Help valuing an old percusion rifle

[gcrookston]

The lock is "Henry Parker Warranted". I understand Mr. Parker was a maker of locks in NJ and died in 1860. Set Triggers, ornately engraved patch box, half stocked with silver buttons for the keys and rod. Missing rod. a small letter "R" is carved into the stock just behind the trigger guard tang. Nipple is crushed. Approximately .50 calibre. Missing rear sight, ram rod, rod retainer loop, one screw for the trigger guard. Gun is uncleaned. The works function perfectly. It was acquired by a family member in Utah sometime between 1890-1910.

This appears to be "in the Pennsylvania style", but other than what I googled, I know nothing.

[BPTactical]

While the buttstock, patchbox and accroutrements scream "Pennsylvania/Ohio" the halfstock is curious as are the double barrel keys. That seems more of a "Plains" style rifle. It is too fancy to be a trade gun. The checkering and engraving shows that this was not really a generic "working mans" rifle but rather someone who commisioned the builder and had it built to their specifications. It more than likely was fairly expensive at the time, maybe $25.00. From your pic of the forend it almost appears that the fore end cap is silver as well.?
Like you found out H Parker was a lockmaker and was fairly prominent. He built flintlocks so he was around quite a while and unless you find any other markings it will be very hard to tell who the builder was. Flintlocks had pretty much fallen to percussion locks by 1825-1830 so your rifle could easily fall into that early period. It is clear that the lock was not converterted from a flint so it is safe to say that it is post 1830. By 1830 the fur trade era was all but gone. He built both back action (like yours) and front action locks so it would reason that he was purely a lock maker and sold his wares to builders.
It appears quite similar to an A.C. Swaidner (Salem, Ohio 1830-70) H Parker locked half stock rifle here:http://www.icollector.com/Ohio-A-C-S...Rifle_i9752121
Rifle builders had their own individual style and stockshaping was one of the places you saw that the most. I see quite a few similarities with your rifle and the above example in the stock area. Swaidner rifles seem to be prominently half stocked.
Value?
Hard to say, market and condition is everything and you mentioned that it has some deficiencies.

Neat old frontstuffer. Who knows- maybe a rich Mormon heading to Utah had to spook off a passle of pesky Utes from the wagon train......


I will dig through some books I have and see if I can find anything more out.

[gcrookston]

thanks. The end cap is silver as well. There is another rifle, very close to this one here: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=9602805,

but it does not have the double keys and a different style lock.

[sneakerd]

I know a guy in Lakewood who can go a long way to proper and careful restoration as needed with all parts you say you are missing. Good guy, a real stud, and won't try to steal yer dog.

[ScooterCO]

That is a neat old piece!
I would be proud to hang that one on the wall.