The high-resolution muzzleloader pictures on this page were provided by Stephen Miller of BV Colonial Crafts. The pictures show the 19th century percussion muzzle loading rifle that is shown at the bottom of page 113 of the 2001 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties." That book attributes the rifle to the Somerset County, Pennsylvania gunsmith Jacob Mier, but does not specify the basis of the identification.
Pictures of the right-hand side of the rifle
The following picture shows the right-hand side of this handsome antique muzzle loading rifle, from the buttstock to just forward of the ramrod entry pipe. The rifle is stocked in somewhat curly Maple.
The following photo provides a little closer view of right-hand rear portion of the rifle. For another view with slightly different lighting, click here. The following picture provides an oblique view of the cast brass buttplate. Unlike many old muzzle-loading rifles, the toe of the buttstock is unbroken.
The following image provides a right-hand view of the buttstock, including the pierced and engraved four-piece brass patch box. The comb of the buttstock has a convex profile that fades into the wrist.
The following two pictures provide enlarged views of the patch box lid, side plates, and symmetric finial of this old gun. The side plates are retained to the stock with brass nails. The finial is retained by three steel screws and two brass nails. For additional views of the patch box, click here, here, here, and here.
The next two pictures provide closer views of the right-hand side of the wrist and the cast brass trigger guard. The firearm is equipped with a double set trigger arrangement. The hair trigger is straight and the set trigger is deeply curved. The adjustment screw for the hair trigger is visible between the two triggers. The metal pin that retains the rear of the trigger guard to the stock is visible in the first of the two pictures.
The following three pictures provide successively closer views of the engraved percussion lock and the mating raised panel of the rifle stock. The percussion drum does not have a vent screw. the tail of the lock plate is flattened. The lock plate has a small fence that is located rearward of the drum to help to protect the wood of the stock from the damaging effect of percussion cap flash. Such fences are common on hand-made locks from nearby Bedford County, and help to indicate that this lock was hand-made. The percussion hammer is in the fired position, and the recessed nose of the hammer appears to be well-aligned with the percussion nipple.
The following photo provides a view of the right-hand side of the ramrod entry pipe and rear sight and the nearby incised carving of the rifle stock. One of the metal pins that retains the barrel to the stock is visible near the left-hand edge of the photo.
The following picture provides an oblique view of the dovetailed rear sight.
The following photo provides a right-hand view of the rear ramrod pipe, which is retained to the gun stock with a metal cross-pin.
The following two photos show the right-hand side of the forestock, including the forward ramrod pipe and the brass nosecap.
Pictures of the left-hand side of the rifle
The following picture provides an oblique view of the brass toeplate. On another rifle attributed to Jacob Mier that has a similarly-shaped toeplate, the toe plate acts as the release for the lid of the patch box.
The following photograph provides an oblique view of the buttplate and the nearby relief carving of the stock that is located between the cheekpiece and the buttplate.
The following picture provides a view of the left-hand side of the stock from the buttplate to the raised stock panel for the lock bolt plate. The tails of the raised stock panels on this long gun are blunted.
The following photos provide normal and oblique views of the left-hand side of the relief-carved buttstock. For additional images, click here,
here,
here,
here, and
here.
The next two pictures provide oblique views of the left-hand side of the wrist and the stock panel for the lock bolt plate.
The next three pictures provide successively closer views of the brass lock bolt plate and mating panel of the stock. The gun lock is retained to the stock by a single screw.
The next picture provides a left-hand view of the ramrod entry pipe. The metal pin that retains the entry pipe to the stock is visible near the front of the entry pipe and just below the incised forearm carving. One of the pins that retains the barrel to the stock is visible near the right-hand edge of the picture.
The next two pictures show the rear ramrod pipe and nearby portions of the full-length rifle stock. As shown by the second picture, the incised carving on the forestock is interrupted at the location of the transverse barrel retention pin. The transverse pin that retains the ramrod pipe to the stock is visible in both pictures.
The following photo shows the left-hand side of the forestock, including the front ramrod pipe and the brass nosecap.
The following picture provides an oblique view of the muzzle of the full octagonal barrel. The cut rifling has seven grooves. the bore is surrounded by decorative concentric circles. The nose cap is formed from sheet metal and does not have a groove for the ramrod.
Pictures of the top of the rifle
The following photo provides a top view of the of buttstock.
The following photo provides an enlarged top view of the cast brass buttplate.
The following two photos provide a top view of the pointed breech plug tang and the percussion lock. Most of the head of the tang screw is missing, and the remaining portion of the screw appears to have been re-slotted. Click here for another photo of the same area.
The following picture provides a top view of the rear sight on this interesting Somerset County long rifle. The picture also reveals how thin the walls of the barrel channel are.
