "back in the day" were Freemasons. http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/salem.html
Domari Nolo
looks home engraved as well
Thomas Thornton Thompson?
Charter Member #148
Not an old gun; noting the serial number stamped on the barrel flat ahead of the symbol. Barrel is not turned up on the square either.
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, the trouble with many shooting experts is not that they're ignorant; its just that they know so much that isn't so.
I agree with Dan. That rifle isn't that old and by that, I guessing it DOB was probably in the 70s or 80s. Kind of hard to even date it though without more photos. It wold help if you would post a photo of the entire rifle. The serial number should be a big clue that it isn't old. That said . . . that symbol would not be a commonly used symbol by Masons although it may have a connection in some manner. It appears more like a version of a Cross of Lorraine or similar. I don't have my Masonic references with me where I'm at to look but offhand, I can't put that symbol to a specific degree (Masonic). Post a few more pictures of the rifle if you can - full length, lock area and butt stock and furniture.
I've never seen anything like it in Mason stuff. I suspect is is something a guy put on the rifle when he built it from a kit. The breech fit doesn't look like a factory job, although it is certainly modern production parts. The tang bolt isn't properly indexed, and most factories at least try to do that.
The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"
Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!
from what I see in the pik it has a decided CVA/Jukar/Ardesa/Deer Creek look about it.
Hey Bubba.50, you've got a good eye ....I pulled out my old CVA FRONTIER that I put together from a kit and the barrel, tang, hammer, etc all match Jeff's photo, including the location and font of the serial number. I am a real novice at gun kits, but at least my barrel & tang are aligned.
the wood looks like beech. americans dont use that wood on muzzleloaders.
To agree with others I don't believe the emblem has anything to do with Freemasonry. Certainly none I'm familiar with.
"In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'
The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery
NRA Benefactor 2008
Looks very close to those lines you see on the edge of those aerial crop circle pictures. Maybe years ago this young man was hunting out there somewhere in eastern AZ and was abducted. When he returned and got back to the house something told him to mark everything he owned with this to avoid a return trip. He even has this tattoo on the side of his neck. Am I the only one that hears the X-FILES music?
.
Not quite the same as these
Now I lay me down to sleep
A gun beside me is what I keep
If I awake, and you're inside
The coroner's van is your next ride
I went to high school with Tommy Thompson, middle initial was a T also, always doodling the 3 T's like that.
Charter Member #148
That is the famous double cross... It is engraved on spurious OLD guns when they get ready to set the hook!
Power pole top bar is power center is phone and lower is the cable service.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |