Percussion rifle identifcation

[DerekB87]

Mapsjanhere, when you say industrial manufacturing, would that still put this rifle somewhere in the mid to late 1800's?

 

[mapsjanhere]

Derek, yes, the time frame seems right.

 

[4V50 Gary]

Had a great talk on the Hawkins at Friendship tonight.

The rifle may have been made by Abel Shawk of Missouri (1858-1861), Samuel Shawk of ST L. No (1836-7) or by Shawk & McClananhan ('58-61). All were At Louis based. The patchbox may have been added later.

See Missouri Gunsmith to 1990 by Victor Paul.

 

[DerekB87]

The markings certainly could be "shawk". I greatly appreciate you getting back to me with this information. I will have to do further research. Even though this rifle may not be particularly valuable and a wall hanger, I find it infinitely interesting to find out the history of it.

 

[DerekB87]

It seems like Shawk and Mclanahan only made percussion revolvers from what I am seeing.

 

[4V50 Gary]

I wasn't aware of the Shawk and McLanahan revolver. Apparently from the video, Shawk is the same as the Abel Shawk I listed earlier. Samuel Shawk is more like the assembler of the gun. He must have southern roots so I'll have to check the other books once I get home.

https://youtu.be/fyChxEm7HIY

 

[Hawg]

Shawk and McLanahan made less than 100 .36 caliber brass frame revolvers in 1858.

 

[F. Guffey]

I have an old rifle that is stamped 'J.E. Willis', it is said he could have made 16 rifles, I believed he repaired rifle and then stamped them with his name.

F. Guffey

 

[DerekB87]

What is the possibility that the markings on the barrel is someones name. I cleaned it with steel wool today and it clearly is "Shwarp". This is a bit of a stretch but I found someone who fought on the Union side named Shwarp who was killed in the battle of Murfreesboro. Found in a report by Major general Rosecrans. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/ABS3313.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext

 

[4V50 Gary]

Oh no. Not steel wool. You remove the patina with steel wool.

If you must clean it, use a nickel (five cent piece) and organic coconut oil.

 

[4V50 Gary]

Regarding the deceased, you now have to go find his enlistment card and see what his occupation was. A gunsmith would, if he wanted to, become the regimental armorer and not have to see the elephant.

 

[DerekB87]

I used very fine steel wool, the patina is still there for the most part. Where do I go to find an enlistment card?

 

[4V50 Gary]

Fold3 or a trip to the National Archives. It will confirm his occupation, date of birth, physical characteristics and place of enlistment.

Mind you, it could be nothing too. The fellow could have been a farmer, store keeper, clerk, brickmaker, brick layer, wheelwright, cooper, etc.

 

[4V50 Gary]

Fold3 or a trip to the National Archives. It will confirm his occupation, date of birth, physical characteristics and place of enlistment.

Mind you, it could be nothing too. The fellow could have been a farmer, store keeper, clerk, brickmaker, brick layer, wheelwright, cooper, etc.