Shooter McGavin Report post Posted July 24, 2011 I have a muzzle loader that I picked up at an estate sale, inside where the cloth patches are kept it is stamped Eagle Rifle Works and it appears to be JA GOLKER, not 100% sure. I don't have a clue if it shoots or if it is just a conversation piece. Any help on steering me in the right direction to see if it is valuable or just a dust collector. It is really cool looking, but not really interested in keeping it. Thanks in advance for any help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted July 25, 2011 Your rifle was made by Philadelphia gunsmith James Golcher between 1833 and 1841. His Eagle Rifle Works must have made more than a few of them because several have survived and can be found on various internet sites. (Google Eagle Rifle Works.) A .54-caliber half-stock percussion rifle similar to yours sold at auction for $1,300 recently. I can't say whether yours would be safe to shoot, but I can tell you that many muzzleloaders from the 19th century were cleaned up and used for hunting and in competition during the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, before manufacturers started producing replicas. You need to have a qualified muzzleloader gunsmith look at yours. Have you dropped the ramrod down the bore to make certain your rifle is not loaded? Many old rifles still were loaded when heirs hung them on their walls or stored them in closets. If powder and ball are still in the bore after all these years, your ramrod will not bounce. It also will stick way out of the muzzle. Bill Quimby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shooter McGavin Report post Posted July 25, 2011 Your rifle was made by Philadelphia gunsmith James Golcher between 1833 and 1841. His Eagle Rifle Works must have made more than a few of them because several have survived and can be found on various internet sites. (Google Eagle Rifle Works.) A .54-caliber half-stock percussion rifle similar to yours sold at auction for $1,300 recently. I can't say whether yours would be safe to shoot, but I can tell you that many muzzleloaders from the 19th century were cleaned up and used for hunting and in competition during the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, before manufacturers started producing replicas. You need to have a qualified muzzleloader gunsmith look at yours. Have you dropped the ramrod down the bore to make certain your rifle is not loaded? Many old rifles still were loaded when heirs hung them on their walls or stored them in closets. If powder and ball are still in the bore after all these years, your ramrod will not bounce. It also will stick way out of the muzzle. Bill Quimby Well that is quite helpful. I really appreciate this, nt to bug you again, but do you know anybody who specializes in muzzleloaders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted July 25, 2011 Well that is quite helpful. I really appreciate this, nt to bug you again, but do you know anybody who specializes in muzzleloaders. Pawn Stars in Las Vegas if your going to be up in that area. Or you can call them and ask for Rick, he knows an expert on them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
