AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: WV-WenderMan on May 02, 2025, 02:19:25 AM

Title: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: WV-WenderMan on May 02, 2025, 02:19:25 AM

Came across this KY. Rifle.  At first glance I thought it was a Frederick Sheetz but after further investigation I think it’s a Henry Sheets.  Any constructive comments would be appreciated. 
(https://i.ibb.co/DPgQxm6t/IMG-3787.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kV6XRzrx)

(https://i.ibb.co/d4zq3G7K/IMG-3786.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v4KGrZDz)

(https://i.ibb.co/k2Vqsgct/IMG-3785.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TMDPxBhs)

(https://i.ibb.co/zTPwbNym/IMG-3782.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DHwnkLx1)

(https://i.ibb.co/20Wrh2tX/IMG-3781.jpg) (https://ibb.co/j9bYfKM7)

(https://i.ibb.co/HL7tTFsd/IMG-3780.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xKh1qC0H)

(https://i.ibb.co/b5kSH6Tb/IMG-3777.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CKfkJwgP)

(https://i.ibb.co/xSn5pzyM/IMG-3776.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pvHXt4g3)

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: Avlrc on May 02, 2025, 02:26:42 AM

I think that is out of Staunton,Augusta County, Virginia, Sheets' shop.  It could be John or his son Henry.

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: WV-WenderMan on May 02, 2025, 02:52:36 AM

Gun was originally a cap lock, the flint lock was added, so Henry is what I think also

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: Avlrc on May 02, 2025, 02:58:02 AM

I saw that gun at RIA back in February.  I thought it was initially a percussion rifle. If I remember, the barrel was short, maybe 34 or 36 inches. It has some neat stuff on it and is a nice rifle. You may be right, and perhaps it was made by Henry, John's son.

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: WV-WenderMan on May 02, 2025, 03:22:05 AM

The barrel is 36”. It was reduced 3x in its lifetime. ISO a period lock and contemplating whether to stretch it back to original length.

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: Tanselman on May 02, 2025, 04:46:49 AM

That rifle, with its shortened barrel, looks just like the Sheets rifle I picked up at a small Midwest auction at Mooresville, IN, a bit southwest of Indianapolis, if I recall correctly, about 30+ years ago. Everything, including all inlays, look the same, and the rifle was percussion when I acquired it. I sold it to a major VA collector in the KRA, and he contemplated having it stretched for a year or two but eventually got a similar rifle with full barrel and traded the shorter rifle off. 

Shelby Gallien

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: Avlrc on May 02, 2025, 05:31:02 AM

Quote from: WV-WenderMan on May 02, 2025, 03:22:05 AM

The barrel is 36”. It was reduced 3x in its lifetime. ISO a period lock and contemplating whether to stretch it back to original length.

Maybe that is where the signature went.
 
If it were mine, I would.  It deserves it.

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: bluenoser on May 02, 2025, 02:51:12 PM

Interesting trigger adjustment screw.

Title: Re: F Sheetz or H Sheets
Post by: Avlrc on May 02, 2025, 03:06:14 PM

Quote from: bluenoser on May 02, 2025, 02:51:12 PM

Interesting trigger adjustment screw.

John & Henry used that arrangement a lot. I think most of John's rifles have that.