Beschreibung:

J.M. CASWELL JR., LANSINGBURGH. AN 80-BORE PERCUSSION SPORTING-RIFLE OF PLAINS STYLE, no visible serial number, circa 1845, with heavy octagonal 36 1/4in. barrel, the top-flat stamped 'J.M. CASWELL JR, LANSINGBURGH', drift adjustable dove-tailed 'rocky mountain' fore-sight with engraved scale, replacement buckhorn rear-sight, acanthus foliage engraved breech-block with moulded percussion snail, acanthus foliage engraved long top-tang with engraved border and provision for tang-sight (missing), border and scroll engraved back-action lock signed 'WARREN & STEELE ALBANY' (for the lock maker), plain half-stock with artificial stripy-maple figuring, chequered wrist and a raised tear-drop shaped cheek-piece inlet with a white metal silhouette of a stag, rectangular iron patch-box with large pierced and engraved hinge, the lid released by a concealed button in the toe-plate, engraved iron crescent heel-plate, engraved square-backed trigger-guard bow with raised semi pistol-grip tang, carved side-nail escutcheon, white-metal barrel key escutcheon, white metal for-end tip and plain ramrod thimbles with brass-tipped wood ramrod Other Notes: Albany and Lansingburgh are both within New York State, USA J.M. Caswell Jr. was the grandson of Thomas Caswell, musket maker in Lansingburgh N.Y. and contractor to New York State for the manufacture of model 1808 muskets. He established the business in 1812 with 3 shops employing 25 workmen and manufactured 25-30 muskets a week. When Thomas died the business was continued by John M Caswell, who taught gunsmithing to Nelson Lewis. John M Caswell retired in 1836 and the company was continued by John M. Caswell Jr.