AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: mountainad82 on March 06, 2021, 01:53:13 AM

Title: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: mountainad82 on March 06, 2021, 01:53:13 AM: Dennis had a great idea to post photos of our original long rifles. Here goes...

Presented is an iron mounted muzzleloading rifle made by the Blount County, TN gunsmith Samuel Keller (1817-1883). This percussion rifle was probably built in the 1850-1860 timeframe. The top flat of the barrel is signed with his initials “S.K.”. Samuel was born in Virginia but lived and worked most of his life in the Six Mile community of Blount County, TN. The overall length is 61”, barrel length is 44.5”, caliber is .35, stock is walnut. All furniture is hand forged iron.

(https://i.ibb.co/RT6msLN/D9-E6-C065-91-B2-4270-92-B6-587-D7-EC79288.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Jjp4GXq)

(https://i.ibb.co/qYHWtpQ/0-AA53-D0-E-F903-4424-96-ED-2274-FCA35-C9-C.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yFzYwqj)

(https://i.ibb.co/JtyfMbk/BA2-DCA50-F942-4-B76-855-E-29-C267987-FE1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YQyzqKj)

(https://i.ibb.co/4N3GnDH/3-E6-ADF90-4-AB4-42-EF-BF00-4477-A0-B68137.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tCFtTN9)

(https://i.ibb.co/Z8RTnzb/4-DC9-FCCC-E99-C-4-FAC-9933-14-C5848472-C2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k8VcR2P)

(https://i.ibb.co/ryhkFKy/26-CBD122-732-B-4-C3-A-8995-06-E23-B626-D82.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XJPXjfJ)

(https://i.ibb.co/KFgKxKv/F09-D0542-6328-4259-AD3-B-570-B5-EE6-E375.jpg) (https://ibb.co/r4hd2dr)

(https://i.ibb.co/6J76CZv/680-B1-BC1-7420-4233-9-ED0-2-C70140-C90-A2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wrFDmLJ)

(https://i.ibb.co/8KSTttJ/31-B4-C4-C2-3-F05-4255-A98-B-332-B8-FEAE674.jpg) (https://ibb.co/smMkzzh)

(https://i.ibb.co/c26Fkyd/6-DB9-ED13-72-BE-4258-B536-59-C5-DA7-D0-CD8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8Pr5NmV)

(https://i.ibb.co/wLzxhcD/CF8-F1007-1-F31-4-B8-A-830-A-267-FE91-E6-EE4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6ZWf0X6)

(https://i.ibb.co/StsQrqP/2-C0-CE5-D5-C6-FD-4657-87-B6-2-A5688670-C92.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3prfzt7)

(https://i.ibb.co/PN52ngr/C1-F7-EB40-CCFB-410-A-8877-6552-FBFEA08-C.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bPr4ZX6)

(https://i.ibb.co/wKKt016/0-D29-A679-D4-F3-4-F42-9867-1465-EA617-DFE.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p33q0pX)

(https://i.ibb.co/G7ZtR6B/F2400207-3-F28-4-E8-F-BE55-A38-F59029-F6-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5TQnL0t)
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Notchy Bob on March 06, 2021, 02:16:10 AM: Beautiful! Thanks for showing it!

I don't think I've ever seen a rifle of that type with a cap box before.

The decorative "rays" on the lock bolt head are also a very nice touch. The original Mont Plott bear pistol has similar engraving on the exposed end of the drum. John Bergmann built a replica of this pistol for me and included that simple but attractive feature.

Notchy Bob
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: mountainad82 on March 06, 2021, 02:24:40 AM: Quote from: Notchy Bob on March 06, 2021, 02:16:10 AM
Beautiful! Thanks for showing it!

I don't think I've ever seen a rifle of that type with a cap box before.

The decorative "rays" on the lock bolt head are also a very nice touch. The original Mont Plott bear pistol has similar engraving on the exposed end of the drum. John Bergmann built a replica of this pistol for me and included that simple but attractive feature.

Notchy Bob

Bob,
Thanks for your kind remarks. This distinctive cap box style is found on rifles made by the Keller and Duncan gunsmiths of Blount County, TN.

Adam
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Daryl on March 06, 2021, 02:45:03 AM: Now THAT is a special rifle - especially the rear sight. ;D
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Ken G on March 06, 2021, 03:26:37 AM: Beautiful rifle with nice clean lines. I love the architecture. The poured nose cap is pretty cool. I've seen it before and always wondered if they left the steel bright to match fresh poured lead or did they brown the steel and then blacken the lead?

Thanks for sharing the pictures for us all to enjoy and learn from. Nice triggers.

Ken
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Cades Cove Fiddler on March 06, 2021, 03:49:41 AM: ;D ;D ;D.... Great rifle, Adam,.... was wondering when you would post here ,... we can click and enlarge on this site,...... a question,.... is the capbox on yours brass or iron,....?.... I believe the Kellars used both... how many rammer pipes, including the entry,...? ... thanx,... CCF
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: mountainad82 on March 06, 2021, 04:42:26 AM: Thanks Dana! The box on this rifle is iron. There are three rammer pipes including the entry pipe. They are also iron.

Adam
(https://i.ibb.co/QFfB4Cz/7-B049-E70-929-C-4-C4-E-9-DCB-09-B14-C104812.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BVtD9rd)
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Rajin cajun on March 06, 2021, 06:16:24 AM: That’s one fine rifle ADAM...!

Bob
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: mountainad82 on March 06, 2021, 06:56:48 AM: Thanks Bob! Come by and see me in Knoxville!

Adam
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Rajin cajun on March 06, 2021, 05:50:36 PM: Quote from: mountainad82 on March 06, 2021, 06:56:48 AM
Thanks Bob! Come by and see me in Knoxville!

Adam

Will do Adam, “Good Lord willing, and the Creeks don’t rise”. Stay well Brother....!
Bob
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Mule Brain on March 06, 2021, 06:09:41 PM: Like the rifle, and even like the old repairs on it. Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Dennis Glazener on March 06, 2021, 06:22:53 PM: Nice looking rifle, thanks for posting it.
Dennis
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Algae on March 07, 2021, 01:10:31 AM: Appears to be in great condition! Thanks for the pictures! :)

Al Jenkins
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Bob Roller on March 07, 2021, 01:49:13 AM: Quote from: Algae on March 07, 2021, 01:10:31 AM
Appears to be in great condition! Thanks for the pictures! :)

Al Jenkins
[/quote

No doubt about this one as being a fine specimen of the SMR and all intact.
Thanks for showing it to us.
Bob Roller
Title: Re: Iron Mounted Mountain Rifle by Samuel Keller
Post by: Gaeckle on March 08, 2021, 01:06:28 AM: Yeah, that is really a neat piece, there is a lot going on, some obvious and some not so: get a load of the toe plate treatment as it mounts into the butplate. Very clever.