AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: George Sutton on May 10, 2021, 09:20:10 PM
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I recently purchased this rifle and don't know if the nameplate represents the maker or the original owner. The gun has a lot of Pittsburgh influence but was purchased in Maine. I don't believe it's a recent build. No marks on the barrel or elsewhere. Any help will be appreciated.
GS
(https://i.ibb.co/bHhyKSb/20210510-140059.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N1hky8T)
(https://i.ibb.co/khJT2fh/20210510-135941-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vJhW4GJ)
json val (https://geojsonlint.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/H2sR9zT/20210510-140010.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DbymjCf)
(https://i.ibb.co/NjYnnsm/20210510-140016.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HzgppVx)
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I’m not familiar with the maker but the style and engraving sure looks like a Johnson City Tennessee gun. It’s obviously contemporary. Maybe Randal Pierce will know.
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I’m not familiar with the maker but the style and engraving sure looks like a Johnson City Tennessee gun. It’s obviously contemporary. Maybe Randal Pierce will know.
Looks like a Johnson City gun for sure.
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I owned one of the Johnson City guns at one time and the recipient's name was engraved in the silver oval on the barrel. The makers name was engraved on one of the side flats. I discussed this with Stoner at the Knoxville Show. James Levy
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I’m no handwriting expert but I see some similarities to this Lester Smith signature. If Lester made your gun, that would impact its value in a good way. I would try to find his name on the barrel somewhere. Smith died in 1970 so your hunch about its not being recent is very likely.
(https://i.ibb.co/ctwr5QV/3-C3325-FD-7-DB7-49-A6-BFBB-2838-F5964556.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FJXDvzC)
(https://i.ibb.co/2P7qG3t/A56154-F3-3-BBD-41-A8-BF2-C-A4-DBEFD77-C98.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VDWVfYS)
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I don't know if relation or not but there was a ML Gunsmith Fred Flowers from Belpre, Ohio who made fine slim fullstock rifles for sure during the 70's. He displayed at shows in Washington County Ohio with the likes of Cecil Brooks, Warren Offenberger, Elmer Templeton, Forest Tilton and Bill Reynolds if any of those names also ring a bell in any ones memory. Silver furniture guns were popular then it seemed.
Ray
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Consulting my own feeble memory I remember Cecil Brooks and I think
he made presentation rifles for the NRA's presidents.
Bob Roller
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Bob,
Your memory is correct...Cecil Brooks did do that for many years.
Ray
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I believe Stoner could be correct. The capital S, t & e in Steve Flowers certainly look like those in Lester Smith.
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Thanks for your input Gentlemen.
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Some builders who have not yet mastered engraving will hire it out, including their signature. Potentially was built by Steve Flowers, and engraved, and name signed by another (Lester Smith perhaps). Especially if you see no other signatures on the underside of the barrel.
97% of builders who are signing a gun do so on the top flat, between the rear sight and tang, where this particular signature is. Once in a great while, the owners name is here (as in the case of a gift rifle), and the builder signs it on the bottom of the barrel, in the same area.