Pullen 41 Cal Percussion Target Rifle - Estate Find

[wr.sainsbury]

Recent acquisition from an estate collection begun in 1919. Mainly collected early military pieces but this was apparently one of his treasures. Came with the original ball/bullet mold as well and a note from his family. Ball measures .405 so to use as a squirrel gun would need to use .395 and .20 thou patch. Heavy gun with a 32"
barrel. Anyone have any info on this gunmaker probably circa 1850's?

 

[tiriaq]

From The Canadian Gunsmiths 1608 to 1900, by Gooding: Pullen, Joseph, Barrie ON 1869-1895.
Gunsmith. From 1869 to sometime after 1884, Joseph Pullen was gunsmithing in Barrie. In the later years, he was also selling stoves and tinware. By 1887 he is no longer listed as a gunsmith but retained the "stoves, etc." In 1896, Mrs. J. Pullen was carrying on the business which would indicate that Joseph died some time the previous to this.

By any chance is the nipple cross-threaded in? It isn't fully seated and appears to be slightly angled.

 

[wr.sainsbury]

Good question- just pulled the nipple and all is well 1/4x28 thread-a little rusty but now oiled and in place. Thanks for the info on the maker - a little later than I would have thought from the style of the piece.

 

[tiriaq]

I think in general terms, a lot of muzzleloading shotguns, half stock rifles were made and used later than one would think.
I have a very nice Cogswell & Harrison ml single 12ga, and it was made after 1870.

Read further in Gooding.
Pullon, John, 1866.
Gunsmith, John Pullon was employed by William Marston, 132 Yonge St., Toronto.

Pullon, Joseph 1862-1866 Toronto, Ont.
Gunsmith. Between 1862 and 1866, Joseph Pullon was working for Wm. P. Marston. It is possible that he is the same person as Joseph Pullen of Barrie.

Note the spellings of the surname. Gooding's information was probably from municipal directories, ads, etc. Your rifle is obviously stamped Pullon, so that should be the correct spelling, as expressed by the person himself.

It looks to be a very fine rifle, well looked after for 150 years.

 

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

I'm seeing the maker's stamp as "PULLAN".

 

[wr.sainsbury]

Correct - it is PULLAN in 2 places but nothing under the barrel. The screw protruding from the rear of the lock plate is positioned to preload the sear to reduce trigger pull. A taper on it so can be hair trigger. Very clever indeed!!