I have a friend who is trying to determine the value of a gun that his wife's family has had for a few generations. It appears to be a breach loading, single shot, rifle. Markings on the stock read
Parkers Snow & Co
Meriden Conn.
1863
Next to the markings is a stamped eagle with arrows and olive branch in its claws and US stamped under the eagle.
Markings on the top of the action read
W.H. & G (The rest is obscured)
Patent May 183(?)-1865
Merdiden Manfg Co.
Meriden Conn
There is an external hammer on the right side of the rifle, and a rod under the barrel that made me think at first that I was looking at a muzzle loading percussion rifle. The hammer strikes a firing pin which is positioned much the same way the nipple would be on a percussion rifle.
The action flips up, exposing the chamber. Flipping the action up activates what appears to be a shell extractor. There is a deep groove at the top of the stock at the breach. When the action flips down, it locks in place. The tigger has a half-cock position to prevent the gun from firing if the hammer is not fully cocked.
There is a three part rear sight. Two higher sights lay flat against the barrel and can be flipped up into position for aiming the gun at different ranges. The two taller sights are stamped with a 3 and a 5 respectively.
There is a tag on the gun that says
Civil War musket-converted.
Any ideas?
Parkers Snow & Co
Meriden Conn.
1863
Next to the markings is a stamped eagle with arrows and olive branch in its claws and US stamped under the eagle.
Markings on the top of the action read
W.H. & G (The rest is obscured)
Patent May 183(?)-1865
Merdiden Manfg Co.
Meriden Conn
There is an external hammer on the right side of the rifle, and a rod under the barrel that made me think at first that I was looking at a muzzle loading percussion rifle. The hammer strikes a firing pin which is positioned much the same way the nipple would be on a percussion rifle.
The action flips up, exposing the chamber. Flipping the action up activates what appears to be a shell extractor. There is a deep groove at the top of the stock at the breach. When the action flips down, it locks in place. The tigger has a half-cock position to prevent the gun from firing if the hammer is not fully cocked.
There is a three part rear sight. Two higher sights lay flat against the barrel and can be flipped up into position for aiming the gun at different ranges. The two taller sights are stamped with a 3 and a 5 respectively.
There is a tag on the gun that says
Civil War musket-converted.
Any ideas?