This is an excellent example of a pre-civil war era, takedown percussion target rifle that was manufactured by S.C. Miller a well known gunsmith and target rifle builder that was active in the New Haven CT. area, from approximately 1849 to 1860, that has been fitted with an equally rare Madden target scope. This rifle has a very RARE takedown feature, that is accomplished via a small screw on the underside of the receiver that holds the barrel in place. These early pre-civil war rifles can be easily distinguished by the brass/bronze receivers. During the civil war two things happened, 1) there was a technological leap in the form of mass production steel rifles and parts which became the standard for post-war rifle production; 2) everyone realized the limitations of the Brass/Bronze material for the production of rifle receivers, consequently post civil war rifle are almost all made of steel receivers. This rifle is very similar in pattern to the well known Wesson style rifles with the squared off receiver, with the integral lock within the receiver with the smaller lighter side hammer providing faster lock time. The rifle has a 32 inch full octagon barrel with a correct style false muzzle and bullet starter. The bore measures approximately 43 caliber with seven lands and grooves . The left side of the barrel is marked 'S.C. MILLER, NEW HAVEN CT. CAST STEEL' and the under side of the barrel is marked 'REMINGTON CAST STEEL' , this was probably the best steel available during this time and certainly the easiest to obtain in the CT. area. The right side of the receiver is nicely engraved in a script pattern on the tail end of the lock 'S.C. MILLER'. The receiver is beautifully engraved (75-80%) in a well executed floral pattern with some geometric highlights or borders. The rear section of the barrel is also nicely engraved in a similar scroll pattern that accents the receiver. It is fitted with an original period telescope that has a replacement crosshair (very large) that was produced by and marked 'MADDEN, B. FALLS, VT.', it is fitted with the correct style adjustable windage and elevation rear mount, similar to a Malcolm scope. The rifle has no forend and is fitted with correct brass/bronze style front foot that is dovetailed under the front section of the barrel that sits on the bench when firing, but it also has a some what unique feature in that the foot has a small ring behind it that allows it to be mounted on a bench or a pole. The rifle has been meticulously fitted with a beautiful straight gripped walnut stock with a slight amount of figure in the butt, that has a large cheek piece with a checkered pistol grip area. The stock has two inlays on the left side, one of an antlered deer head and the other of a standing man holding a rifle, similar to the Minuteman statue. The right side of the stock has been inletted with an excellent small silver patch or cap box along with a similar matching, silver buttplate, toe piece and double scroll silver triggerguard with the standard double set trigger. The buttplate, cap box, toe piece and triggerguard and rear section of the barrel all have matching fine English scroll pattern with a nice punch-dot back ground.

Fine plus to excellent overall, the barrel retains approximately 40-50% of the original blued finish with most of the finish remaining on the upper flats of the barrel, being somewhat protected by the scope, while the remaining areas of the barrel have all thinned out and turned a plum/brown finish. The scope tube also has a similar remaining finish with most of the surfaces having turned a mottled brown finish overall. The optics are very dark and cloudy, but I am sure a good cleaning would remedy that as these were pretty primitive scopes. The brass/bronze receiver retains a nice original dark mustard patina finish with clear, sharp engraving overall. The wood stock is also in excellent condition with a very nice dark tone with just a few handling marks with excellent well done inlays. The overall wood to metal fitting/inletting was just meticulously done, consistent with a very expensive hand built target rifle of the 1850 period. Just a super rifle.