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Henry Eicholtz Leman Trade Rifle.- 1852
Henry Eicholtz Leman made many rifles during his career, circa 1840 until the late 1880's, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Although Leman made styles of rifles, perhaps he is best known for his Indian Trade Rifles. Henry Leman's Trade Rifle were stocked in maple, and featured a barrel made in his factory. Mixed furniture is quite common on these original H. E. Leman rifles and as is this rifle trimmed in brass furniture, with an brass buttplate. The rifle weighs 8.7 pounds, with a 13-3/4" trigger reach.
The heart of the rifle is a 44" long .50 caliber 1" straight octagon barrel. The barrel still retains some of the factory information, and address markings. The bore is rifled with a hard to measure twist due to its condition (for patched round ball). The exterior is finished in an aged smooth chocolate brown. The barrel is fitted with a full-buckhorn rear sight dovetailed 6" ahead of the breech and a silver blade front sight dovetailed 1-1/2" behind the muzzle. The nose cap has a replacement engraved nickel silver nose cap. Stock is a dark buttermilk red painted stain on the walnut stock. The buttstock has the Leman style straight line comb architecture, has the typical Leman engraved patch box. The brass buttplate is a typical mid 19th century design with a deep curve to engage the shoulder. The top view shows the hooked breech of the barrel and tang. The barrel is retained to the forearm by one key that passes through a brass escutcheon in the forearm of the stock. Remove the ramrod, press the key out, and the barrel can easily be lifted from the stock.
Tags that have been on this firearm for many years, telling the viewer what they are looking at. [Conner Family Collection]
The bottom view shows the steel toeplate and brass triggerguard. One steel screw retains the toeplate. The brass trigger guard is pinned both front and rear to retain it to the stock. The forend is fitted with a pewter forend cap to protect the end grain, and act as the ramrod entry pipe. Two browned iron ramrod pipes are mounted to the under rib. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a brass tip threaded to accept needed accessories. A single lock bolt engages the lock through a small iron tear drop sideplate. A simple square cheek is carved in the left side of the buttstock. Ignition is provided a percussion lock, perhaps the most famous of the Lancaster makers, Henry Eicholtz Leman (spelled Lehman early in his career), created a factory to produce arms for westbound settlers, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His locks were often sold at hardware stores and purchased and used by other gunmakers. The lock is browned to match the barrel and has a strong mainspring. The drum is well supported by the lock plate and is fitted with a steel nipple. The single trigger is pinned to provide a smooth release of the lock. This halfstock Plains rifle was ideal for the fur trade and 19th century west bound settlers.
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Henry Eicholtz Leman made many rifles during his career, circa 1840 until the late 1880's, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Although Leman made styles of rifles, perhaps he is best known for his Indian Trade Rifles. Henry Leman's Trade Rifle were stocked in maple, and featured a barrel made in his factory. Mixed furniture is quite common on these original H. E. Leman rifles and as is this rifle trimmed in brass furniture, with an brass buttplate. The rifle weighs 8.7 pounds, with a 13-3/4" trigger reach.
The heart of the rifle is a 44" long .50 caliber 1" straight octagon barrel. The barrel still retains some of the factory information, and address markings. The bore is rifled with a hard to measure twist due to its condition (for patched round ball). The exterior is finished in an aged smooth chocolate brown. The barrel is fitted with a full-buckhorn rear sight dovetailed 6" ahead of the breech and a silver blade front sight dovetailed 1-1/2" behind the muzzle. The nose cap has a replacement engraved nickel silver nose cap. Stock is a dark buttermilk red painted stain on the walnut stock. The buttstock has the Leman style straight line comb architecture, has the typical Leman engraved patch box. The brass buttplate is a typical mid 19th century design with a deep curve to engage the shoulder. The top view shows the hooked breech of the barrel and tang. The barrel is retained to the forearm by one key that passes through a brass escutcheon in the forearm of the stock. Remove the ramrod, press the key out, and the barrel can easily be lifted from the stock.
Tags that have been on this firearm for many years, telling the viewer what they are looking at. [Conner Family Collection]
The bottom view shows the steel toeplate and brass triggerguard. One steel screw retains the toeplate. The brass trigger guard is pinned both front and rear to retain it to the stock. The forend is fitted with a pewter forend cap to protect the end grain, and act as the ramrod entry pipe. Two browned iron ramrod pipes are mounted to the under rib. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a brass tip threaded to accept needed accessories. A single lock bolt engages the lock through a small iron tear drop sideplate. A simple square cheek is carved in the left side of the buttstock. Ignition is provided a percussion lock, perhaps the most famous of the Lancaster makers, Henry Eicholtz Leman (spelled Lehman early in his career), created a factory to produce arms for westbound settlers, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His locks were often sold at hardware stores and purchased and used by other gunmakers. The lock is browned to match the barrel and has a strong mainspring. The drum is well supported by the lock plate and is fitted with a steel nipple. The single trigger is pinned to provide a smooth release of the lock. This halfstock Plains rifle was ideal for the fur trade and 19th century west bound settlers.
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