Author Topic: Recent addition  (Read 4061 times)

Offline Molly

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Recent addition
« on: December 13, 2018, 05:21:58 AM »
These are some really bad pics but there are all I have now.  Really like this little rifle and so happy to have a former owner take such good care of it AND for being willing to part with it...my anniversary present!














And for a few details:  Lock and trigger by the one and only (Mr.) Bob Roller.  All the hardward was, I believe, hand made.  Yes, that tang extends ALL the way to the top end of the butt plate.  Nice change from the ordinary front sight (no dovetail).  Mr. Roller calls it a "mouse rouster"....25 cal.  Shooting a #4 buckshot ball of .024 with a nice thick patch of either .015 or .018.  Fit on every part is perfect and the wood (walnut) is flawless.  Not sure of the barrel maker but the rifle was a special project of Mr. L. H. Harrison, who signed the top flat in a most artistic script.  It was made for a very good friend and a message to that effect is written on leather inside the parch box.  Thanks Don for being willing to part with it.  We have some super rifles made by many skilled and talented builders.  This may be the sweetest of them all.

Offline B.Barker

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2018, 05:53:01 AM »
Nice Tennessee rifle. I really like the trigger guard, very well done.

Offline mountainman70

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2018, 06:59:03 AM »
Me,too. Sexy little smokepole. Best regards, Dave f 8) 8)

Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2018, 05:56:17 PM »
 ;D ;D... That is a fine rifle, Molly and you are most fortunate to now have this one,... !!! ... Houston Harrison was a fine builder and quite a character as well,... in this photo of the Alvin York shoot from a few years back, Houston is the fellow on the far right, standing,.... take good care of her,... !!! ... regards, Cades Cove Fiddler ...


Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2018, 06:16:45 PM »
Very nice gun. I'll have to point out this type of anniversary present to my wife.

Cool picture of the York shoot, I can name almost all of those folks.
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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 Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2018, 07:56:42 PM »
 ;) ;)... You do that, Mike,... Mrs. Brooks most likely will answer,..." that's nice,.... now you go and build you one",.... !!! ... HaHaHa,...


Offline Robin Henderson

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2018, 09:20:22 PM »
Very nice rifle. I suspect the fit and finish is flawless. Never saw a Houston Harrison gun that wasn't.
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Offline oldtravler61

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2018, 10:36:09 PM »
  Sure glad yeah posted that picture CCG with you an Mike. Cause I thought for sure that was you in that pic. With you in the front row...!  Oldtravler

Offline hanshi

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2018, 12:52:57 AM »
That is an extremely nice rifle.
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Offline Huntschool

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2018, 03:15:51 AM »
CCF:

To say Houston was quite a character would be an understatement dont ya think.....

Just sayin...….

Molly:

Heck of a rifle...…  Keep her fresh for Houston...….
« Last Edit: December 14, 2018, 06:31:13 AM by Huntschool »
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Offline vanu

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2018, 03:54:49 AM »
Very, very nice rifle...

Bruce

Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2018, 03:55:43 AM »
I have handled this rifle and the inletting on that tang was flawless! I believe you could close your eyes and have someone move your fingers over the tang and not be able to tell where the wood stops and the metal begins!
Dennis
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend" - Thomas Jefferson

Offline Molly

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2018, 04:31:55 AM »
Appreciate the comments from such a distinguished group.  For those who are fortunate enough to have the skills to build works like this you must take a great deal of pleasure in knowing that your work lives on and delights many for years into the future.  How can you not look at this rifle and feel the spirit of the maker, even if you never knew him.  Thank you CCF for the photo.  It will remain in my files with info on the rifle.

PS to Mr. Brooks:  If that is really you with CCF then no wonder I have never been able to find you in a crowd as I was looking the the guy pictured in your cameo photo ;)
« Last Edit: December 14, 2018, 04:46:16 AM by Molly »

Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2018, 06:27:11 AM »
;) ;)... You do that, Mike,... Mrs. Brooks most likely will answer,..." that's nice,.... now you go and build you one",.... !!! ... HaHaHa,...

Mike,
I kept looking for a white tip on that "cane" you were carrying :D
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend" - Thomas Jefferson

Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2018, 06:42:33 AM »
Cool picture of the York shoot, I can name almost all of those folks.

OK let's hear the names from left to right starting with John Braxton (I think), then Mel Hankla (I think).
Dennis
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend" - Thomas Jefferson

Offline Clowdis

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2018, 05:18:39 PM »
Cool picture of the York shoot, I can name almost all of those folks.

OK let's hear the names from left to right starting with John Braxton (I think), then Mel Hankla (I think).
Dennis

Definitely John Braxton, don't know the rest for sure.

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #16 on: December 14, 2018, 05:24:54 PM »
Braxton, Hankla, Coon, Wright, next guy I don't know but I have seen him a lot, Harrison. Front row: Billy Burke (I think), The woman I don't know nor the guy next to her.
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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 Craig Wilcox

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #17 on: December 15, 2018, 02:10:39 AM »
Molly, that is one of the better-looking rifles that I have seen.  You caught a good one there, but don't hang it on the wall.  Take it out and shoot those mice!
You did a good job convincing the owner to let her go.
Craig Wilcox
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Offline Molly

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #18 on: December 15, 2018, 04:15:54 AM »
Thank you Craig.  Sometimes I think it's all in how the stars line up on a given day.  I'll try to get a couple of better photos to post soon.  This rifle was made unlike many today, not trying to make it look "old".  The barrel and lock are "browned" but the balance of the metal has a "white" finish.  There is a very light "blue" tone to it.  Obviously the wood is intended to look "new" with natural color and a moderate gloss.  Walnut is a beautiful wood.   

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #19 on: December 15, 2018, 05:23:20 PM »
Thank you Craig.  Sometimes I think it's all in how the stars line up on a given day.  I'll try to get a couple of better photos to post soon.  This rifle was made unlike many today, not trying to make it look "old".  The barrel and lock are "browned" but the balance of the metal has a "white" finish.  There is a very light "blue" tone to it.  Obviously the wood is intended to look "new" with natural color and a moderate gloss.  Walnut is a beautiful wood.

Stunning craftsmanship to say the least.The lock is one of my Ketlands with modified plate and frizzen
and according to pictures Molly sent to me it was made in 1976.The last one I made was in 2008 for my
own gun which was a semi finished thing when I got it.The triggers may be modified Hawken triggers
made at the same time.
Thank you for showing this.It shows what the maker thought of himself but even more important,
the first owner.
Bob Roller

Offline D. Buck Stopshere

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #20 on: December 21, 2018, 01:45:18 AM »
The two "Tarheel" Carolina boys in that photo are John Braxton of Alamance County, already identified, and the late Jerry Swift of the Elkin area of the Old North State, next to Mr Harrison. Jerry was a close friend of the late Artis White and his son Ronny White.
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Offline trailerpark

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #21 on: December 21, 2018, 04:35:33 AM »
That tang is the only one Houston ever did like that and he said he wouldn’t do another. I would love to have that rifle.

Offline trailerpark

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Re: Recent addition
« Reply #22 on: December 21, 2018, 04:42:46 AM »
Braxton, Hankla, Coon, Wright, next guy I don't know but I have seen him a lot, Harrison. Front row: Billy Burke (I think), The woman I don't know nor the guy next to her.
The lady is Jane Wright, David’s wife.