Thanks very much Stu, and I very much agree. Actually when I first got this rifle, I felt it was of course a hunting rifle, however I felt that given the 'climate of war' circumstances of its period, it could easily have become an ersatz weapon of battle as required. As these were actually ordered as noted for Kentucky militia that would support their viability as a combat weapon despite their intended use as a sporting arm.
Obviously speculative optimism is as always, just what it is. While this is clearly a sporting weapon, I did not realize that such a heavy caliber would be used in competition shooting, but here my naivete regarding firearms is revealed.
I thought that competition shooting used smaller caliber, and one Civil War period (by serial #) Smith & Wesson #2 revolver I bought was only affordable because as offered, it had been rechambered from the original .32 cal to a .22 caliber, for target shooting.
I think that was where I got my notion.
Always learning Stu!!! Thank you so much for your insights!!!
all best regards
Jim
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