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Desirable William Bodenheimer Ohio/Conestoga Rifle Works Half Stock Percussion Rifle with German Sil

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Desirable William Bodenheimer Ohio/Conestoga Rifle Works Half Stock Percussion Rifle with German Sil
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Desirable William Bodenheimer Ohio/Conestoga Rifle Works Half Stock Percussion Rifle with German Silver Inlays

The scroll engraved lock plate is marked "CONESTOGA/RIFLE WORKS" ahead of the hammer. The top barrel flat is twice marked "W. BODENHEIMER" behind the rear sight. According to renowned firearms expert Frank Sellers in the book AMERICAN GUNSMITHS, there were two individuals named William Bodenheimer (senior and junior) who operated out of Lancaster, Ohio (see page 32). Sellers also notes that Conestoga Rifle Works of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was the trade name used by Henry Leman (see page 65). The rifle is equipped with a blade front sight, a fixed notch rear sight and double set triggers. The breech plug and barrel tang have a light scroll engraving and an inlaid band is featured on the barrel at the breech. The barrel also has an iron under rib with iron ramrod pipes holding a wooden ramrod. Both sides of the buttstock have a raised scroll carving that terminates in a raised inlaid German silver circle. Two engraved German silver inlays flank the inlaid circle, again on both sides of the buttstock. The reverse plate is also German silver and is engraved. The half stock has two barrel wedges with German silver escutcheons and a pewter forend cap. The trigger guard and crescent buttplate are brass.

Manufucture: Unknown
Model: Halfstock
BBL: 38 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Guage: 31 percussion
Finish: brown/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN

Very fine. The barrel retains 70% thinned original brown finish. The action has a smooth dark patina. The brass has a smooth dark aged patina. The stock is fine with a crack on the forearm near the tip, a filled repair near the barrel tang, some hairline age cracks along the grain and a few minor handling marks. The varnish is beginning to craze but most of the finish remains. Mechanically fine.