I was thinking some of you may want to see it -- after it, it has a lever to unlock it, right below the frizzen.
This is a Model 1819 Hall Breach-loading Flintlock Rifle, dated 1839 on the receiver.
Here's a close-up of the open breach block -- which tilts open to the front, as opposed to my Trapdoor that followed 50+ years later that swings open at the rear:
My twin just bought that one, which is complete and not missing any parts, like the one we had looked at together at the local Cabela's months ago. (They wanted well over $3k for that one -- if I remember right -- and it probably would be tough to acquire or make the needed parts too.) My brother says he got a "great deal" on this one, but would not tell me "how much". It's not my cup of tea, but I do find it interesting.
He also has a percussion Hall that had beans for supper & breakfast -- as it leaks a LOT OF GAS!!
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
We'll see how his one shoots compared to the other, but for sure I'll let him take the first few shots -- with the wearing of safety glasses being mandatory too. For those who don't about these unique rifles, here's some background info:
The M1819 Hall rifle was a single-shot breech-loading rifle (also considered something of a hybrid breech and muzzle-loading design) designed by John Hancock Hall, patented on May 21, 1811, and adopted by the U.S. Army in 1819. It was preceded by the Harpers Ferry Model 1803. It used a pivoting chamber breech design and was made with either flintlock or percussion cap ignition systems. The main years of production were from the 1820s to the 1830s at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal. This was the first breech-loading rifle to be adopted in large numbers by any nation's army, but not the first breech-loading military rifle – the Ferguson rifle was used briefly by the British Army in the American Revolutionary War. Breech-loading rifles remained overshadowed by common muskets and muzzleloading rifles (more often rifle-muskets) so prevalent in the early 19th century. The early flintlocks were mostly converted to percussion ignition.
U.S. Army inspectors conducted trials by having a 38-man infantry company fire at a 100 yards target for 10 minutes at their own speed:
Weapons--------------------------------Rounds fired-------Targets hit-----------Percentage Hits
Hall Rifles-----------------------------------1,198---------------430-----------------------36%
Army Mz-Ld Smoothbore Muskets----------845---------------208-----------------------25%
Muzzle-loading Rifles------------------------494---------------164-----------------------33%
The original flintlock model had a 32.5-inch barrel rifled with 16 "clockwise" (right-hand) grooves making a turn in 96 inches. The muzzle was reamed to a depth of 1.5 inches, creating the illusion of a smoothbore when the user looked down the muzzle of the firearm. Overall length was 52.5 inches, and weight without bayonet was 10.25 pounds. The rifle fired a .525 ball weighing 220 grains (one-half ounce), using a 100-grain black powder charge and 10 grains of fine powder primer (flintlock versions only).
Here's a view of the breach block when it's removed from the rifle (trigger at left, locking lever at right):
And here's a view of the front of the breach block so you can see the powder chamber:
(The block fits so tight, you have to force it to close on a piece of paper that is 0.004" thick.)
I think the bore is in remarkable condition for its age:
I collect a few leverguns and top-break revolvers, while my twin tends to collect various blackpowder rifles, including several French & Indian War era pieces with 30" to 40" smoothbore barrels, plus a couple of vintage Matchlocks -- and now he has two Hall Rifles, flint and percussion.
Gee, I can't wait to see what he gets next...
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Old No7