LePage Rifle

Our thanks go to one of our readers who tracked down this fine example of underhammer gunmaking and to our good friends at Track of the Wolf, Inc. for their kind permission to share it with you.


This .50 calibre rifle was built by Bruce LePage and displays an interesting combination of features not usually seen in contemporary underhammer circles. Fancy maple was the wood of choice for the forearm and buttstock which wears a smooth shotgun butt that I’m sure slips right up to the shoulder as smooth as silk.

I have always admired those underhammer designs that incorporate the trigger guard to perform double duty by also motivating the hammer. LePage delivers with a very graceful trigger guard which is pinned to the hammer and a super slender trigger which adds a touch of refinement that pleases the eye.

LePage’s 28-inch barrel is part octagon with the balance round and tapered to the muzzle, which provides for good balance. While not unique in and of itself, LePage takes the execution of the transition of the octagon to round lengths of the barrel to another level with the slight rotation of the last inch of the octagon portion. This is a clever twist (no pun intended) which when combined with his rope treatment of the traditional wedding band provides more tasteful eye candy.

A conservative pewter cap provides a classy finish to the forearm which is secured by pin and escutcheon treatment. LePage chose to expose the hickory ramrod on the bottom of the forearm but captivates it within a ramrod tube at the rear of the forearm.

At 6 ½ pounds the LePage rifle is nicely done and is probably a sweetheart of a rifle to shoot.

Again, thanks to our friends at Track of the Wolf for sharing this rifle with us. More photos of the LePage rifle can be seen at www.trackofthewolf.com.