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General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: flintriflesmith on January 25, 2013, 02:28:41 AM

Title: Walnut stocked percussion rifle --- regional attribution?
Post by: flintriflesmith on January 25, 2013, 02:28:41 AM

This little rifle turned up at a local gun show. It has commercial German silver guard, butt piece, & toe plate which doesn't help me at all in figuring out where it was made but there are some other details you guys may recognize: Large flat-topped cheek piece; simple but carefully shaped side plate (partially hidden behind a moder screw and washer; and, of course, the overall archetecture. I somehow forgot to get a picture of the barrel tang but it runs all the way down the wrist to the point of the comb and is held by three equally spaced wood screws.

It has a fairly new nipple (modern) and was probably being shot not all that long ago. About 38-40 inch barrel of about 36 caliber. Sights are not original.

The owner is interested in your attribution.
Gary

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Title: Re: Walnut stocked percussion rifle --- regional attribution?
Post by: bgf on January 25, 2013, 03:20:57 AM

I just want to try.

Strong influence from Upper East TN (cheek piece shape and position, comb) and SW Va (lock panel to wrist transition) would be my guesses.  The three screw tang, though, makes me think it might be south of Knoxville where it was made.  Not necessarily sure, somewhere between Blount and Bradley county, maybe?

The store-bought hardware does make it difficult.  It looks pretty well made, though, like a Keller or a Selvidge(on a good day) type builder .

Title: Re: Walnut stocked percussion rifle --- regional attribution?
Post by: T.C.Albert on January 25, 2013, 05:25:59 AM

I'm definitely no expert, but to me it seems that its such a late piece, how can you say where it was made? A maker trained in the southern style of gun making could have been taught by his dad, who used to be a gun maker from Tennessee, but who moved to Illinois in the mid 1800s or even later. Or maybe he moved to Iowa, or then again maybe he stayed in the southern mountain region all along. I don't think you can rule anything out, but I'd hazaard a s.w.a.g and say west of the Appalachians for sure, and thats about it. That said, it seems that there are lots of southern traits in the piece...just wondering but do you know if the triggers are bolted through the tang or held in by the guard? Just curious how late that feature was carried on in pieces like this...especially the commercial hardware variety. I'm assuming from your description of the wood screws in the comb that the triggers free float and are held by the guard.
tca

Title: Re: Walnut stocked percussion rifle --- regional attribution?
Post by: flintriflesmith on January 27, 2013, 11:55:12 PM

TC,
Mobility of gunsmiths always complicates attribution to a region or shop. I believe the movement of the very early Moravian gunsmiths between PA and NC is a classic example but at least those folks were compulsive about record keeping!

In the period after 1830-40 we have census records but they only help if you know a smith's name and more. After 1850 the occupation listings and place of birth info opens a new door but it is still often less than exact.

Gary