5/25/2021 – Arms and Armor

.50 caliber. 32″ barrel length. SN: NSN. Single-shot percussion rifle with target sights, double set triggers, and a heavy octagon barrel with a rounded muzzle attachment. Blued metal finish and a fine checkered walnut stock, with silver plated buttplate and patchbox. Target sights consist of a rear aperture tang sight, adjustable hooded front sight, and a chess piece-style bead to muzzle attachment. Marked “M.S. HENDRICK AURORA ILL/1875” and “HITCHCOCK MUZZY” both to left side of barrel. Merton S. Hendrick was a renowned maker of target rifles and worked out of Aurora, Illinois from about 1868 up until his death in 1930.