DonP
Member
I picked up a very nice looking ML yesterday at a local gun shop. Consignment sale by the daughter (40 yo or so) of a now passed on (God rest his soul) shooter that had it as a wall hanger for the last few years.
All she knows about it is her grandfather used to shoot it, her dad hadn't shot it in years and that's it.
The only marks on the barrel are large letters RON POE, which I'm guessing is an owners name, no caliber indications. Nothing on the lock that I can find. Percussion lock, with a 42 inch barrel 58 inch OAL, no wedges, just pinned in place like most Kentucky's I've seen, double set triggers with a straight firing trigger in front and a small screw to adjust the triggers between them.
It has a beautiful tiger stripe full length Kentucky style graceful stock (pictures to follow), like a lot of older museum and custom pieces I've always admired. The store thought it was a .50 but when I got it home and measured the muzzle at .440 so it seems to be a .45.
I'm new to ML, with only a Cabela's Hawken in .50 that I've played with. Assuming I want to shoot it at some point, what's the best/safest way to determine the caliber and twist rate? Should I disassemble to check for rust under the barrel and the inside of the lock, or just clean it up? Anything specific I should look for? No visible rust except for some light pitting around the end of the muzzle.
As always, any help or re-direction is appreciated.
All she knows about it is her grandfather used to shoot it, her dad hadn't shot it in years and that's it.
The only marks on the barrel are large letters RON POE, which I'm guessing is an owners name, no caliber indications. Nothing on the lock that I can find. Percussion lock, with a 42 inch barrel 58 inch OAL, no wedges, just pinned in place like most Kentucky's I've seen, double set triggers with a straight firing trigger in front and a small screw to adjust the triggers between them.
It has a beautiful tiger stripe full length Kentucky style graceful stock (pictures to follow), like a lot of older museum and custom pieces I've always admired. The store thought it was a .50 but when I got it home and measured the muzzle at .440 so it seems to be a .45.
I'm new to ML, with only a Cabela's Hawken in .50 that I've played with. Assuming I want to shoot it at some point, what's the best/safest way to determine the caliber and twist rate? Should I disassemble to check for rust under the barrel and the inside of the lock, or just clean it up? Anything specific I should look for? No visible rust except for some light pitting around the end of the muzzle.
As always, any help or re-direction is appreciated.