Welcome to at present’s Photo of the Day! Right here we’ve an unusually fancy underhammer percussion buggy rifle. This combines the sensible idea of a takedown rifle for carriage journey with silver mounts and sport scene engraving that wouldn’t look misplaced on a European sporting rifle. Buggy rifles had been standard from the 1830s by 1850s as compact firearms that may very well be damaged down for storage beneath a carriage seat or in a traveler’s bag. The underhammer design stored issues easy and low-profile – no exterior hammer to snag, and the lock mechanism was useless dependable. These had been working weapons for individuals who traveled backcountry roads and wished one thing extra succesful than a pistol with out the majority of a full-length rifle.
What units this rifle aside is the sliding barrel sleeve that extends ahead to extend the sight radius. That’s an uncommon function you don’t see on typical buggy rifles, and it exhibits somebody was fascinated with accuracy regardless of the compact design. The longer sight aircraft would assist significantly at distance whereas retaining the rifle quick sufficient for simple carry.
The silver mounts are the place this rifle actually departs from typical utilitarian examples. The patchbox lid has an engraved sport scene displaying a operating stag – ornamental work you’d anticipate on a high-end sporting rifle, not a traveler’s takedown gun. The removable buttstock shops the ramrod, which is a intelligent answer for retaining every thing collectively in a package deal that breaks down for transport.
Buggy rifles usually weren’t fancy weapons. They had been sensible instruments constructed to be inexpensive, dependable, and straightforward to retailer. Discovering one with this degree of ornament suggests it was made for somebody who wished each the comfort of a takedown design and the craftsmanship of a customized sporting rifle. That mixture is uncommon sufficient to make this rifle stand out from the standard utilitarian examples.
Most of our POTDs make the most of photographs from our buddies at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms public sale in america. Take a while to browse their current auctions – who is aware of, possibly you’ll discover a piece of historical past to take residence!
Very Scarce and Uncommon Recreation Scene Engraved Silver Mounted Underhammer Percussion Buggy Rifle | Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/1049/500/game-scene-engraved-underhammer-percussion-buggy-rifle. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Trending Merchandise
