1850-1870 - James Stapleton - Pennsylvania Long Rifle - Joseph Golcher Lock

[smithy]

The brass trigger guard was severely damaged, showing breaks, dings, and dents. We managed to fix most of the damage by securing a rounded sledge hammer in a vice and using a plastic dead blow hammer to gently pound out the imperfections. The damage seemed to stem from difficulties in removing a pin that we had fixed earlier.

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[adavis]

We’re still refining the Golcher lock on this rifle, and along the way, we’ve uncovered some new details about it. While researching a component we’re building from scratch, we discovered that Josh Golcher frequently collaborated with a few other gunsmiths specializing in stocks and barrels, including James Stapleton. We dug into James’s background—more on that can be found here James Stapleton Bio—and also pinpointed other rifles with similar features, like the lock screw plate and cheek rest.

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Source Article: Huntingdon Daily News By ADAM WATSON For The Daily News Sep 16, 2024

The team contacted Adam Watson to inquire about a way to connect with Denny Donhar (a Stapleton relative). While there are numerous similarities, all of his examples seem to include a patch box, whereas ours lacks one but otherwise aligns with James Stapleton’s style.

[adavis]

Additional information:

Joseph Stapleton, a gunsmith, lived in Orbisonia, Huntingdon County, from 1850 to 1870.

James Stapleton (1833-1900) was a gunsmith who spent his entire adult life in Todd Township, Huntingdon County. Several of his rifles have been documented. In 1870, the census recorded James, aged 35, as a gunsmith, living with his wife Sarah, 31, and their children: William, 6; Minerva, 5; and John, 3. Also residing with them was an apprentice gunsmith, William S. Chilicote, 20. By 1880, James, now 46, remained a gunsmith, with Sarah, 41, and their expanded family: William B., 16, an apprentice gunsmith; Minerva, 16; John, 13; Solomon, 11; James M., 7; Hariett, 3; and Albert, 1. In 1900, James, born September 1833, had transitioned to farming, living with Sarah, born December 1838, after 37 years of marriage. Beyond his trade, James was a skilled violinist, known for playing at local square dances.

James M. Stapleton (1874- ) lived in Todd Township, Huntingdon County, from 1900 to 1910. Born in an era when modern repeating cartridge guns had largely replaced the traditional long rifles crafted by earlier generations, he primarily worked as a farmer and day laborer, though he occasionally made and repaired guns when opportunities arose. In the 1900 U.S. Census, he was still living in his father’s household. By the 1910 census, he resided with his widowed mother, alongside siblings Hariet, 27, and Albert, 24.

[smithy]

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Fortunately, we faced no time constraints while working on this rifle, as we encountered ongoing challenges in repairing the Golcher lock mechanism. What initially seemed like a straightforward fix—replacing a missing spring link—turned out to be more complex, compounded by a worn-out main spring. Crafting a new main spring and link was simple enough, but creating ones that properly extended and locked into place proved to be a different beast altogether. For reasons I can’t fully pinpoint, it took us five tries to get it right, with each failure paving the way to eventual success. Additionally, the link kept slipping off the uppermost mount, likely due to a small crack in the metal. To resolve this, I decided to replace the pin by tapping it and securing it with a screw. Now, when the trigger is pulled and the spring extends, the link stays firmly in place and no longer derails.

Josh Golcher, hope we did OK. We can now snap caps again probably for the first time in ages!

[smithy]

During live testing, we encountered several cap no-fires and discovered that the lock plate alignment remained problematic due to the wood stock deteriorating, causing a minor inward tilt. We attempted to enhance impact alignment and orientation using washers and spacers, but ultimately, it seemed that adjusting one aspect would inadvertently worsen another.

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In the end, we determined that reinforcing the deteriorated stock was the most effective solution for properly seating the lock, especially given the prior stock modifications we had already made, which made it a fitting choice. We encase the lock in plastic and remove it just as the fiberglass begins to harden. Once fully cured, the majority of the material is trimmed away and stained to blend with the stock.

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We also suspect that the hammer’s throw is slightly too short, perhaps by about 2mm (a small difference), and the area where the hammer strikes the cap is deeply recessed and probably worn from prolonged use. We meticulously welded a couple of layers onto the surface and then shaped them to fit. This solution proved highly effective, noticeably increasing the impact force. The takeaway, particularly with a temperamental lock, is that if you can’t bridge the gap from point A to point B, bring point B closer to you.

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During live testing our baseline was 40 grains of 3F with #10 caps and she's a shooter. I think the only thing left is to figure out an appropriate rear sight. The picture also gives a preview of another project we are testing which is Edgar the Great's perfection rifle probably better known as the elephant gun.

I would say the rifle is pretty darn accurate however the shooter may have been a little off or distracted bringing this firearm back to life judging by the first grouping.

From sad and broken in pieces into a happy and valuable Pennsylvania long rifle shooter!

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