Part Number: AAQ-638
This classic fullstock flint rifle is constructed in the style of John Phillip Beck - Lebanon township, Lancaster County Pennsylvania. John Philip Beck was the preeminent gunsmith in this region from the late 1770's until his death in 1811. Dr. George Shumway suggests that J.P. Beck's unique style of rifle architecture changed little over this period, unlike many other gunsmiths, during the golden age of the American longrifle.
This new, unfired rifle was constructed by contemporary gunmaker M. Markey and is signed on the top flat of the barrel. Stocked in curly maple with contrasting bands of figure, the stock is stained to a dark brown with golden undertones. The burnished brass furniture and Chambers deluxe Siler flintlock have a patina finish to give the rifle a lightly used appearance. The Rice swamped barrel also has a patina finish with the edges of the brown finish worn bright.
The Rice 42" swamped octagon makes this longrifle point easily, without being overly heavy. The swamped barrel is thickest at the breech, tapers to a narrow waist, and flares at the muzzle. The .50 caliber bore is cut rifled with seven lands and grooves. Grooves are cut .016" deep, with round bottom rifling, twist is 1 turn in 66 inches. Rice Muzzle Loading Rifle Barrels are set between centers and milled octagonal, insuring a centered bore, concentric with the exterior, with no "run-out". Each barrel is stress relieved in an atmosphere controlled electric furnace, to eliminate work hardening or barrel warp, and to dampen harmonic vibrations or barrel whip.
After the rifling has been cut, each bore is "ball burnished". A carbide bore-sizing die is pulled through the barrel, to insure bore dimension uniformity, eliminating any tight or loose spots inside the barrel. This critical procedure leaves the top of the lands smooth and polished, equaling the traditional lead lapping procedure. Rice barrels are Match grade quality, with bench rest capability. Rice barrels do not require lapping or extensive shooting to break-in. The top flat of the swamped barrel is signed Michael Markey No. 2017-1. A flat top rear sight is dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is mounted 9-1/4" from the breech. A Sterling silver blade front sight is fitted 1-3/4" behind the muzzle.
This elegant flint fullstock longrifle is trimmed in brass furniture, which has a light applied patina finish. The early wide buttplate has a pleasant curve, comfortable to aim, it engages your shoulder to minimize the felt recoil from the .50 caliber bore. The buttplate comb is shaped with three flats and a wedding band transition. The wrist is defined by a line of raised carving along the front edge of the comb. A classic raised carved scroll design surrounds the flared thumbnail tang of the breechplug. The cheek is shaped with a molded edge and angled to the rear, to recoil away from your face, an ingenious feature found on better rifles. The stock is shaped with raised carved scrolls that extend down the wrist ahead of the cheek Raised carved C scrolls decorate the stock behind the cheek.
The hand made brass toeplate is engraved with a acorn design and decorative scrolls. The triggerguard is correctly mounted with two pins, no screws. The two lines across the front of the triggerguard are features found on longrifles produced in the Lebanon Township. The raised molding along the lock panels continues on the forearm as decorative scrolls. The forend is shaped with a raised molding along the edge of the ramrod channel. The muzzle end of the stock is protected with a hand made brass muzzle cap mounted with three copper rivets in the style of J.P. Beck. The ramrod pipes are hand made from sheet stock with raised rings and flats on the body. The 3/8" diameter hickory ramrod is fitted with a brass tip with 10-32 threads for loading and cleaning accessories.
The hand made patchbox is a copy of an original "whale tail" design used by J.P. Beck. Examples of this patchbox are shown in the out of print book Gunsmiths of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, by Dr. James B. Whisker. Lift the spring toward the buttplate heel to allow the door to spring open. Beneath the door is a correctly cut cavity with a extra flint and jaw pad.
Trigger reach is 13-7/8" to fit todays average size shooter. This rifle weighs 8.5 pounds.
Ignition is provided by a Jim Chambers' deluxe Siler flint lock. Tuned for best performance the deluxe Siler lock features a slightly larger cock, and fancy frizzen spring. The beefy mainspring provides lots of energy, and this fast lock will throw sparks on the carpet. Finished to a mottled gray brown patina gray blue. We recommend our 3/4" knapped English flints for best performance in this lock.
The double lever double set trigger is properly adjusted to allow the lock to be cocked, or the trigger set, in any sequence. Correct geometry gives this rifle a very smooth trigger release. Adjust the screw between the two triggers, inboard to reduce set trigger release pressure, our outboard to require a stronger pressure. When screwed fully inboard, the adjustment screw disables the rear trigger, so the rifle must be fired from the front trigger, which requires about a four pound pull for release. It is wise to disable the rear trigger, when hunting in very cold weather. But the set trigger can provide very light release, perhaps an ounce or two, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather.
Fast ignition is assured by the Jim Chambers White Lightnin' stainless vent liner, positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash.
If you desire a attractive Revolutionary War period longrifle, then consider this fine piece. In new condition, the rifle has a bright bore and none of the handling marks commonly associated with normal use. A wonderful piece for display the rifle should also be an excellent shooter, add it to your black powder collection today!