AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: jdm on February 27, 2019, 05:09:24 PM
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This rifle is known as "Old Gabe" .Jim Holley bought this along with a bag & horn out of a bank in Limestone Tenn. in 1940. He paid five dollars for it. At sometime he had Hacker Martin do some work on it so he could shoot it in matches . It remained in the Holley collection until 1981 when Jerry Noble got it.
46 inch barrel 40 cal.
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8) 8) 8)... I'll take her,..... what ye askin',...??? .... regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler...
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I'll give ya $1.00 more thaat CCF!
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[quote author=Molly
I'll give ya $1.00 more thaat CCF!
Not as good of a story as yours Molly but it's true.
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Jim - That's quite a rifle. Did it come to the Princeton show? Wish I could have made it but to much on my plate at the moment. Hope to take an up close look at it someday.
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Eric, Missed you at the show. It's about the only time I see you anymore. I got it at Princeton from Jerry. We had been talking about it for some time. Also picked up a nice Lehigh pistol .
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Can we see the Lehigh pistol? Please.
Eric, Missed you at the show. It's about the only time I see you anymore. I got it at Princeton from Jerry. We had been talking about it for some time. Also picked up a nice Lehigh pistol .
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Rob, I have to take some pictures first. Thanks!
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Super old rifle, condition is outstanding.
Mark
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What a rifle. Just super.
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Sounds like you had a good show. I know you like the Lehigh stuff. I think that this one may need to move a little further south though. Just saying.......
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;) ;)... thanx for the color pix,... I couldn't remember "Ol' Gabe" not having a butt-plate,... she is a beauty and a fine shooter,.... Now, if only Jerry would let me bring "Old Scaley" home, I wouldn't bother you about this 'un any more,.... !!!... regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler ::) ::) ::)
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Thanks guys, I'm glad you like the rifle . I was happy to bring it home with me. There is a target that goes with it . I don't have it yet but I'm looking foreword to seeing it. I think Hacker Martin recut the barrel . Hacker or Jim Holley made the ramrod.
Cades Cove I don't blame you " Old Scaley " would be welcome here also. jim
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I was asked about the lock . It's R. Ashmore . The barrel is swamped.
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..... Thanx for the extra photos, Jim,... you just have to appreciate those Unicoi County features that show so clearly on this rifle,.... she's a dandy,... !!! ..... will you have her in Knoxville,...? .... CCF,.....
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That is an absolute beauty! Amazing condition for its age. That Jom Holley must have had quite an arsenal at one time.
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..... Thanx for the extra photos, Jim,... you just have to appreciate those Unicoi County features that show so clearly on this rifle,.... she's a dandy,... !!! ..... will you have her in Knoxville,...? .... CCF,.....
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I've been to the Knoxville show a few times and would like to go again but not this year. It's a twelve hour plus drive one way for me and hard to work in. That's why I enjoy seeing pictures that you guys take .
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That is an absolute beauty! Amazing condition for its age. That Jom Holley must have had quite an arsenal at
one time.
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It's my understanding that Jim Holley was one of the first to collect southern longrifles.
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A friend of mine bought a barrel from Holley.. It was marked in a silver plate, John Bull Warrior Mountain 18?? Can't remember the exact date.. Might have been 23 or 21 ??.. Always regretted not buying that barrel from George, That was George Megall.. Him and Holley were long time friends in Chicago..
JDM as you know I like your rifle also....Louie
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Thank you for posting all the "Old Gabe" photos. Just getting underway with my SMR kit as well as my education about rifles, architecture, finishes, wear patterns, etc. From my newbies point of view, here's what caught my attention:
-The patina on the trigger guard
-The trigger adjustment screw-looks like it was shaped to allow adjustment by hand?
-Is it walnut? It looks almost red up by the muzzle.
Looking at it, you just want to put it in your hands. JDM, thanks again for furthering my education.
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Fowler610 I'm glad you like seeing " Old Gabe" . I have certainly been having a lot of fun with it and am honored to have it . The stock is walnut with some dents and dings. There's a little wood replaced around the lock. More than likely don when Hacker was working on it . I believe he had the gun apart getting it ready for shooting matches. There's not much dirt around the trigger s and trigger guard . A couple screws are replacements. To me it's great to have some history with one of these old things. So often there is none. For the first hundred years plus or minus it probably didn't go very far from where it was made as it was found in the Bank in Limestone. The next forty years Holley had it and used it some. Jerry had it for the last almost forty. Jerry is a good friend . It's a bonus for me to have a rifle from his collection. Forty years would be pushing for me so hopefully for the next care taker it will have meaning for also.
Here is a better picture of the trigger adjustment also the bag and horn set that was hanging on the wall with it.. Jim
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Super close fitting on those triggers!! Nice to see good workmanship in an old rifle.
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Thanks for the detail of the trigger guard. I now get a sense of how well it was forged and a better idea about the shape of the adjustment screw. DTS's comment about the close tolerances for the triggers is something I did not observe. I will pay attention to that detail going forward. To have the pouch and horn that went with the rifle is pretty darn special. Just adds to the amazing provenance. In your care, that rifle is in good hands.
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Love the look of this rifle accompanied by it's original bag and horn.
Q. Hard to discern, but is this a 'flat' horn in the photo?
I'd like, if possible, to see more photos of the bag and horn.
Thanks!
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Yes ,this is a fairly big flat horn. I will try and get some better pictures of it for you in the next day or so. Jim
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Collector here you go . Thanks for your interest.
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Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for sharing.
Your pictures are fabulous. For those not aware...clicking on a picture opens it in a new window where you have the option to get a "Full resolution" version. Takes a few seconds...but definitely worth it. Once there, you have another option to expand the hi-res. pic. and really see a lot more detail.
I have to ask....was there anything in the bag when it came out of Limestone..??
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I see a straight cut in the wood running from the rear of the triggerguard towards the toe. I am I right in believing that Mr. McInturff didn't scrape away his layout line there?
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Wow, what and amazing set!! Beautiful rifle.
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[quote author=Don Steele
Thank you for sharing.
I have to ask....was there anything in the bag when it came out of Limestone..??
I wish I could say it was full of great stuff.......... But the only thing in there now is a hand written note that it was found with " Old Gabe"
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[quote author=Elnathan link
I see a straight cut in the wood running from the rear of the triggerguard towards the toe. I am I right in believing that Mr. McInturff didn't scrape away his layout line there?
There is a line also along the top of the comb.
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I echo everyone's comment with thanks for sharing the pictures! It's always good to see originals. Do my eyes deceive me or is that one thick welt on the bag?
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jdm, Thanks! Thought it was a flat horn with that thin butt plug facing, but photo angles can be deceiving. Thin, simple and practical which suits the rifle it's paired with. Thought it possible, but interesting to actually see one in an original grouping. Changes the perspective of horns suitable to be paired with this type/school of longrifle.
Collector here you go . Thanks for your interest.
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Thanks for all the detailed photos of this rifle. Could you please tell me how the nose cap is attached? One rivet or two? Rivets made of iron or copper? Thanks
James
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Looks like iron to me. Heres a couple of pictures.
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Very good! Thanks for the close ups.
James
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Neat old rifle thanks for sharing. I looked at this post before but my computer is hateful sometimes and won't load photo's.
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I don't mean to beat a dead horse but I just received this target in the mail last week. It is one of the targets shot with "Old Gabe" by Jim Holley. It was with the gun ,bag& horn along with another paper target when Jerry acquired Mr. Holleys collection 1980. I felt I should include it with this post for those who have interest.
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Thamks for the target. These old fellers can do it. Have a goodun,thanks, Dave F 8) 8)
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Really lovely to see an old piece is such great (shootable) condition. I don't have any idea about when it was last used but note the ramrod is significantly longer that the barrel. And striped to boot! Really a nice rifle!
J.B.
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Perfect! Thanks for sharing it.