Ketland & Co Percussion Long Rifle

Percussion long rifle fitted with 37" round barrel,brass furniture and maple stocks. Bore size is unknown. This rifle would have originally been a flintlock and was later converted to percussion. The lock is marked Ketland & Co. Thomas Ketland was an influential English gunsmith and lock maker based in Birmingham, England, active from the mid-18th century through the early 19th century, renowned for producing high-quality flintlock mechanisms that were exported to America and incorporated into early American firearms such as Kentucky rifles and muskets.

The condition of the rifle is a bit rough. The stock is missing a piece on the right-hand side near the lock. There is a crack in the stock on the left hand side that could be stabilized. One of the brass ramrod tubes on the forestock is missing. A piece of leather is wrapped around the end of the barrel holding the barrel to the stock. The sight is missing and has been replaced with a crude hand made copper sight. While the lock and hammer function, they are loose indicating wear. The bore is okay overall with little pitting however, the rifling is almost non-existent. The ramrod is also a replacement.

The buttstock is decorated with four rows of small brass tacks. It is unknown when the tacks were added.

Manufactured Circa 1760-1812