This c. 1840s-1860s half-stock rifle is the style commonly associated with the famous mountain men thanks to the Hawken rifles owned by Jim Bridge, Kit Carson, and other famous trappers later in their lives, and these "deer rifles" were made by many makers and also used during the Civil War, including by Birge's Western Sharpshooters supplied by Dimick in St. Louis. The rifle has a heavy octagon barrel in .58 caliber with 6-groove rifling, simple designs around the muzzle, blade and notch sights, patent breech with brass band inlay and long tang secured by two wood screws, single barrel key, brass key escutcheons and small sideplate secured by brass screws, adjustable double set triggers, spurred iron trigger guard, German silver cap box with hardened grease inside and some simple decoration, slanted iron buttplate with spurred heel, brass toeplate secured with brass screws, and half-length stock with pewter forend cap and nicely shaped cheekpiece.

Very good with mostly gray and brown patina on the iron, some mild oxidation, traces of blue finish, aged patina on the brass and German silver, and fairly mild overall wear. The period refinished stock is also very good and has mild scratches and dings and some edge wear. Mechanically fine.