Years ago, when I was doing a lot of muzzle-loading work and shooting, Hatfield was advertising in the Buckskin Report, a magazine published by John Baird in Big Timber MT. I became a dealer for him and sold 4 or 5 of his rifles. At that time it was his own company and just went by Hatfields or Hatfield Rifles . They were all very nice flintlocks and were slim and had excellent wood and beautiful finish and the old style brown barrels with the triggerguard etc. in brass. The locks were hand made by him, but I suspect they were imported. They weren't the best, but if you did your part they worked good and the rifle was accurate.
I think the rifles were $500.00 dealers cost, but could have been less. I sold all of the ones I ordered for $550.00+ It took forever to get one and I spent a lot of time on the phone listening to the reasons they were taking so long. Like I said, they were all things of beauty ----curley or birdseye maple. He made a 36 cal. for me and out of a special birdseye maple and he put a nicely engraved silver oval name plate with my name on it also. That rifle shot very good and accurate and I won a fair amount of money in matches with it! Years later when I owned a gun shop a guy talked me out of it and I have no idea where it is now.
I read that he later found a way to keep alive and started making percussion models. I never saw one. I think the Pedersoli's are exactly the same but would not bet on it.
My brother still has his 45 flinter and he was at one time interested in selling it.
I think I have pics of it if any of you want to see an early model Hatfield.
By the way the Hatfields I sold were all sold in the early 80's
That percussion model you have , Torqued, is worth more than $600.00 especially with that L&R lock and Green Mountain barrel.
I wish I could find my 36 flinter
Ken
