This William Glaze percussion rifle was reportedly used as a Confederate sniper rifle during the Civil War, but we have no proof to substantiate this. William Glaze was a Gunsmith and owner of Palmetto Armory in South Carolina. This in and of itself could and very well maybe the reason the aforementioned statement could be valid. In 1851 he was given a contract to manufacture muskets, rifles and pistols as well as 1,000 sabers and bayonets. By the 1860s and the outbreak of the Civil War Palmetto was manufacturing weapons for the Confederate Army. The lock is marked "WM GLAZER" ahead of the hammer with a floral leaf design on the rear and "CAST STEEL" near the breech. The barrel is fitted with a globe front sight, fixed iron rear sight and a peep sight which extends over the stock wrist with a 10 inch base and elevation adjustment mounted on the top of the wrist. Drum bolster, hickory ramrod with brass head, brass trigger guard with extended finger spur and mount with a full maple stock with a brass forend cap, square brass patch box, cheek piece and brass crescent buttplate with a 7 1/2 inch toe extension.

Very good. The barrel has a brown patina with moderate flash pitting on the breech end. The lock and hammer have a dark patina. The brass components have an aged patina. The stock is very good with a small pieced in repair ahead of the bolster, an old repair on the toe and overall minor handling marks and sharp edges on the flats. The markings are clear. The action is fine.