Author Topic: Flint rifle - maker???  (Read 4462 times)

Offline JCKelly

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Flint rifle - maker???
« on: January 18, 2016, 07:02:11 PM »
A few years ago I bought this flintlock rifle, which is of course unsigned.
I am wondering if any of you have ideas who may have made it, based on the style of carving & patchbox?
.45 caliber barrel 15/16" across flats, 42-1/2" long, rifled with seven grooves. Length of pull 13", weight 10lb 2oz, forend cap held by two copper rivets. The previous owner, Mr. Robert H. was a member of Detroit Sportsmens Congress, here in southeast Michigan. Mr. H was known for shooting any gun he owned. There is a chipped ceramic tool bit "flint" in the jaws, those things that were popular in the 1970's.
To my casual eye it looks like original flintlock, but as I have neither disassembled it nor run a light down the bore I'll just accept it as a very good reconversion.
Here it is:



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Big Wolf

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2016, 09:07:22 PM »
The rifle looks to my eye to be a Virginia made gun, circa 1810-1820, possibly from the shop of Henry Spitzer in New Market Virginia. Other opinions?
« Last Edit: January 18, 2016, 09:21:19 PM by Big Wolf »

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2016, 11:21:44 PM »
Virginia is very possible. My first impression is NC.
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Big Wolf

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2016, 03:07:48 AM »
I see your point Mike, but the sideplate and architecture sure looks like Henry Spitzers work, or at least someone affiliated with him.

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww81/ALRLIBRARY/LONG%20RIFLE/Spitzer%20H%20090823-1/8.jpg

Offline homerifle

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2016, 04:53:40 AM »
The rifle looks to my eye to be a Virginia made gun, circa 1810-1820, possibly from the shop of Henry Spitzer in New Market Virginia. Other opinions?
I'll have to agree with Big Wolf.

Offline JCKelly

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2016, 07:36:26 PM »
I would like to thank you all, including the private message from FK.

I had not done my homework. Looked through the Ohio books & of course Pennsylvania, but neglected Butler & Whisker until you fellows said "Virginia"

The only other Maybe-Virginia rifle I have is very plain, iron mounted, no butt plate - but very graceful lines, percussion conversion.

Offline MGillman

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2016, 10:06:08 PM »
I wouldn't mind seeing that iron mounted rifle you have.

Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2016, 10:20:30 PM »
Quote
The only other Maybe-Virginia rifle I have is very plain, iron mounted, no butt plate - but very graceful lines, percussion conversion.

I too would love to see photos of the possible VA poor boy. I really enjoy the VA/NC and other poor boys. They are just old working rifles but many of them have really nice lines.
Dennis
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Offline JCKelly

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Re: Flint rifle - maker???
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2016, 03:41:20 AM »
OK, Gentlemen, here is what I think might maybe from Virginia.
circa 1790, percussion converted from flint.  Virginia style trigger guard and both thimbles are iron. The double set triggers are offset to the right, as in some Tennessee rifles.   

Styling suggests (based on something I read from Gusler, maybe in MB) it may be from the upper James area, from either Botetourt or Rockbridge County(mislaid source info). The relatively shallow trigger guard and stock with little drop are characteristic of Virginia rifles.

This rifle is entirely iron mounted, and made without either a buttplate or forend cap. Originally made as flintlock, sometime after about 1825 the rifle  was converted to  percussion ignition.

Which it will remain so long as I own it. I realiy do not like modern castings nailed to an historical item.
The octagonal barrel is heavily swamped, indeed the muzzle is slightly wider across the flats than is the breech. At the muzzle this barrel measures 0.938 inches, then narrows to 0.832” about 8” back, then widens at the breech, but only to 0.862”. This is not atypical of Southern rifles. Rifled with the traditional 7 grooves, the .42 caliber barrel  is 43-3/8” long. Rifle weights 8 lb, has 13-1/8" length of pull.
I like tinypic.com as I can more or less figure out how to use it. Oh, I did learn not to use the term "butt". They figure it to be porn. The Improved Photobucket is a complete loss to me.