My family has had and old rifle in the basement for years and i recently started checking it out. It's in really rough shape (rust galore, wood cracking ect) but all the parts still move (and work). I can just barely read out "allen and wheelock" and my father tells me he once removed the hand stock and found and engraving saying Allen and Wheelock 186- something (this was 30 years ago) the gun is in too poor condition to remove the hand stock now to check. I know from a little research that Allen and Wheelock were based out of Mass. and made guns from 1858 - 1864. they were more known for their revolvers and handguns. My great grandfather called it the old 38. so i'm assuming its a 38. caliber. If anyone can give me an idea of when this particular type of gun was made and what it might be worth today it'd be greatly appreciated.