Fine Full Stock Hunting Rifle with Josh Golcher Lock Plate c. 1820 – 1840

Fine Full Stock Hunting Rifle with Josh Golcher Lock Plate c. 1820 – 1840 – This is an excellent example of a .38 caliber, heavy octagonal barrel gun, with six-groove rifling. The Golcher family produced lock plates and rifles in the U.S., starting in the late 18^th century into the first half of the 19^th century. This early percussion rifle, dates to 1825 -1840; it has an attractive, tiger maple, full stock with inlaid, silver escutcheons, silver patch box and a decorative, silver squirrel with a nut, inlaid on the on the left side of the cheek piece on the butt stock. The firing action is functional and utilizes set triggers. The lock plate is stamped: “Josh Golcher”; with the latter stamping the only one indicating Golcher work, the gun may have been produced by another gunsmith who utilized a Golcher lock. The ramrod thimbles are silver, and the crescent shaped butt plate and trigger guard are also constructed of silver and decoratively engraved. The rifle remains in excellent condition, retaining it’s its original, wood ramrod. Measurements: Overall length – 53”; Barrel length – 38”

According to the records James Golcher  who was known for his locks, opened up his own Pistol/Rifle manufacturing facility in the 1830’s.  It was officially named Eagle Gun Works. 
Golcher family were lock makers from England and finally moved to US, Philadelphia, PA.

Thomas Golcher (Goucher, Gougler). arms contractor. 1774-77, Market St., Philadelphia.
James Golcher (-1805). gunsmith. 2d and Poplar Sts. Came from New York about 1755 and worked until about 1774. Made a gun for George Washington, now in the Valley Forge Museum. Brother of Joseph Golcher. [Gardner, Small Arms Makers, p.75].
Joseph Golcher was a lockmaker who was located in Philadelphia PA circa the mid 19th century. His locks were sold to gunsmiths all over the country, particularly in the East. He made percussion and flint gun locks circa 1825 – 1860.
His brother was James Golcher (II) (1810- ). Proprietor, Eagle Gun Works (q.v.). gun and pistol makers, but primarily gun lock makers. [Dirs., 1841, 1846, 1855; O’Brien’s Wholesale Dir., 1849]. The U.S. Census of 1850 showed James Golcher, age 40; Ann, 38, his wife; William, 16; Mary, 12; Ann, 10, all born in England; Thomas, 8; James, 6; Sarah, 2, all born in the United States. This suggests that whatever gunlocks he may have made before 1833 were made in England and production in the U.S. began about that time.
James Golcher III (1846- ). gunlock manufacturer. Son of James Golcher II and brother to Thomas L Golcher and William Golcher. Philadelphia, c. 1880.

*(A Brief History of Firearms: The Percussion System) Percussion guns did not appear until around 1820.