Manufactured in two locations by Englishmen Ferdinand W.C. and Francis Cook, only a few thousand of these type percussion rifles were ever made. The first was at New Orleans and later at Athens, Georgia after approaching Union troops forced them to move. These longarms were of the British enfield pattern. This rifle would fall into the second contract and is marked on the lock plate with the Confederate flag behind the hammer and "COOK & BROTHER NO1862" followed by "837" ahead of the hammer. The top of the barrel is marked "ATHENS" (very faint), followed by "NO1862". BROTHERS" and the left rear is marked "PROVED". The barrel is equipped with a brass blade front sight dovetailed in a brass base and fixed iron notch rear sight. Brass mountings, wide iron button head ramrod and mounted with a full straight grip stock with a brass forend cap, two barrel bands and brass buttplate. Complete with the original linen sling with leather reinforced eyelets.

Good. The barrel has a brown patina with heavy pitting at the breech end, which has covered most of the markings in that area. The lock and hammer have a silver gray patina with some minor pitting on the lock. All of the brass has a natural aged patina. The sling is fair with a section missing and some of the leather is also missing. The remaining leather is badly cracked and flaking off. The sling itself is heavily stained and the stitching is tight. The stock is good with a bulge on the underside ahead of the trigger guard which has caused a 6 inch minor crack. There are a couple of minor cracks on the flats and overall scattered minor dents and scratches. The lock cutout has been enlarged slightly. The markings, unless noted above, are readable. The lock is slightly loose, otherwise the action is fine. A solid example of a scarce Confederate Cook & Brother Percussion Infantry rifle.