Civil War Era Long Rifle
Item Details
A handsome antique long rifle, by W.C. Biddle & Co. of Pennsylvania, produced circa 1855. This piece is in the style of the famous ‘Kentucky rifle’ or ‘Pennsylvania rifle’ which was an early rifle used in the settlement of western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and other parts of the Midwest and South during the frontier period. It features a long iron barrel, a curly maple stock adorned with an eight-pointed ’hunter’s star’ motif, a flintlock hammer, and a brass trigger guard as well as a brass veneer over the butt of the stock. According to the consignor, the rifle was carried by a volunteer pro-Union militia member (a ‘Squirrel Hunter’) during the Defense of Cincinnati in 1862, when Confederate forces briefly threatened the city from the south. No documentation exists to prove this, however given the age and style of the gun it is at least plausible.
Condition
- good for its age, although there is some damage, most notably a crack to the stock, and a missing brass fitting where a shoulder strap would have been attached. Please see Images and attend our preview day to assess the condition for yourself.
Dimensions
- barrel length 34".
Item #
15CIN144-160
Additional Information
