Muzzleloader Found Near Glendive, Mt

griz

I don't have any idea how authentic this might be.the sender to me described it as follows:

"HOT OFF THE PRESS.15 DAYS AGO A LOCAL FOUND THIS ANCIENT MUZZLELOADER STUFFED IN A HOLLOW TREE ALONG THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER NEAR GLENDIVE, MT. IT IS APPROX. 160 YEARS OLD.IN FANTASTIC CONDITION, PROBABLY DUE TO BEING COVERED WITH BEAR OR BUFFALO GREASE AND STUFFED IN A HOLLOW LOG! WOW!"

Any ideas on details of what kind it might be etc. or where I might go to find out? Thanks.

CS8161

Lucky bastid!

wild bunch guy

what kind of tree will last 150 years without turning to dust?

socks

Sure looks like a Springfield or an Enfield 1853 rifle musket.
Any markings you can make out?

rufe-snow

If their are no markings on the lockplate or breech of barrel? I would say it was something put together by Bannerman from assorted surplus military parts. Military rifles as that appears to be, are usually well marked in those places. The rear sight appears to be, or is a U.S. Model 1842 Long Range Rifle Musket sight. The bands and location of the rear sling swivel appear to be similar to those used on the Model 1864 Rifle Musket, as made in Springfield Armory. After the end of the Civil War all the millions of muzzle loading Rifle Muskets, became obsolete. Many were sold on the surplus market as cheap hunting and self defense guns to the settlers heading west.

firstharmonic

Looks like one of the Nepal-cache Enfields that Atlanta Cutlery and IMA are presently selling. And the "found in a hollow log" story just might be so much hot air, meant to enhance its value. Maybe.

fordsix

if it had been covered in buffalo or bear grease it would have been liked clean by the little scavangers..i say phooy on the story[8]

35 Whelen

I wouldn't poopoo the story, it's possible. A cousin of mine (in his 90's now) found an 1847 Colt Walker in the crotch of a very old tree on his property years ago, wrapped in what he said looked like some sort of hide.

I looked the weapon over a few years ago, and although the wood grips were in pretty sad shape, every other part of the pistol still worked. Cylinder still spins, hammer still cocks, etc, and there is still a lead ball in one of the chambers. Zero original finish left on it, but almost zero pitting.

He even showed me the section of the tree that it was cut out of. Although I surely wouldn't try to fire it, I still thought it incredible that it was still 99% operable after all those years of a tree growing around it.

The rifle in the pics looks like a Zouave (1863?) to me, but I know little about firearms of that era.

dcinffxva

It's definitely not a Zouave, AKA Model 1863 Remington. It looks to be an early Enfield.

Horse Plains Drifter

quote:Originally posted by wild bunch guy
what kind of tree will last 150 years without turning to dust?
Fairly young for a tree actually.

Cool pics and story BTW. True? Who knows.

Emmett Dunham

I picked up two older rifles and one had the name of the owner carved on the outside of the rear butt stock, the other had the owners name carved under the butt plate. With no rejestration on fire arms or proof of ownership they had to have some way to say that is the rifle, that is mine. I would check under the butt plate for a name and year.

Emmett