This rifle is pictured and discussed on pages 448-449 of "American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume III: Flintlock Alterations and Muzzleloading Percussion Shoulder Arms, 1840-1865" where it is listed as a ".42 caliber full stock Turner rifle made by John Wurfflein of Philadelphia..." Moller's "GDM" collection mark is by the toe plate. The Turner rifles are associated with the Turnverein aka Turner clubs created by German immigrants in the late 1840s and 1850s. Many of the German-Americans who formed and joined these clubs had participated in the failed 1848 revolutions in Europe which led to suppression of the movement within Germany, and, though they maintained strong ties to their German heritage, many Turners became fiercely patriotic Americans and fought for the Union during the Civil War. Gunmaker John Wurfflein himself was German immigrants who came over to the States in 1844 and was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Schuetzen club (Schuetzenverein). These shooting clubs were also key fixtures of German-American society. This rifle has sporting style blade and adjustable notch rear sights, a bayonet bar on the right side for the included saber bayonet which has a brass eagle hilt and a scabbard, "JOHN WURFFLEIN PHILADA" on top ahead of the breech, "J. WURFFLEIN PHILADA" on the lock, "26" on many of the components, adjustable double set triggers, German silver furniture, and a nearly full-length walnut stock with checkered wrist and shadowline cheekpiece. The brass ramrod has a threaded on brass ball tip, and a later leather sling is fitted on the sling swivels on the upper barrel band and front of the trigger guard bow. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Very good with mottled gray and brown patina and mild pitting on the barrel, cracked upper tang, mild tool marks, cold blue on the hammer and breech plug, gray and brown patina on the lock, and light aged patina on the furniture. The re-oiled stock is fine and has worn checkering, some chips and slivers absent at the edges, a thin tension crack on the left flat, and mild marks and scratches. Mechanically fine. The bayonet is good and has aged patina on the hilt, gray patina and moderate pitting and edge wear on the blade, and heavy wear on the scabbard.