I'm hoping that someone can help me identify this firearm

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recoil

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my hope is that some of you smart folks can help me identify this. I really don't know what I've got here. two band blackpowder.

it's smoothbore near as I can tell ( no obvious rifling near the muzzle) bore appears to be about.58, no gauge marks readily visible and I'm reluctant to try and clean it. On the lock there is a crown with a downwards facing arrow under it, no date or any other markings. On the edge of the lock at the top by the nipple I can read what I think is 58 on the lock,or possibly 82 (don't know which is up). on the left side of the barrel are the marks V over a P (possibly an F) and below both is an "X" but with a third horizontal stroke making sort of an asterisk.

the Top of the brass butt plate is clearly marked US and the 2 barrel bands both have a U on them. The compartment under the brass door on the buttstock has obvious wood auger marks and is not finished particularly well. the stock is split/repaired right in front of the lock and has been repaired with what appear to be very small square headed nails. one has also been used to replace(?) a pin on the lock.

20170316_1427291.jpg[IMG]
 
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Doesn't it look more like a Zouave?

The first time I opened the link I could see a few different pics of the rifle. Now all I get is the pic showing the lock?
 
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will take one or more tomorrow and get them up, really appreciate the thinking about this. does the crown and arrow on the lock suggest it's an English rifle produced to spec but not taken , and sold for export?
 
It is not either a Mississippi Rifle nor a Zouave. Lock/bolster are wrong.
Lock and hammer appear to be English style, but bolster is not.
If the US marks are unequivocal, let's assume that it was made for the US during the Civil War.
There were a variety of rifles acquired from different sources. In the US, Whitney and Krider were such manufacturers, and generic rifles were imported from Europe.
 
recoil said:
will take one or more tomorrow and get them up, really appreciate the thinking about this. does the crown and arrow on the lock suggest it's an English rifle produced to spec but not taken , and sold for export?
Click to expand...

If you are taking pics then take 2 or 3, at least 1 of which shows the complete rifle.
 
got some more photos up and I hope better ones

http://s633.photobucket.com/user/hooligan2137/library/blackpowder

on the one with the reverse of the lock you can almost see where the barrel marks are a B over a P (possibly F) with sort of an asterisk below. is that latter a "sold out of service mark?"
rifle is 50 inches overall with a barrel length of 33 inches.

again, thanks for all the help.

the lock on this is weak (something to do with the missing screw?) but works, trigger works if you pull the hammer back slightly when pulling trigger. haven't delved into it's depths until I know what I'm messing with and whether I should. a tiny bit of penetrating oil and all the screws appear to move.
 
I'm going to recant on the identification as a M1893 = too many small discrepancies upon further investigation. It does look a lot closer to a Zouave, but not all the parts are classical Zouave parts. Bolster, lock, and trigger are all variant parts. This could be a import generic or a rebuild. Georgia Armory maybe? Really odd that there is no marking on the lock mount plate.
 
the lock mount plate just has the crown with the downwards facing arrow. no other markings I can see. any thoughts on value??
 
not sure what you mean by not likely an M1893-- did you mean M1841? so am I l correct in stating that "this is a musket rebored to accept .58 minie balls, probably produced in England , by a small gunmaker and then sold to the US and marked US by the army on receipt and before issue? perhaps with some rebuilds to the lock but likely built between 1840 and 1861?

appreciate the help
 
The nipple bolster is wrong for a M1841 or Zouave. More like a M1861, 1863. The patchbox is too small for a m1841. The lock is English style, and from the look of the left hand side, it is a replacement.
I think it is made up from parts. When, I couldn't begin to guess.
 
tiriaq said:
The nipple bolster is wrong for a M1841 or Zouave. More like a M1861, 1863. The patchbox is too small for a m1841. The lock is English style, and from the look of the left hand side, it is a replacement.
I think it is made up from parts. When, I couldn't begin to guess.
Click to expand...

Yes, if it was a contract 1841, it would have to be a small gunsmith Britain or Confederate with a lot of leeway.
 
an update, took the lock off, and on the curve of the lock it clearly says "partridge". other markings on the inside of the lock ate a crown, the numeral 12 and either an "M" or "w".

does this help at all in identification? http://s633.photobucket.com/user/hooligan2137/media/20170330_1519151.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

on the positive side, some penetrating oil and judicious swabbing appear to have freed the lock up. sort of. will not fire if place on full ####, (the trigger bar doesn't drive up far enough or there still may be corrosion under,) but just before full ####, the hammer holds, and the trigger works just fine. spring appears a trifle weak, appreciate any more thoughts on what this is most likely to be.
 
It is an English lock, that has been altered a bit to fit the gun. Mainspring is homemade. Doesn't help identify the gun.
 
I appreciate the help folks, at least I sort of know that it was built sometime 1840-1863, probably in England, by one of the small gunmakers probably as part of a contract for rifles by a larger company and repaired with an English replacement lock, somewhere, and property at one time of the US army. always know that CGN reaches far more knowledgable people than I am about some things.
 
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