Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Traditional Firearms => Caplock Long Guns => Topic started by: GunneyE7 on March 10, 2021, 10:00:39 PM

Title: Mowrey rifle questions?
Post by: GunneyE7 on March 10, 2021, 10:00:39 PM

 I am looking for some info on another underhammer rifle it is a 36 cal  Mowrey it has a brass reciever and  I think the original Mowrey was made during the civil war as a combat rifle for the Union.I also would like to find out if it was  a round ball shooter? The inventor was a guy named James c Mowrey the serial of this rifle is  15254 no other markings on the metal or wood

                thanks in advance
                                             Gunny

Title: Re: Mowrey rifle questions?
Post by: BEAVERMAN on March 11, 2021, 12:21:42 AM

Gunny, do you have an original or a repo that was made in Texas back in the 70's?, Mowrey also made a side hammer with brass center section, only 3 moving parts, I had a 45 cal with a 1:72 twist, was a good shooter but damn uncomfortable for a man with any kind of shoulders to shoot as the BP had some ungodly points to them and would tattoo you after a course of fire!

Title: Re: Mowrey rifle questions?
Post by: PetahW on March 11, 2021, 08:42:21 AM

.

There were 2 companies that made them, but the spelling IIRC was a little different (Mowrey and Mowery ? ).

The earlier rifles were very good; but the later ones were not - the barrels were always good.

They were a copy of the Allen & Thurber late percussion box lock rifle.

There was a few different models made - a plains rifle (usually larger caliber),  Squirrel rifles (usually smaller calibers),  and shotguns - the plains rifles had steel frames; the Squirrel models a brass frame.

I forgot what frame was used for the shotguns, but they all had curly maple stocks.

Also IIRC, some plains rifles were made with a brass forend, held to the barrel with brass screws that tended to strip out.

The steel action is preferable, since the steel tumbler would wear the brass action, and require bushing to cure binding, over time.

The mainspring in these rifles was a flat spring, that curved over the tumbler, and was connected to the rear of the tumbler, with a link.

Some were weak, but they responded pretty well to re-tempering.

.



 

Title: Re: Mowrey rifle questions?
Post by: Hank in WV on March 11, 2021, 05:47:39 PM

I don't know much about them, but the couple that I saw had spectacular curly maple.

Title: Re: Mowrey rifle questions?
Post by: GunneyE7 on March 11, 2021, 09:48:33 PM

 Thanks for all the info on the Mowrey-Mowery rifle

                                                   Gunny