This is a real find, thanks to one of the most knowledgeable gun collectors on West Virginia long guns. Dan Bowman is his name and this gent it is truly an expert. He knows the guns, he knows the makers, he knows the parts, repairs, the ages. He knows the actions .... and inactions. Dan calls this one a "blacksmith" gun .... one not finely crafted by a true "gunsmith", but rather a daily carry and shoot. Deer, predators, occasional neighbors. It's worn, it's weathered, it has scars and cracks ... it is history that we wish we knew more about. In my eyes, it is truly beautiful. Hold it and think about where it has been. Tiger maple; full stock, not much in the way of sights, hand made ramrod, brass barrel support. Marked S. Stout." Dan knows the guns still around that Stout made. This is one of them. And .... there is a ball stuck way down the barrel that cannot be moved out of the way. The gun is inoperative. Dan taught me that most of the muzzle loaders still around are "loaded"; someone was getting it ready to fire and dang, powder in place and the ball/load gets stuck in the barrel. No way to extract .... and a live black powder charge in the breach. Dan has a liquid he pours in that neutralizes the powder (or as he says turns it to gum that dries and "goes away" .... but the ball remains. How does he know? The ramrod only goes so far ....not all the way ... into the barrel. It happened quite often says Dan. What then? The guns got hung over the fireplace or stashed to be delt with later ... or not until Dan got his hands on them .... years and years later. Anyway, if you want a truly authentic frontier wall hanging rifle, this is a beauty. Original patina on the action and barrel; no one has messed it up by trying to "shine" it. Priced well below what you will find out there. Why? Well, I had one long gun (the full stock Leman) that Dan really wanted ... and really knew about. We made a deal we were both thrilled to do. And an after note: Dan wrote to tell me that my Leman WAS ALSO LOADED! What you don't know can be seriously dangerous. I am still learning.
