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J.H. Johnston Civil War era target/sniper rifle #109091

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
J.H. Johnston Civil War era target/sniper rifle  #109091
SOLD
350.00USD+ (87.50) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2019 Dec 05 @ 13:24UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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This is a muzzle-loader target or sniper half-stock rifle built by J.H. Johnston of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, b. 1811 d. 1889. It is .50 cal. (.492) with well defined rifling. The barrel is a heavy bull barrel at about 1 ½ in. across the flats and 35 ½ in long. The lock is also a J.H. Johnston creation with no half-cock safety position!! (The gun only fires once the set trigger have been set.) The stock is walnut with a capbox on the right side and a curved cheek-piece on the left side. The wrist is well checkered and the tang is long with two screws to secure this heavy barrel. The front sight is missing and the rear sight has been modified for aging eyes. At first glance this looks to be a target rifle but the .50 cal. is a possible giveaway for a Civil War vintage sniper rifle. The gun may have been used after the Great Conflict Between the States for target work or an early buffalo hunting rifle. The precision sights have been removed and lost to history. The stock shows a repair forward of the lock but could be replaced with correct walnut. The tang has a break at the first screw hole due to the heavy barrel. Both of these items could be repaired by a qualified gunsmith to make this gun field ready once again. The ramrod is still the correct one for this gun. The very large dovetails front and rear may have been for a long range telescopic sight that are still made and available today. Circa 1860-1865. No attempt has been made to fire this rifle. No sales to California, New York City, New Jersey, or Hawaii. Provenance is from the J.M. Davis Museum. This is a 19 lb. rifle.



State: Pennsylvania City: Date: