Make: P. Waggoner / H.T. Cooper

Model: Percussion Match Rifle

Serial Number: None visible

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1840s–1850s, Antique

Caliber: Approx. .36 Caliber (Black Powder Only)

Action Type: Percussion Lock, Single Shot Muzzleloader with False Muzzle and Starter

Barrel Length: 34 ½”

Sights / Optics:

The front sight is a dovetailed German silver blade. The rear sight is a dovetailed buckhorn notch. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for a peep aperture, with a fixed vertical post inserted directly into the tang. The design is unique in that the peep does not fold or articulate.

Stock Configuration & Condition:

The rifle is stocked in hardwood with a checkered straight wrist, cheekpiece, and crescent steel buttplate. A silver inlay of a rider on horseback is present on the right side of the buttstock, and a silver greyhound inlay adorns the left side. The forearm terminates in a silver nose cap intricately cut with a leaf pattern. There are two small losses on the left side of the forearm and numerous tiny bore holes scattered across the stock surface, likely from historic woodworm activity. These wormholes suggest that the wood has been structurally compromised and may have developed underlying cracks not visible on the surface. The overall wood shows scattered dings, compression marks, and age-related handling wear. The fit remains solid, though fragile in areas. The stock rates in Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued / Patinated

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition:

The bore is dark with corrosion and frosting throughout. The rifling remains strong. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 4/10.

Overall Condition:

This rifle retains a trace finish with dark age patina throughout. The barrel shows heavy scattered oxidation, handling marks, and some pitting along the flats. The false muzzle is secured by four indexing holes at the muzzle crown—an extremely rare survival feature—and comes complete with its original brass bullet starter. The lock is marked “HT COOPER / New York,” and the top flat of the barrel is marked “P. WAGGONER / SCHENECTADA.” The action components show expected wear for its age but remain in functional mechanical condition. The rifle rates in about Good to Very Good condition for an antique, with notable condition concerns stemming from the stock damage and bore corrosion.

Mechanics:

The hammer cocks and drops appropriately. As with all used and antique firearms, a thorough inspection and cleaning are recommended before firing to meet your maintenance standards.

Our Assessment:

This is a rare and complete example of a mid-19th-century target rifle crafted in New York by two known gunsmiths—P. Waggoner of Schenectady and H.T. Cooper of New York City. Both men were active during the 1840s and 1850s, and this rifle appears to reflect their collaborative craftsmanship. While Waggoner is listed as the barrel maker, Cooper’s name on the lock indicates a likely partnership or at least the use of high-end components from multiple respected artisans. The rifle’s features—a long octagonal barrel, false muzzle, and bullet starter—firmly place it in the match rifle category, built for precision shooting at distance.

Its most compelling characteristic is the presence of all three original components: the rifle, the false muzzle, and the period brass starter. This triad is rarely found together today, as many false muzzles and starters were lost or separated over the decades. The peep sight post, which anchors directly into the tang, is another period-specific touch highlighting the rifle’s purpose-built nature for accuracy. Silver inlays of a galloping horseman and a greyhound lend a personalized or possibly club-related identity to the rifle, further distinguishing it.

Despite wear and condition concerns—including a heavily corroded bore, surface pitting, and significant evidence of woodworm damage potentially leading to structural cracks—this remains a remarkable piece for the collector of early American percussion rifles. It’s a display-worthy example of northeastern gunsmithing and target shooting culture in the pre-Civil War era. The survival of its matching components makes it an even rarer find in today’s antique firearms market.