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Identifying Antique Rifles

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, an antique rifle is any rifle not intended or redesigned for using rim fire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition. To be considered an antique, the rifle must have been manufactured in or before 1898. It could also be any rifle using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1898, for which this ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available. If you picked up an antique rifle at a flea market or online auction and want to know exactly what you have, there are a number of options available to you.

Things You'll Need

Antique rifle
Books
Internet

Instructions

- 1
  Check the antique rifle to ensure that it is not loaded. Just because it is old, does not mean that it is no longer dangerous. If the gun has ammunition, remove it carefully.
- 2
  Examine the rifle closely. Try to find a maker's mark, or any similar type of identification. If you can find a maker's mark on your gun, it will be much easier for you to find out when and where the rifle was produced.
- 3
  Take several very clear photographs of the gun at different angles to help conduct research.
- 4
  Research antique rifles in the library and on the Internet. If you have any information at all about the gun, such as knowing that it was produced in the United States, this will makes the research quicker. Most libraries stock catalogs of antique rifles to flip through. Try to compare photographs of the rifle with the pictures seen in the catalogs. You might find an exact match.
- 5
  Send the photographs to antique gun dealers online. Many antique firearms dealers are experienced enthusiasts and gladly help to identify a gun free of charge. These dealers have spent years researching types of antique firearms and may be able to recognize the gun instantly. Note that in exchange for their help, they may want to use your photographs on their websites.
- 6
  Take the antique gun to an antique shop. If online dealers were not able to help you, an antique dealer who is able to handle the rifle in person may be able to. If not, this person can refer you to someone who can. Antique dealers often rely on specialists to help them price merchandise.
- 7
  Pay to have the antique rifle appraised if you were not able to identify it. The appraiser will research the gun and provide information such as who made the gun, where it was made, where it was probably used and by whom. The appraiser will also tell you approximately how much money the rifle is worth.

Antiques