The back story of this Joseph Mills rifle
The antique full stock rifle featured on this page was made by Joseph Mills, an important Bedford County, Pennsylvania gunmaker who continued his gun making career in Ohio. The rifle was built with a rat tail flintlock that was later converted to percussion.
The rifle was obtained in 2020 from a Somerset County, Pennsylvania family it had been in for years. The lock, tang, and associated bolts were missing when the rifle was sold at auction, but were found loose in a box a few weeks later by the "Picker" who had originally put the rifle at auction. Thanks to the Picker, the lock was reunited with the rifle! And so, this marvelous example of the work of Joseph Mills has been saved intact for another generation to enjoy.
Photos of the Joseph Mills percussion conversion rifle
The first photo below provides an overview of the right-hand rear portion of the rifle, and reveals the nice grain of the curly maple gun stock that is visible at the wrist. It also reveals the presence of a thumb plate on the top side of the wrist. The teardrop-shaped wrist inlay to the rear of the lock panel is repeated on the left-hand side of the wrist. The gun is fitted with a typical Bedford County patch box.
The next picture provides an overview of the rear left-hand side of this 19th century rifle from the stock panel to the crescent butt plate. Looking at the belly of the stock, one can see that it incorporates a brass toe plate.
When this flintlock rifle was converted to percussion, a percussion drum and a commercially-made (rather than hand-made) hammer were incorporated. Note that the drum has a vent screw. Also notice the vestigial remains of the pan, the filled-in hole for the frizzen screw, and the related lump along the lower edge of the lock plate. This and other converted gun locks prove that Joseph Mills was one of Bedford County's flintlock rifle makers.
The next photo is included because it provides a good view of the left-hand side of the cast brass trigger guard of the Mills percussion conversion rifle. The rifle is equipped with a double set trigger arrangement. The curvature of the hair (front) trigger is not as different from the curvature of the set (rear) trigger as on many black powder rifles. An adjustment screw is located between the triggers.
The following image provides a view of the lightly engraved lock bolt plate on this antique muzzle loader rifle. Note the pointed front and streamlined tail of the stock panel, and the rat tail of the brass lock bolt plate. Looking inside the bow of the trigger guard forward of the front trigger, the threaded tip of a tang screw is visible.
The following photo highlights the sunburst relief carving that is located between the cheekpiece and the -shaped butt plate of this percussion conversion rifle. Joseph Mills was not afraid to experiment with design, and this wonderful sunburst design strays very far from the traditional vine carving.
The following photo provides a right-hand view of the trigger guard and provides a good view of the handmade lock plate, which is inscribed "J*M" in cursive for Joseph Mills. The filled in hole for the frizzen spring and the related "lump on the lock, as well as the trace of the original pan that remains, prove that this gun was originally a flintlock rifle. A concave slash-like feature partitions the thicker beveled portion of the lock plate from the thinner unbeveled tail portion of the lock plate.
This photo also shows the "streamlined" trailing portion of the lock panel of the stock, and the lanceolate-shaped wrist inlay that trails the lock panel. Unlike some Joseph Mills rifles that were originally flintlock, the rat tail of this lock is well-centered in the streamlined tail of the lock panel. I wonder if this cosmetic improvement is the result of more experience as a flintlock rifle maker.
The following photograph is included in this series of Bedford County longrifle pics to better show the Q-shaped finial of the patch box. The specific design of the the pointed element in the finial matches other known Joseph Mills rifles, which helps to prove that the stock on this rifle was made by Joseph Mills.
In the following photo, notice that the comb height is minimal, and the lower edge of the buttstock is relatively straight. These are subtle features of the Bedford School of gunmaking. Also notice that there is a supplemental latch for securing the patch box lid. This is an unusual feature for a muzzleloader patch box.
The next photograph provides a closeup of the patch box on this antique rifle. The engraved patch box door has an extra latch, apparently to ensure that the patch box remains closed. The patch box door is released by pushing in on the rear of the top part of the patch box, near the butt plate, where some damage is evident. Push in there, and the patch box flings open under spring power. The quality of the engraving seen here is excellent, compared to some rifles of the Bedford School. Joseph Mills was a multi-talented gunmaker.
The next photo provides a nice view of the left-hand side of the rifle from the lock bolt plate to the butt plate. When this photo was taken, the original lock had not yet been reunited with the rifle.
"The next photo highlights the well-executed engraving of a spread wing eagle on the elliptic cheekpiece inlay of this antique muzzle loader. The specific design of the eagle matches other known Joseph Mills rifles, which helps to prove that this stock was made by Joseph Mills.
The following photograph shows the barrel inscription on the upper flat of the 42-inch-long barrel of this old black powder rifle. Although faint, it is definitely the engraved cursive signature of the prolific rifle maker Joseph Mills. For comparison, click here to see another firearm by Joseph Mills that has a very clear cursive barrel signature.
The following photograph provides a bottom view of the entry pipe of the Joseph Mills muzzleloader, and shows where the incised lines on the fore end commence.
The following photo shows several ramrod thimbles on this antique muzzle loading rifle.
The next photo shows the grooved nose cap and brass ramrod tip on this cap lock rifle, and also shows a good side view of one of the ramrod thimbles. The photo also shows that the full octagon barrel and the thimbles are retained to the full-length wooden stock with transverse pins.
The next photo (taken before the missing lock was found) shows the left-hand side of the entry pipe region of the antique muzzleloader. The open back sight is mounted over the tail end of the ramrod entry pipe.
The following four screen grabs from a video show the spring-loaded lid of the patch box flinging open as the operator's thumb applies pressure to the rear of the upper side plate.
Visit the gunsmithing index for information about other gunsmiths from Bedford County, Pennsylvania and the long rifles they built.
Return to the Korns.org home page for other regional history topics.
