Riflemaker Thomas Oldham of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, appears to have been born c. 1809 and was active around 1830s-1850s and later moved to Iowa in the mid 1850s and worked as a blacksmith and died in Mallory Township in 1891. The rifle is a classic Bedford rifle and has blade and notch sights, "T. Oldham" signed on the top of the barrel and on the distinctive Bedford lock, some scroll and floral engraving, light molding terminating in incised scrolls on the forend, a classic Bedford patchbox with oval pierced finial and side plates, ornate toe plate, and a straight comb butt with lots of drop commonly found on Bedford rifles. Provenance: Lewis Wagner; The Milan J. Turk Collection

Fine overall with dark brown patina on the lock and barrel, moderate erosion at the breech, light aged patina on the brass furniture, some wood loss at the breech, a few thin cracks, mild scratches and dings, attractive flame figure, and mild overall wear. Mechanically fine