19th C. percussion rifle, unknown maker, with engraved game birds on lock plate; double set triggers; full stock with later mother-of-pearl circular inlays and bone darts; brass butt plate, trigger guard and other mounted hardware; 28" rifled octagonal barrel, equipped with a 31 1/2" scope marked "L.N. MOGG / MARCELLUS, N.Y." at the rear, retains both rear and front glass with crosshairs visible. .58 caliber. Overall: 43 3/4"L; bbl: 28" L; Scope 31 1/2" L.

Note: Walter Matson Cline (1873-1941) was a Chattanooga, TN, photographer and preeminent historian and collector of muzzle loading firearms. His book "the Muzzle-Loading Rifle Then and Now" became the authority on the history of black powder firearms when it was published in 1942, shortly after his death. The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, of which Cline was an early member, is headquartered in Friendship, IN, and is home to the Walter Cline shooting range. As this is an antique black powder firearm, no FFL is necessary.

PROVENANCE: By descent from the estate of Walter M. Cline, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

CONDITION: Clean bore, hammer holds with set, and releases. Front scope mounting bracket absent, ramrod absent, unknown accessory absent from front stock with some inlay missing and crack along grain underneath front. Scope has focusing issues.