RIFLE. Cal. 57 Smooth bore. S# NSN. The 45-1/2" octagon to round barrel fitted with rifle sights is unmarked and smooth-bored. Trade flint lock by "MM Maslin" (Baltimore?) has a high-breasted serpentine cock, a rounded integral pan, and a bridled roller frizzen with a roller on a feather spring with a bulbous finial. Lock has some feather and fern engraving with the maker's name over "WARRANTED" at the center. The full stock with brass muzzle cap attaches to the barrel with four wide brass side bolts and is made of a very attractive piece of curly maple. Raised mouldings are around lock, barrel tang, and long sideplate. Incised scroll carving is on the left side under and behind the fluted cheekpiece. Brass mounts include a trigger guard with a spur-forming grip. Heavy semi-crescent buttplate with 3-1/2" return and rectangular patchbox on right side of butt with distinctive spear finial; release button is in buttplate return. CONDITION: fair to good; original flint. Barrel and lock have a mostly very dark brown patina, with considerable pitting at the breech end of the barrel around the touch hole. Stock is fair to good with an old oil refinish, which partially fills the carving. Butt has considerable replaced wood at the toe and a crack through the lock area, which presently does flex. There are some noted losses of wood along the barrel channel, mostly on the right side. Some replaced wood and infill are found on the left side of the barrel tang and around the sideplate, with an old, repaired crack. The bore is rusted. Lock is operable. (01-24414/MGM). ANTIQUE. $1,200-1,500.