I got it for a $375 plus fees. Out the door for $422. Sadly, I think I over paid. THere was a guy there who was totally shilling the bid. I almost let him have it.

Its a Hopkins & Allen Arms, 38 S&W, falling block lever action single shot
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I will shoot it at the range tomorrow, but I anticipate that the runout on the muzzle will be a problem. As you can see, the throat is quite rough, ut it smooths out further down.

BP wrote on Sep 8^th, 2013 at 1:37am:


I don't think this was originally a factory chambered item in this calibre. Notice that the factory address is 
a rolled item but the calibre stamping is apparently hand done.  Like BP says it's overall looks are honest with the exception of the front sight. 

I'd suggest giving it the usual highly technical safety test by tying it to a tyre and firing it first with a long length of string. Better safe than sorry.

Harry

Looks like the 8 in the cal. marking is inverted?

Interesting. That is the first I have heard of it.
I was very pleased with the shoosting of the Hopkins & Allen I got.  I took it to the range to shoot along side the 38 S&W LemonSqueezer I have.

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First, I shot the revolver at 25 yards to test the Remington 38 S&W Express ammo I bought. The gun shot high and left, but still landed on the paper (barely). Then, I tried out the rifle. At 25 yards, it shot a little low and right. I moved the target out to 50 yards, and the group was about 3". Not bad for a rough bore like that.

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I put up a shoot and see and adjusted the sights. The rear sight is just loose enough to slide back and forth by hand without a drift punch. I elevated to the top of the ramp and eased it to the left a little. Again, it shot a solid 3" at 50 yards.
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The gun shoots so softly, it felt like shooting a .22. Very smooth. Trigger is crisp, about 7 lbs I'd say. Sights are surprising visible for being a mashed up front sight and a deep V rear sight. However, they were quick and easy. When I got home, I cleaned out and had the expected light leading with some flakes. I cast the muzzle with some Cerosafe and the results were a little surprising.

First of all, on another forum, it was suggested that the 38 S&W were hand stamped, which I suspected, and therefore the caliber was done after manufacturing. I also have not found any reference to Hopkins & Allen Arms (post 1901 re-org) making a rifle in 38 S&W. Finally, the loose rear sight and very strange front sight make me thing this was originally a 922 .22 caliber, that was rechambered for 38 S&W. 

The bore dimensions are unexpectedly tight at the muzzle. Although the rifling does run out at the last .25", the bore mic'ed at .350 and the grooves at .354.

Which of these would be the correct front site for this rifle?

Blade site, Rocky Mountain?
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Post site, casted one piece?
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