Send us your own comments about this object.

Title:	RIFLE, MILITARY -  FREEMAN RIFLE .50 SN# 323
Maker/Manufacturer:	FREEMAN, AUSTIN T.
Date of Manufacture:
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 4351
Measurements:	OL:132CM 52" BL: 86.3CM 34 1/2"

Object Description:

FREEMAN RIFLE .50 SN# 323
Manufactured by Hoard's Armory, Watertown, N.Y. - Experimental single-shot breechloading rifle.


Markings:
Stock: A.T. FREEMAN.
Lower band: B.
Middle and top band: B.
Buttplate: R. 323 (possibly old museum rack number).

1909 Catalog #0847 - "Rifle. Freeman's Breech Loading Rifle. Cal..50. Metallic cartridge. Stamped on stock, A.T. Freeman. No bayonet."

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1876. BREECH-LOADING MUSKET AND RIFLES. No. 59. "Freeman breech-loading musket; caliber .50. Opened by swinging back breech-block by the thumb-piece in front. Locked by the position of the breech-block, and by help of hammer. Extraction and ejection by sliding extractor underneath seat of block, which operates in connection with it. (See Report of the Chief of Ordnance, 1873, and Ordnance Memoranda No. 15)."

CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBIT OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT AT THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION OF THE OHIO VALLEY AND CENTRAL STATES, AT CINCINNATI, OHIO, JULY 4 TO OCTOBER 27, 1888. METALLIC SHELL CARTRIDGES. "37. Breech Loading Rifle, Freeman; calibre .50; 1870; metallic cartridge. Opened by swinging back breech-block by the thumpiece in front. Locked by the position of the breech-block and by help of hammer. Extraction and ejection by sliding extractor underneath seat of block, which operates in connection with it."

WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, 1893, No. 148 - "Freeman's breech-loading rifle, caliber .50, 1870 metallic cartridge. Opened by swinging back breechblock by the thumb piece in front. Locked by the position of the breechblock and by help of hammer. Extraction and ejection by sliding extractor underneath seat of block, which operates in connection with it."

Notes: "A.T. Freeman presented his breech-loading rifle, known as the Freeman rifle, which he dismounted, re-assembled, and explained to the Board, leaving it with them for experiment." - Office Board on Breech-Loading Small Arms, Army Building, New York City, September 19, 1872.

"The Freeman rifle was an experimental single-shot breechloader made in the late 19th century. The specimen shown here - part of the Springfield Armory Museum collection - may very well be the only one in existence....
For every single-shot breechloading system that 'made it to the big leagues,' there were a dozen in the also-ran and never-was ranks. One of the most obscure was the A.T. Freeman. This rifle, chambered for the .50-70 Government cartridge, featured a breechblock that could swung open to the right and back by means of a thumbpiece. According the description in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition Catalog, the rifle's action was 'Locked by the position of the breechblock and by help of hammer. Extraction and ejection by sliding extractor underneath seat of block, which operates in connection with it.
Given the number of excellent breechloading designs at the time, the Freeman made little impression." - Atlas Editions, Inc.