New/Old Squirrel Rifle

[chuckpa]

I just picked up an original squirrel rifle yesterday. I went straight from Dixon's to the range. I was shooting a .333 prb and 20grains 3f goex to start out with at 25 yards. I was very pleased with the shooting.  I was keeping them in the black on a standard  ML offhand target. The rifle is signed Oblinger and Piqua O. slanted across the barrel. The lock is signed J. Goulcher with an engraving of a hunter shooting a duck. The barrel is signed T. H. Johnston. I will have to get a book on Ohio Gunsmiths but before I do that if anybody could give me some information I would appreciate it. I will also try to get a picture. It is a half stock percussion.

[ridjrunr]

Goulcher was a lock maker the other names dont come up in any of my books.However,there are eight Oblingers listed on the Assoc. of Ohio Longrifles Collectors site. AOLRC.org will get you there.
Would love to see a pix of it.

[chuckpa]

Thanks for that information ridge runner
The other thing I noticed about this rifle that at the muzzle it goes from octagon to round and there are two indentations on the barrel a few inches from the muzzle. I was told that this was for a bullet starter so the rifle may have been made to shoot bullets rather then PRB. The groves are very skinner and deep compared to the lands.

[Hank in WV]

There is a Piqua Ohio.

[butterchurn]

There most certainly is a Piqua, Ohio!  Been there.

[SquirrelHeart]

Chuck,

Is there any chance that to barrel is signed J. H. Johnston instead of T. H.?  I have an original rifle and a double barrel shotgun by J. H. Johnston - they were a big outfit similar to Leman and Golcher.

[chuckpa]

Yes I checked it again and you are right. What do you know about them?
Thanks

[SquirrelHeart]

Chuck,

Not a whole lot, except they built guns, had guns built for them and imported them for resale - some are marked J. H. Johnston, some with the name and "Great Western Gun Works", some with GWGW instead of being spelled out.  You can get a reproduction catalog from several different years for about ten bucks, I plan on getting one but haven't got around to it yet.... here is a link:
 http://www.cornellpubs.com/old-guns/item_desc.php?item_id=313

I can say that both of mine shoot great.  I have a rifle that is about .30 caliber and a shotgun that is about 10 or 11 guage.  Got them both at the CLA show last year from different guys.  Couldn't pass up having a rifle an shotgun by the same maker!

[chuckpa]

Thank you Squirrel Heart
I ordered the catalog. I assume that they sold the barrel to the gunsmith who made the rifle.
How does your rifle shoot? My favorite hunting is for squirrels and my son and I love to eat them. He now lives in MN and I got a 410 single shot shotgun for his oldest son for christmas
 and we have a new squirrel hunter in the family.

[chuckpa]

I took the rifle to the range and had it checked out by some very knowledgeable man and we checked the twist it it is a ball rifle.For me it shot well in the 25 yrd offhand match. I would like to know more about the maker.

[SquirrelHeart]

The rifle shoots well, I haven't shot it on paper to see what kind of groups it will shoot yet.  I sighted it in on an old stump shooting offhand, it likes about 30 grains of fffg.  Got a couple of squirrels with it - head shots so it must group fairly well.  I can't wait for squirrel season to start so I can take it out again and get some more of that limb bacon!

When I get around to it I'll take a couple of photos of the rifle and post them.

[SquirrelHeart]

I took a couple of pics yesterday:

[Roaddog]

That is one sweet lookn rifle Squirrelhart. Thanks for sharing the photos. I have never seen none like that before. I love my squirrel huntn a hole lot. Chuckpa I think your going to love that new old 32.

[david32cal]

SquirrelHeart that is a neat little rifle,what is the overall length of it.

[SquirrelHeart]

Thanks guys.  The bore is a little rough but she shoots well.  While I had it out taking pics I walked back to my range a fired a few shot at my 50 yard plate resting my elbows on the bench - three shots in about an inch and a half, but shooting a bit to the right.  I shot once at the 100yd plate and missed, put a little more powder in (about 35gr fffg) and gave it some "Massoura windage" and rang it a couple times.  Not bad for such and old girl!  Squirrel season is right around the corner.....

David32cal:  I don't remember how long exactly, but it is the longest halfstock I have by about 2 or 3 inches.  I'll do some measuring and post the dimensions in  a couple of days.