John Nicholas Mathesiee percussion rifle

The photos below, which were provided by Sean Busko, show a 19th century percussion muzzle loading rifle that was owned by his great-grandfather Harvey Isett who lived in Marklesburg, Pennsylvania. Sean reports that his family doesn't know the circumstances of his great-grandfather obtaining the rifle. The initials engraved on the barrel and the style of the decorative engraving identify this rifle as having been made by the Bedford County, Pennsylvania gunsmith John Nicholas Mathesiee.

The first photograph below shows an overall view of the right-hand side of the rifle. Sean reports that the overall length of the rifle is 51.5 inches, and the barrel is 36.5 inches long and approximately .41 caliber. Because of the angle of the camera relative to the rifle, the photograph is slightly foreshortened, making the rifle appear a little shorter than it actually is.
An overall view of the right-hand side of the rifle.

The following image shows the right-hand side of the buttstock, including the cap box. The buttstock has a low but visible comb. The comb and the belly of the stock are substantially straight. The toe of the buttstock has been broken and repaired.
The right-hand side of the buttstock.

The following image shows an enlargement of the cast brass cap box.
An enlarged view of the cap box.

The following photo provides an oblique view of the percussion gun lock and mating stock panel. The trigger plate and the double set trigger arrangement is also visible. The set trigger (rear) is deeply curved and the hair trigger (front) is only slightly curved. In my opinion, the straighter contour of the hair trigger adds sensitivity by concentrating the force of the trigger pull on a smaller area of the trigger finger. The trigger adjustment screw is visible between the triggers. The wrist and lock panel areass of the stock appear to have been broken and repaired.
An oblique view of the percussion gun lock and mating stock panel.

The following photo provides an enlarged view of the round-tailed percussion lock, which has an engraved hammer. The recessed nose of the hammer telescopes over the nipple. The cross-hatched engraving at the front of the lock plate is typical of Mathesiee, and appears to be something he added to a pre-engraved commerically manufactured lock. The cylindrical drum has a slotted vent screw for cleaning out the drum, but one side of the vent screw has been broken.
An enlarged view of the round-tailed percussion lock.

The next photograph shows the engraving on the underside of the brass trigger guard. It also shows that the lock plate is substantially flush with the mating raised panel of the rifle stock. The metal cross-pin that secures the rear of the trigger guard to the stock is visible.
The engraving on the underside of the brass trigger guard.

The next picture shows the right-hand side of the forearm of the rifle stock. The view is somewhat foreshortened because of the angle of the camera relative to the rifle.
The right-hand side of the forearm of the rifle stock.

The following image provides an enlarged view of the engraved brass ramrod entry pipe and the rear barrel pin escutcheon. The escutcheon is lanceolate-shaped, and appears to be made from silver or German silver. The image reveals that the barrel is retained to the full-length stock with cross-pins, rather than keys. The rear sight is mounted over the rear of the entry pipe. The front of the entry pipe is cylindrical and the rear appears to be faceted. The hole for the pin that retains the entry pipe to the rifle stock is also visible.
An enlarged view of the engraved brass ramrod entry pipe and the rear barrel pin escutcheon.

The next image provides an enlarged view of a ramrod pipe, which appears to be made from silver or German silver.
An enlarged view of a ramrod pipe

The next picture provides an overall view of the left-hand side of this antique blackpowder rifle. The view is slightly foreshortened because of the angle of the camera relative to the rifle.
An overall view of the left-hand side of an antique blackpowder rifle.

The next photo shows the left-hand side of the rifle from the cast brass crescent buttplate to the stock panel for the lock bolt plate(s).
Part of the left-hand side of the rifle.

The following enlargement shows that the buttstock has a long, but broken, engraved toe plate. The broken toe plate suggests that the toe of the stock was broken from impact, rather than broken from mere checking of the wood.
A view of the toe plate

The next picture provides an enlarged view of the cheekpiece, which is stamped with the name "H. Crawford". The stock appears to be varnished.
An enlarged view of the cheekpiece.

The next picture shows the stock panel for the lock bolt plate(s). It isn't clear whether the front lock bolt plate is functional or decorative.
The stock panel for the lock bolt plate.

The next picture provides an enlarged view of the lock bolt plate(s).
An enlarged view of the lock bolt plate.

The next photo shows the engraved breech and breech plug tang of this old caplock rifle. The breech also has an inlaid band of either gold or brass.
The engraved breech and breech plug tang.

The next two photographs show the cursive barrel signature on the upper flat of the octagon barrel. The inscription reads, "J.N.M."
The barrel inscription.


The cursive barrel inscription.

The next photo provides a foreshortened view of the left-hand side of the forestock.
The left-hand side of the forestock.

The next photo provides a view of the muzzle area of the octagon barrel. The cut rifling has seven lands and grooves. The tip of the ramrod is banded with brass. The nose cap is missing, and its absence shows how the wood of the forestock is recessed to accomodate the thickness of the nosecap.
The muzzle area of the octagon barrel.

For more muzzleloader pictures, see the Gunsmith Index

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