crescent made shotguns for Hermitage from 1904 to 1930. nothing mentioned on muzzle loading rifles.................
As far as I know Hermitage made only shotguns, well actually sold them. They were manufactured by Crescent Arms. You may have a composite gun with a lock from Hermitage. It was not uncommon for people to piece together a gun from what they could find, particularly during the depression. I have come across these in the past and some are quite well made though baffling to historians and collectors. Or a 1of made by an employee. I can find no mention in my library of a muzzle loader.
The New Victor Crescent Firearms Co 12 gauge, single shot shotgun is well suited for hunting small game and birds. The breech loading design is reliable and allows for quick reloading.
what model firearms ???
Yes
Under US law and regulations, ANTIQUE firearms are defined as muzzle loading firearms ( no matter WHEN they were made) andfirearms that were made before 1 Jan, 1899. If your drilling was made in 1911, it is not an antique under US standards.
Best left to a gunsmith
They are both firearms. However, they can be different as far as loading procudures go
Need detailed description of all markings on weapon.
No it should not. Are you sure the air gun is a .22 caliber not a .25 caliber. Air you loading it right? Are you loading it through the breech? You are using an air gun not a real gun.
In the days of black powder, muzzle-loading firearms, a large caliber lead bullet was standard- somewhere around .69 caliber. While this was good for deer and bear, it was far too powerful for small game, such as squirrel. A much smaller caliber rifle was developed, typically firing a .32 or smaller bullet. This was far less destructive of the meat of small game, and cost far less to shoot. These smaller caliber guns became nicknamed "Squirrel rifles".
The term "squirrel gun" was used with muzzle loading rifles that were smaller caliber than deer rifles. There was no one set caliber, but many were in .32 caliber, where a deer rifle would be .50, .54 or larger.
The Springfield rifled Musket, Model 1855 had a caliber of 0.58-inch and was a single shot, muzzle-loading weapon.