50 Caliber Flintlock Tennessee Mountain Rifle

[44-henry]

Note from the moderators: This gun has already been sold and delivered to it's new home.  This thread has been moved here so fans of the Dixie Tennessee Mountain Rifle may continue their discussion.

I have a rather nice Dixie Tennessee Mountain Rifle in 50 caliber. I suspect that this was a kit gun as the stock is much better proportioned and finished than the factory rifles that I have seen over the years. This one has a very nice patina and has the look of an well worn, but cared for antique rifle. The barrel has a browned finish with combinations of smooth and rough areas that really add to the antique appearance of the rifle, the color is fantastic on both metal and wood alike. The bore is good and the lock functions correctly and does spark well, though the locks on these rifles were never the quality of what is available today. At one time you could purchase the percussion conversion kit for these, not sure if it is still available anymore. Anyway, barrel length is 41 1/4" and the diameter of the barrel is 15/16". Should make a good starter rifle for someone and the price will be right. $500.00 plus actual cost of shipping/insurance to your location. I ship all my rifles in a custom plywood box so I can promise it will arrive to your location safely. If you would like any additional pictures, or have other questions please let me know.

Regards,

Alex Johnson

[Gordy]

Howdy, do u still have the DGW Rifle If so could you please tell me the serial number on it. I am curious as to how old it is. The pictures appear it has some age or was that the way the person finished it out ? Does it appear to have been shot alot It appears that someone plugged the grease hole in the stock ??Thanks Gordy

[L Meadows]

Is this an early Belgian made gun or a later Miroku Japan gun?

[Dave Patterson]

I bought it, fellers; had wanted one since DGW first pre-advertised them. 

Yes:  it has had quite a bit of lead down the barrel; in very good shape, but it's definitely a veteran.

As advertised, whoever built it, aged it; time has added to the "mellow".

Grease hole was plugged, at some point; looks to me like it was done during the original assembly.

I don't see anything like a number on the exterior; don't remember seeing one on the underside of the barrel, either.  Only markings on the topside of the barrel are, "Dixie Gun Works", with "Union City, Tennessee" below.  So I don't know whether it's Belgian or Japanese.

[44-henry]

Hello, the rifle did sell and I should have updated the post. It was a Japanese made rifle I believe, but could have been an earlier one. I think the very early ones had 7/8" barrels and later models had the normal 15/16.

Regards,

Alex Johnson

[Robby]

The 'Made in Japan' ones had that proudly roll engraved on the top of the barrel.
Robin

[bones92]

I have one, and it's a VERY good shooting rifle. 

[smokinbuck]

I have a LH and a RH. I cut the barrels to 36", slimmed down the stocks and poured pewter nose caps. Made good rifles better.
Mark

[Flint62Smoothie]

I have a LH and a RH. I cut the barrels to 36", slimmed down the stocks and poured pewter nose caps. Made good rifles better.

I can imagine ... as my 1st flintlock rifle was a Dixie 50-cal ‘poor boy’, but ugghhh sooooooo dayum muzzle heavy! Bought a lefty version many years later and thought about shortening it like you did ... but never got around to it; sold it off when I finally got a custom LH rifle.

[Barry Myers]

If this is still for sale, my friend would like to purchase it.  Please let me know.

[Dave Patterson]

If this is still for sale, my friend would like to purchase it.  Please let me know.

Need to read the thread, Boss; I bought 'er, and I ain't asellin 'er!   

[Dave Patterson]

Alex, this one's 15/16" ATF.

Robby, no "Made in Japan" on this one:  just the two lines of block engraving, one above the other.  "Dixie Gun Works" above, and "Union City, Tennessee" underneath:  all markings on the top of the barrel are shown in the 6th photo from the top, in the original sale posting.


If we get snowed-out at work tomorrow, I'll pop the barrel out and take a peak underneath.

[mfharper]

I have one I just refinished, it has Made In Japan engraved on it. Here's a link to the before and after pics:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=46648.msg465548#msg465548

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Great job, Harper .... only additional thing I would do is take a dremel tool and file to slim down those chunky triggers .... I believe the rifle that Patterson got has a walnut stock .... Dixie had a few in Walnut .... Most were Cherry .... 

[Dave Patterson]

  .... I believe the rifle that Patterson got has a walnut stock .... Dixie had a few in Walnut .... Most were Cherry ....

Yep:  walnut.

No markings at all on the inside of the lock, or underside of the barrel.

[Dave Patterson]

Rattling around here at the house, looking for a specific article in a book, I found an old original full-color glossy pre-sale ad for the Dixie TMR, I had saved for... well, whyever.

I'll scan it in and post it here, if I can ever get The Bride's home scanner to talking with her laptop; they're supposed to, but stubbornly refuse to converse politely.

The ad text ends with:  "... Projected delivery is late Fall, 1978.  Percussion and Flint - finished rifle $195.00.  Kit $175.00."

Specs they give for the first generation TMR are:

BARREL:  7/8 X 41 1/2" X .50; 6 lands & grooves; 1:56" X .010.

LOCK:  7/8 X 4 3/4"; Early Schultz w/ fly

STOCK:  Walnut; 56" OAL; oil finish

TRIGGERS: DS/DA

SIGHTS: front - brass dovetail w/silver blade.  Rear - steel buckhorn; open-browned

RECOMMENDED LOADS:  65 gra FFG black powder or equivalent Pyrodex; .50 Maxi ball or .490 round ball with .010 patch.