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by John Sexton

Q: Hello – We are a small all-volunteer historical society and museum The additional ramrod is for Civil War-era model 1855 or 1861
located in the Finger Lakes area of New York State. Over the years I have musket with the worm still attached to the threaded end.
enjoyed your articles in the NY and PA Collector and hope that you may be WR is engraved using the style of 18th century writing. I. Peckham,
able to provide information to us or direct us to the proper person. possibly a later descendant of William Richardson, engraved in a much
We were recently gifted a rifle purported to be from the 1700s together later style.
with a bullet mold and powder horn. Attached is a file of photos of these
items. The items came from a house once owned by the son of William
Richardson Sr. who was born in 1730 in Montgomery County PA and
died in 1820 in Cayuga County NY. The bullet mold has the initials
WR Sen engraved on the side possibly indicating that this could have
belonged to him.
We would appreciate knowing your impressions and any information
you may provide on these pieces. Thank you ever so much.
Pat Kimber, Volunteer Curator.

JS: The rifle is not 1700s
but dates 19th century, pos-
sibly some of the very plain
American-made brass hard-
ware could have been from
an earlier gun, and maybe
even the barrel was original-
ly flint altered to percus-
sion. The bullet mold is
from the 18th century era,
and I’m sure it dates and
was owned by William
Richardson, Senior, who died in 1820 based on the history and style of
engraved initials. The brass multi-cavity buck and ball mold are typical
of that era. It would be interesting to research the other name “PECK-
HAM.” That may have been a descendant who used the old mold and
added his name, the horn, and the rifle date from use in the mid-19th
century.
18th century bullet molds with characters and engraving like yours
have a value between $600-$800. The percussion half-stock rifle and
powder horn have a value of $300-$400.

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32 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles