Author Topic: Davidson School - Program and Future Book  (Read 4092 times)

Offline mbriggs

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Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« on: January 08, 2018, 09:10:32 PM »
Blake Stevenson and I have also agreed to co-author a book on "The Longrifle Makers of the Davidson School."[To be published in 2019.]  The rifles of this school are often confused or compared to rifles from the Salem School.  A few collectors from this area have treated the Davidson School as the "red headed step-child" of the Salem School. The top Davidson School gun makers operated independently from the Moravian gun smiths in Salem and made many beautiful Longrifles.  We plan to explore this subject in some detail.

We have announced a Discovery - Identification - Documentation program on Saturday, March 24th at 10 A.M. at the Davidson County Historical Museum - 2 South Main Street - Lexington, N.C. 27292. We are requesting the public to bring in any antique Longrifles, powder horns, hunting bags, or bullet molds to be identified and photographed.  We are asking the relatives and descendants of the Davidson School rifle makers to please bring us any family images or photographs or paper documents from these gun makers to be photographed.

Blake Stevenson and I will give a program at 10 AM on how to identify a Davidson School Longrifle.  We expect to have many Davidson School rifles on hand for the public to view. There is no cost to attend. For questions, please contact C. Michael Briggs.

   





« Last Edit: January 08, 2018, 09:11:26 PM by mbriggs »
C. Michael Briggs

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2018, 10:10:17 PM »
Ok, sign me up for a copy of that book too!
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline BOB HILL

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2018, 03:05:49 AM »
Count me in, too.
Bob
South Carolina Lowcountry

Offline Joey R

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2018, 06:09:00 AM »
Why Not!!
Joey.....Don’t ever ever ever give up! Winston Churchill

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2018, 04:25:22 PM »
I thought you might enjoy a few Davidson School Photos.


Henry Ledford Eagle Patchbox


C. Michael Briggs

Offline Marcruger

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2018, 05:04:20 AM »
Except for the patchbox sideplate details, a very "Vogler-ish" looking rifle!   I follow what you mean about the two schools being very similar.  God Bless,   Marc

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2018, 04:15:50 PM »



This inlay, sometimes in the shape of a tree, other times in the shape of a woman, is found often on Davidson School rifles.  I have never seen it on rifles from any other school.   What does it symbolize?  Why only in Davidson?

Michael
C. Michael Briggs

Offline Marcruger

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2018, 09:58:50 PM »
Great question. Now that you mention it, I do see a stylized tree. I did wonder about that in the past. 

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2018, 11:08:35 PM »
Here is the other inlay I have found on Davidson School rifles in the shape of a woman.  What is this a symbol of?  Why only on Davidson School Rifles?


Michael
C. Michael Briggs

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2018, 10:15:29 PM »
Andrew Long Eagle Patchbox. He was born in Davidson County in 1793.  John Bivin's believed he probably trained under Christoph Vogler, but this has not been documented. He lived and worked with his sons and nephews near Midway in Northern Davidson County.  He was very talented. This rifle is one of my favorites.  Bivin's attributed this rifle to Andrew Long. 



C. Michael Briggs

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2018, 08:40:36 PM »
Davidson School rifles often feature guilloche style engraving on their patchbox side-plates and toe-plates. 

These rifles are from Davidson School gun smith Andrew Long.







« Last Edit: January 29, 2018, 11:11:42 PM by mbriggs »
C. Michael Briggs

Offline Marcruger

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2018, 01:37:30 AM »
This gathering is coming up fast too, so make your plans.   :-)   Best wishes,   Marc

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2018, 09:54:51 PM »
Henry Ledford Eagle Patchbox

C. Michael Briggs

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2018, 08:15:30 PM »



post images

Attributed Henry Ledford.
C. Michael Briggs

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2018, 10:42:21 PM »
The Davidson School Program will be this Saturday, March 24th at 10 A.M. at the Davidson County Historical Museum in Lexington, N.C.  We are expecting a large crowd and many interesting rifles.

Like these.








free photo uploading websites









« Last Edit: March 20, 2018, 10:45:09 PM by mbriggs »
C. Michael Briggs

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #15 on: March 29, 2018, 01:03:52 AM »
Our program on the 24th was a huge success.  63 people attended the program and over 40 North Carolina Longrifles were brought in for identification and photography.  Everyone had a great time.  We plan to hold a longer program at the Davidson Museum when our book is published in 2019.

 










































« Last Edit: March 29, 2018, 01:09:38 AM by mbriggs »
C. Michael Briggs

Offline BOB HILL

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Re: Davidson School - Program and Future Book
« Reply #16 on: March 29, 2018, 07:35:04 AM »
Looks like another great program, fellows. Sorry I was unable to attend. I would love to have been able to see all of those great rifles.
Bob
South Carolina Lowcountry