09/29/2025
Kind of a long post but well worth it. I have a mad passion for original PA muzzle loaders. Any "unique" firearm that comes thru my shop I try my best to research it. I really wanted a gunmaker name for this, but it was not to be.
Here is a couple of before, during and after pics of an original Pennsylvania 1840ish muzzle loading rifle. 37-inch barrel in 36 caliber. It came in with missing and broken parts {wood putty and JB weld}. Missing the hammer, broken tumbler and bridle screws. Missing the barrel wedge. Hand made most of these, did find a tumbler that was close but i had to modify it to work. All functioning now while keeping it as original as possible. (sadly, the barrel and drum are in bad shape, so its firing days are long behind it.)
While i don't know the gunsmith who built this, (unmarked) I do know that the barrel was made by a Haberling in Cumru Township, Berks County Pennsylvania around 1840-1850ish.
The lock was made by George Goulcher. The Goulcher family was a popular lock making business at that time.
This was near the Wyomissing Creek area in Berks County and there was at least 37 different gunsmiths/barrel and lock makers in the area around that time.