Armed Professor

[Pat Holscher]

Great shot of a professor in the natural sciences, on horseback, and armed, 1876.

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin ... IZE=medium

[mnhorse]

Great shot of a professor in the natural sciences, on horseback, and armed, 1876.

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin ... IZE=medium

Not to mention the "wicked" pair of spurs he is wearing!
Richard

[Pat Holscher]

What's that rifle? A High Wall?

[ronshoe]

Looks more like a Remington rolling block.

[Philip S]

What's that rifle? A High Wall?

Hard to say but it appears to be a single shot of some kind with an octagonal barrel. It is curious how the sling is looped over a kneepad on his leg.

[Todd]

What's that rifle? A High Wall?

Hard to say but it appears to be a single shot of some kind with an octagonal barrel. It is curious how the sling is looped over a kneepad on his leg.

DIttos on rolling block - appears to have two vertical projections (breechblock and hammer spurs), and trigger loop directly under the block.

[Pat Holscher]

I agree, it's a Remington.

[JohnVanGelder]

Probably not a rolling block..

[Pat Holscher]

Probably not a rolling block..

Why not?

[Pat Holscher]

What's that rifle? A High Wall?

Hard to say but it appears to be a single shot of some kind with an octagonal barrel. It is curious how the sling is looped over a kneepad on his leg.

Indeed, the sling arrangement looks like an accident waiting to happen.

And the rifle, whatever it is, is big. This looks quite uncomfortable.

[Pat Holscher]

Same fellow:

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin ... IZE=medium

[Philip S]

Could it be a Ballard?

[Pat Holscher]

Could it be a Ballard?

I'm imaging that I can see the rolling block lever.

Are there others who are seeing something else?

[mnhorse]

Could it be a Ballard?

I'm imaging that I can see the rolling block lever.

Are there others who are seeing something else?

I'm seeing... Ballard/ Ball & Williams single-shot, The steel receiver seems to go rearward lots further than a Rolling Block.
Frankly, there were so MANY variations on the Rolling Block and also on the Ballard/ Ball & Williams/Marlin single shots that it could be.... I'm sticking with the Ballard family. Now if we could see the trigger guard area......... maybe.
Richard

[Rick Throckmorton]

Joining the clan in favor of the Rolling Block. One can make out the prominent spur lever on the closed breech block, which the Ballard series did not have. One disturbing detail on the photo of the man mounted, is that it appears the hammer is either at half or full cock. It would have definitely been safer to ride on his near side. Too bad you cannot make out the sights on the rifle. It is hazy, but I think you can just make out the metal fore end on the forearm of the rifle, another characteristic of the Remington. Probably a Remington Number One Sporting Rifle.
Rick T.

[FtValleyPS]

Thompson seems to have been an interesting guy ......

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ahthompson.htm

[Pat Holscher]

A knowledgeable friend of mine, who has seen a captioned version of this photograph, tells me that the caption reports the rifle as a .50-70 Remington.