Who knows under hammers?

Numrich Arms made a variety of underhammer guns at their plant near Kingston, NY, starting in the 1960s. Various models, yours is the fancier version. There was a plain rifle, a carbine, a smoothbore, a heavy bench rifle, and a pistol version, which originally used a modified Thompson submachinegun grip.
Had a reputation for being respectable shooters.
 
Tex Critter said:
I can tell you its butt ugly.
Click to expand...

Some of the finest and most accurate rifles made were underhammer designs. Billinghurst made target rifles that were some of the best. Numrich also made a very handy little "Buggy Rifle" as well as put these rifles out in Kit form. I think the OP might find a threaded hole on top of the action, just above the wrist area. This was for a Peep Sight.

One of the advantages of the underhammer rifle was simplicity, as the trigger guard usually acted as a mainspring. Another was the ignition system - the cap fired directly into the powder charge, and the flame did not have to turn a 90 degree corner before it ignited the powder.

Some people might consider them ugly, but then again, other people consider plastic stocks, and other "modern" innovations ugly. Just go ahead and shoot it - you will probably find that you have a very useful and unique black powder rifle.
.
 
I have a friend who has the less fancy version of that gun in .40 cal I think. It shoots like a house on fire and is really well made. He loves it. You should be most happy with her!

Cheers, McLean
 
In Sam Fadala's book "The Black Powder Loading Manual" (expanded 4th edition, page 206) he tests a Numrich Arms Buggy Rifle.
He uses 40 to 70 grs of FFFg, 75 grs of FFg and 75 grs of Pyrodex RS. All with a .445" round ball, .015" patch.





numrich
 
I've got an underhammer, it ain't ugly.... It's simplicity itself. Mines a .50 cal. And it's surprisingly accurate. Measure your twist rate to find out if it's a PRB. Gun if it's got 1:66 twist or something slow like that it's gonna love roundballs. These guns used to be pretty common but are danger gard to find now. Very saleable. Look up the "underhammer society" to learn more
 
I inherited this 'underhammer' buggy rifle years ago.
For years members of the family thought that this rifle was used by our great grandfather during the Fenian raid in the Eastern Townships on May 25th 1870.
WRONG----they were using Ballard rifles.



It is still hanging on my wall.
 
If you want to see the ultimate in hunting underhammers check out the web site underhammers by R J RENNER he produces the Faeton underhammer and it is available in 45 to 16 bore (rifled)cals.It is also available with Forsyth or Henry rifling(45cal).I have a boxlock muzzleloader made by him and it is quality all the way.
 
Used to have one like that plus a plain heavy barrelled target rifle.

Easy to care for, and fun to shoot. Kinda wish I still had the big one.
 
Had one some years ago and believe it was a Hopkins and Allen. Shot quite well and only problem was that on rare occasion the cap would fall off just before taking the shot on our trail. Good chance to check my flinch reflex!!
 
From what I've learned the style of action on your rifle was originally known as a Hopkins and Allen. Wikipedia says that H&A were around from 1868 and that's around the time the first underhammer of this style by them came out. At some point Numerich either bought out what was left of H&A or resurrected the name and produced a few of the same design.

For those of us that like "different" the whole underhammer thing is like candy. I'll get a picture of my own H&A posted in a while. Got it at the last Kamloops show and it's a good shooter from the few times I've had it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom