Antique musket

[PegLeg45]

The eagle stamping would hint at it not being a limey bang stick. If the gun was in one piece, the eagle would have been at the base of the barrel completely covered by the forearm.  Why would they tinker and modify something like that if it wasn't readily visible?

I agree.....I'm leaning toward US made due to the Hartford stamp and the eagle also.
As to the mods, you never know what folks will do to a rifle.   

[tombogan03884]

The Eagle with arrows is either a proof mark or a company logo, all the military rifles mentioned had a stock that extended to near the muzzle, a trend that continued through the 03 Springfield and SMLE.
Additionally, the butt plate is wrong for a military rifle.

Nothing about gun companies located there but the town is in NW Conn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hartford,_Connecticut

[lhprop1]

all the military rifles mentioned had a stock that extended to near the muzzle, a trend that continued through the 03 Springfield and SMLE.
Additionally, the butt plate is wrong for a military rifle.

That's good to know.  Is there a chance that it was sporterized like was done with so many of the SMLE's (like mine is) or didn't they do that back then?

[tombogan03884]

That's good to know.  Is there a chance that it was sporterized like was done with so many of the SMLE's (like mine is) or didn't they do that back then?

I don't believe there was any formal "sporterizing" of military surplus guns, it would have been a home made job.
The combination of the short stock, curved butt plate, trigger guard, and ramrod guide rib make me think this was a purely civilian rifle.
The location of New Hartford in NW Conn puts it right in the heart of "gun valley" between Hartford and Springfield.
until the middle of the 20th century this area, along with Remington and Henry in NY state produced  all the commercial mass production fire arms made in the US, along with the vast majority of military arms.

[sledgemeister]

Looks kinda like a Springfield, but the fancy trigger guard is throwing me off....can't find matching photo...my google-fu is weak today.


I did find a photo of a Hawken Plains rifle that was close, but still off. It could have been custom made.

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Guide_to_Muzzleloaders

I think youre spot on, definately a half stock "Rocky Mountain Rifle" variant of some brand/manufacturer.
Would be interesting to know the barrel length and bore size.

I suggest that the OP post this on the muzzleloading forum, some of them are walking encyclopedias on anything muzzleloading.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/fusionbb.php

[Sponsor]

[lhprop1]

Thanks for all the help guys.  Someone on another forum (a weightlifting forum, nonetheless) found this http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8707443 and it sure looks to be a Hawken.  With a little touching up, it will look good above my fireplace. 

[tombogan03884]

"Hawken" is a style of rifle now that refers to what is actually a "Plains" or "Mountain" rifle.
In the era yours was produced it specifically referred to rifles produced by the Hawken brothers of St Louis for the  Mountain men engaged in the fur trade.
The wiki link below contains technical info on barrel length, caliber range, etc that may help some what.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawken_rifle