Part Number: AAM-448
This rifle is modeled after the work of J. Hoak a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania maker. An example of this famous makers work can be found in Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle, in its Golden Age by Joe Kindig, Jr.
The rifle is stocked in curly maple and trimmed in brass furniture. Other than the buttplate and triggerguard, all the furniture was hand made for this rifle by the builder. The .50 caliber by 42" swamped barrel is mated to a large Siler flintlock for reliable ignition. Unsigned this attractive rifle was assembled by contemporary builder Robert Hertrich.
The .50 caliber 42" swamped octagon barrel, by Rice Barrel Company, has been polished, and finished to a smooth brown with a slightly reddish undertone. The swamped barrel is tapered and flared, thickest at the breech for strength, thinning to a waist ahead of center, and flaring slightly at the muzzle, to bring the front sight and rear sight to the same plane. The .50 caliber bore is rifled with seven round bottom grooves with a 1 in 66" twist for patched round ball. The bore is bright and has been well maintained.
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.