AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: AZshot on June 27, 2021, 04:38:48 PM
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I did not buy either of the rifles I found earlier on my Appalachian trip, but I DID buy one, thanks to Cades Cove for his great tips. I picked one that the seller says is:
Isaac Sherrill - 5th gen blacksmiths on John's River, 5th gen Indian Traders. Sherrill famil prominent in TN & NC.
John Sevier was married to a Sherill.
I don't know where/who any of that was, I just copied it down to research when I get home.
Late 1700s, orig flint converted to percussion. It has a wood butt, no buttplate, but does have a metal piece on the top, no toeplate. Has a maple stock, cheekpiece, and was slightly cut down. I had 3-4 to choose from, and this one just spoke to me.
(https://i.ibb.co/ZzNjnW2/sher3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8gXCW6Y)
(https://i.ibb.co/GFWLKBb/sher4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JCv4f0M)
(https://i.ibb.co/wdD2cSZ/sher5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p1Ckhf6)
(https://i.ibb.co/xCmKpn8/sher1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cgbKGWX)
(https://i.ibb.co/kcVXk58/sher2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MNy7WZV)
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More pics. I'll be out of internet service for a day or so, but appreciate any comments.
(https://i.ibb.co/s91303N/sher6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/B26sXsQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/MNXcg2M/sher7.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4NQ8FmP)
(https://i.ibb.co/pw4PjGJ/sher8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zxP5VjG)
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:) :) :)... You got a good one,.... Michael Briggs and Gerald Neaves are the opinions I would respect,.... from my limited knowledge of the area,... I think features are upstate South Carolina mountain region,... what is barrel & overall length, and calibre,...? ... iron heel insert on the no buttplate is a great feature,... well done,... CCF
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Thanks, I unwrapped it to get the shots, but didn't really measure. I need to find a good box or plastic gun case, quick! It has to be shipped home, won't fit in the airplane's size limits! I've stopped in several places, no boxes long/sturdy enough.
The seller said the rifle has been cut down, probably because of the usual reasons, wear or just to make it handier. I did like the dots on the muzzle, and the sight and nose cap sure look original, but it's only about 55-60" overall. Didn't measure just the barrel. Eyeballing the bore, I'd guess about 38 caliber. Maybe .40. The stock is curly so I assumed maple, but after thinking about it while driving around with it in the back, I need to take a close look. May be walnut, just a highly figured piece. I like the scooped cheekpiece, and the "S" snake carvings under it. I just don't know enough to say what it is. Will talk to the experts more when I'm home.
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Some hard ski cases are long enough to work. Wrap the gun in layers of bubble pack and pad the ends well.
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Appreciate you sharing your rifle, its a dandy! Hope you can figure out a way to get it home, the ski case seems like a good idea. Rifle has some interesting details, I would love to see the rear entry pipe if it has one. The triggers have some interesting detail, as does the trigger guard. The iron heel or heel only and the elongated fluted cheek rest are definitely features seen on other Upstate SC rifles. Don't typically see maple in Upstate SC guns, mostly walnut and the occasional fruit woods, but can't rule out maple. The double incised lines have a NC feel. I would be interested in hearing what Michael and or Gerald have to say. You did well!!
Matt
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Thanks for the ID ideas and box ideas.
(https://i.ibb.co/wLfRJyB/12.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FWFKs6m)
upload picture search (https://imgbb.com/)
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I thought I posted this last night but must not have.
The UPS Stores can make you a 4x4 box at whatever length you need. I seriously doubt they will pack it for you.
Take some balled up newspaper and place in the bottom to insure ends of rifle are TIGHTLY held in the center of the box and so there will be NO back and forth motion. Shippers WILL drop it on the ends and if loose most likely will break the stock. I wrap the rifle in bubble wrap stand it in the center of the 4X4 box then use crumpled news paper all around it. Then use more balled up news paper on the top and tape the ends closed with fiberglass tape. Should weather the trip in good shape unless run over by forklift are not packed tight enough.
Dennis
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Dennis has provided very good advice. I would only add that I would run the bubble wrap about 2 inches past each end, then tape that extra length into a tight, bubble wrap ball or wad around the muzzle and butt, firm enough in place so it cannot move, so there is VERY GOOD padding for a couple inches on either end of the rifle. Without the extra padding at muzzle in particular, if dropped [which it will be], the muzzle can at times punch through the loose bubble wrap or newspaper between it and the end of the carton. The firm padding at end of barrel [and tip of butt plate] softens any hard jarring, and prevents popping a muzzle through the end of the carton. Shelby Gallien
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Nice. That's a beauty. Thanks for sharing.
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Great rifle and good for you on finding it! will be a great addition to your holdings. We appreciate the opportunity to see it and thank you for showing it.
There could be a moral to this story: if you are going into 'gun country,' drive, don't fly. More time taken, more hassles, but much easier to get things back home. And, maybe a lot more of them.
Dick
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Just some thoughts on shipping alternatives.:
1.) Have it brought to the CLA in Lexington and then transfered and relayed back to you within driving distance. Network through CLA members to see what is possible.
2.) Build a plywood box, wrapping extensively in bubble wrap as per recommendations here and ship via Greyhound Bus Lines. I've had upholstered furniture shipped coast to coast and was very happy with their services.
Good luck!
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OK, I'm going to build a box and use UPS. Have a few long cardboard ones from UPS that I picked up, will play with them in the hotel room.
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When using cardboard, another way to really protect the rifle inside is to purchase at Lowes, Minards, Home Depot, etc. the cheapest sheet of 1" foam insulation board. It's pretty cheap stuff and very easy to cut. Just cut about half way through with a pocket knife, then "pop" it apart along the cut line, breaks easily. It really absorbs hard jars during shipment.
I like to cut a square/rectangle the size of inside end of empty box, then push it down to the bottom for the pre-wrapped muzzle to rest against...and two stacked pieces is even better on the muzzle end. Also like to cut strips the length of the box and width of two longest walls, and insert inside, then measure gap that's left on two shorter walls and cut strips to slid in against those walls. You've built a very strong, safe, bump absorbing wall around the center cavity where the rifle rides. Then fill all the void around the wrapped rifle with chopped up foam board pieces, balled up old paper, foam peanuts, or any other light filler, to lock the gun tightly into the center of the cavity. Good to fill top of box above wrapped butt of gun with another piece of the foam, then shut and tape end of box. The inside foam walls really protect the rifle from a lot of jarring, jolts, and drops. This may sound difficult, but the foam is very easy to slice, pop pieces off, and insert. If too big for your car, simply cut sheet to smaller size, and insert the inside strips in shorter pieces... they will stay in place as you fill the carton and still do the same job. Left over foam board can be cut/chopped up for use as small filler pieces - or just hide it under the bed in the hotel room since they never look there when cleaning rooms! Shelby Gallien
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Thanks for all the packing advice. It's on the way, I used UPS, double boxed. Was quite expensive, but hope to get it a few days after I get home.
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I've asked Mr. Briggs, he said he's not sure about it's origin (only collects NC rifles). I'd be pleased if it's from upstate SC, or eastern TN like the seller thought. Anyone heard of Isaac Sherril? I'll post more pics when I get it home.
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There is a town in SW NC called Sherrills Ford. I think your gun is from that area or nearby in NW SC.
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Hi, can you tell me why you think that? My wife is the genealogist, and says you should always ask for the documentation or evidence, because so many names in America were in many states. the seller had all that I wrote above on a tag on the rifle, but again, no reason why he thought it was Isaac Sherrill.
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You have been calling it an Isaac Sherrill so I assumed the gun was signed. If it is not signed, forget trying to pin it down and call it a southern gun.
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No, it's not signed. That's the thing I'm trying to figure out why the seller thinks that. Provenance maybe. But I agree, it's going to be less certain without initials engraved in it.
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The obvious suggestion here, which everyone is probably thinking, is why not contact the seller again and ask him how he arrived at the Isaac Sherill attribution, since he is the one with that knowledge, rather than anyone on this board.
Jerry Noble & Tom Moore, in their "Gun Trade In America" compendium on American gunmakers, gathered all known names from all significant sources to assemble their book. They have the following two entries:
1) "Sherill, Isaac - Burke Co., NC, fullstock percussion rifle. Source: Ed Dorr." [no info provided on who Ed Dorr was/is]
2) "Sheril, Franklin, Jackson, Jacob, Iredell Co., NC, all possible gunsmiths around 1850" Source: Bivens; Whisker et al
"Gunsmiths of the Carolinas." [note - I did not find this reference in Bivins]
The Whisker source above has two conflicting entries, i.e. same man with different first name/initial:
1) "Sherril, A. (1800- ) 1850 Iredell Co., NC. In his shop were his sons Franklin, Jackson and Jacob, listed as 'laborers.' " US Census
2) "Sherril, Hiram (1811- ) 1850 Iredell Co., NC. In his shop were his sons Franklin, Jackson and Jacob, listed as 'laborers.' " US Census
Whisker illustrated an A. Sherrell full-stocked flintlock rifle, p.156, very different from the "attributed" rifle we are discussing. Unfortunately Whisker did not state if the rifle was signed or attributed by its owner. Whisker often accepted the owner's statement on who made a rifle at face value without more details. In this case, since it has an initial with last name, I would suspect the barrel was signed that way, since attributions usually have the full name... to make them look more official.
IF, IF, IF ... this rifle is made by Isaac Sherrill of Sherrill's Ford, then the man would most likely be Isaac Sherrill, b. Aug.1781 at Sherrills Ford, NC, and died Sept 1856 at Sherrills Ford, Catawba Co., NC. Sherrills Ford started out in Rowan Co., became part of a couple other counties as new ones were formed, and ended up in today's Catawba Co. The only reference to this man's occupation is in the 1850 census. That year he was living in Iredell Co., NC [ note it is the same county as the above reference to Hiram/A. Sherrill above], was 69 years old and listed as a "farmer." I could find no reference to his being a gunsmith, although at times other gunsmiths were listed as farmers when they owned a farm of significant value. This Isaac Sherrill had parents Moses and Martha Osborn Sherrill, and married Mary "Polly" Hibbits on July 22, 1835, in Catawba Co. Isaac died at Sherrills Ford, Catawba Co., NC in Sept. of 1856 and is buried in the Sherrill Family Cemetery at Sherrills Ford.
I would lean toward a NC origin for this interesting rifle, whether made by a Sherrill or another gunsmith, based on its stock architecture, and one small detail. The lower butt molding is a double line terminated under the guard with a small "S" figure. That double line with a small, "wavy" S figure is very similar to how the Bryan gunsmiths of Rowan Co., NC, did their lower butt moldings, which were carried into central Kentucky and seen in the Lexington School rifles by the Bryans and related gunmakers. While the S is standing in this case, rather than horizonal as on Bryan rifles, it remains very similar in overall design, and I have never seen that detail on a TN rifle.
Shelby Gallien
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Thanks for posting all that history and the thoughts on the "S", which the seller did mention as a NC feature. I did contact the seller again a day or two after I bought it. But I was on the trip, driving through remote parts of the Appalachians with not very good phone/internet, and he hasn't answered yet. So I thought maybe he's someone who doesn't do much on email or the internet, and thought I'd try to corroborate some info here. I'll report what he says if/when I get a reply from him. I believe he said he bought it from a well known mountain rifle collector, but don't want to write that down until I am sure that's what I heard. If so, then I can call that guy too.
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I can't wait to get the rifle back here at my home. Shipped it UPS as you know, it took the packer 3 days because she said "she wanted to pack it right." We shall see...
I really like the "S" features, thanks again for that info. Below are a couple of them, lightened up the photos. Check out those triggers! Some of the screws have decorative filing too, if I recall. I think you can see on it the trigger shot. Will do more when it arrives.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51290996217_f99be8c8d7_h.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51291920433_87e068d336_h.jpg)
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Still waiting for it's arrival via UPS, studying the pictures I took before packing it to learn more. Moving from the wood to the lockplate area and metal. Can I get some help with the below?
I assume this was flint, converted to percussion. I see wood missing in front of the drum, and an old brass pin repair. The wood behind the rear of the lock looks replaced too, and may be walnut whereas the rest of the stock looks to be maple or cherry.
The trigger tip is curved back. I read that can be a NC rifle feature somewhere. IF the gun came from a smith schooled in Rowan Co., is this a clue? Does the tang screw coming through the trigger plate help ID? Would you date this from the late 1700s, perhaps 1790 or so?
I did talk to the seller again. I can reveal that this gun was owned by David Byrd. He and the next owner (who I bought it from) think it's a Sherrill rifle, but from Green Co., TN, not Catawba area NC. But the Sherrills seem to have moved West, as many did...so maybe that's right.
Was this lockplate originally flint? Or was the entire lock replaced after flint? The long curved hammer appears unusual, I'm assuming it was made during conversion to meet the location of the nipple, using the original lockplate. But I don't know what I'm looking at. The initials seem to be "L. M." on it. Is this a known lock? Was it flint?
(click image for larger or https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51297393394_5a94159b39_h.jpg (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51297393394_5a94159b39_h.jpg) for even larger)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51297393394_21c9719a81_b.jpg)
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From my experience, I'd doubt that rifle was ever a flintlock.
First off, it's a single bolt lock plate. Now, single bolt flint locks were made, however I don't think this is one of them.
However, the lock fits the mortice well, and I believe it is original to the gun.
Features pointing to an original percussion lock are the engraved line around the entire perimeter of the plate. Add to that the area of the plate right in front of the drum, there is no room on the lock plate for a flint pan and frizzen to be mounted originally.. Also, no plugged holes for a frizzen spring that I can see. Also the missing wood ahead of the lock is generally burned away by the chemicals in the percussion cap, and not from a flintlock. Throw in the single bolt lock plate, and I believe this to be an original percussion rifle. As for year made, I'd add about 50 years to your 1790 time frame.
This is just my opinion, and others may vary.
In the end, it's still a nice rifle, no doubt about it.
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At least 50 years, mayben60.
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The obvious suggestion here, which everyone is probably thinking, is why not contact the seller again and ask him how he arrived at the Isaac Sherill attribution, since he is the one with that knowledge, rather than anyone on this board.
Jerry Noble & Tom Moore, in their "Gun Trade In America" compendium on American gunmakers, gathered all known names from all significant sources to assemble their book. They have the following two entries:
1) "Sherill, Isaac - Burke Co., NC, fullstock percussion rifle. Source: Ed Dorr." [no info provided on who Ed Dorr was/is]
2) "Sheril, Franklin, Jackson, Jacob, Iredell Co., NC, all possible gunsmiths around 1850" Source: Bivens; Whisker et al
"Gunsmiths of the Carolinas." [note - I did not find this reference in Bivins]
The Whisker source above has two conflicting entries, i.e. same man with different first name/initial:
1) "Sherril, A. (1800- ) 1850 Iredell Co., NC. In his shop were his sons Franklin, Jackson and Jacob, listed as 'laborers.' " US Census
2) "Sherril, Hiram (1811- ) 1850 Iredell Co., NC. In his shop were his sons Franklin, Jackson and Jacob, listed as 'laborers.' " US Census
Whisker illustrated an A. Sherrell full-stocked flintlock rifle, p.156, very different from the "attributed" rifle we are discussing. Unfortunately Whisker did not state if the rifle was signed or attributed by its owner. Whisker often accepted the owner's statement on who made a rifle at face value without more details. In this case, since it has an initial with last name, I would suspect the barrel was signed that way, since attributions usually have the full name... to make them look more official.
IF, IF, IF ... this rifle is made by Isaac Sherrill of Sherrill's Ford, then the man would most likely be Isaac Sherrill, b. Aug.1781 at Sherrills Ford, NC, and died Sept 1856 at Sherrills Ford, Catawba Co., NC. Sherrills Ford started out in Rowan Co., became part of a couple other counties as new ones were formed, and ended up in today's Catawba Co. The only reference to this man's occupation is in the 1850 census. That year he was living in Iredell Co., NC [ note it is the same county as the above reference to Hiram/A. Sherrill above], was 69 years old and listed as a "farmer." I could find no reference to his being a gunsmith, although at times other gunsmiths were listed as farmers when they owned a farm of significant value. This Isaac Sherrill had parents Moses and Martha Osborn Sherrill, and married Mary "Polly" Hibbits on July 22, 1835, in Catawba Co. Isaac died at Sherrills Ford, Catawba Co., NC in Sept. of 1856 and is buried in the Sherrill Family Cemetery at Sherrills Ford.
I would lean toward a NC origin for this interesting rifle, whether made by a Sherrill or another gunsmith, based on its stock architecture, and one small detail. The lower butt molding is a double line terminated under the guard with a small "S" figure. That double line with a small, "wavy" S figure is very similar to how the Bryan gunsmiths of Rowan Co., NC, did their lower butt moldings, which were carried into central Kentucky and seen in the Lexington School rifles by the Bryans and related gunmakers. While the S is standing in this case, rather than horizonal as on Bryan rifles, it remains very similar in overall design, and I have never seen that detail on a TN rifle.
Shelby Gallien
Thanks again for the above. Now that I talked to the seller after my trip home, I wanted to answer some of the above. The source mentioned in the "Gun Trade In America" compendium about a Burke Co. NC rifle by Isaac Sherrill is who I bought it from. He is best friends with David Byrd (long rifle author and decades long researcher of mountain rifles), and bought this rifle from him. Both of these men are valuable research assets, but old enough not to use the internet much. My phonecall was cut short by a family visitor, but I'll call back. I mentioned the Whisker book "Gunsmiths of America", and he told me they quoted a lot of what David Byrd has said. He talked to Whisker on the phone in the past few weeks. So there is some circular referencing here.
But I found the photo I took of the tag that the seller had on the rifle, it says "Late 1700s era original flint converted to percussion. From my personal collection." among some other data I've already written in my original post. I forgot the actual hang tag said that. So at least to sell the rifle he put that as an age, and type, and he seems very honest and knowledgeable. Very. I've talked to David several times recently but don't want to bother him to much, his health is poor and he's in his 80s. Would an 1840s rifle still have the features like the double incised line on the butt, and the "S"? Or a wooden butt with that single heel plate? I don't know, but I'm just reporting what they are telling me about it.
Thanks John and Hlbly too. Your notes about the lockplate not looking like it was ever flint seems logical. I'll look at it closely when it get's here.
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The key question remains unanswered: How was the Isaac Sherrill attribution arrived at for this rifle? Has someone seen a signed rifle with strong similarities to this one in order to make a good attribution, or is it an "educated" guess without seeing a signed rifle? Shelby Gallien
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The long curved hammer seems for me to be similar to the hammer of a Maynard system.
Maybe the hammer was replaced some time, or the gun was made later in the 2nd part of the 19th century????
I have seen some converted european pistols with a hammer like this. Might it be, that this form of a hammer was used in the late percussion time?
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The key question remains unanswered: How was the Isaac Sherrill attribution arrived at for this rifle? Has someone seen a signed rifle with strong similarities to this one in order to make a good attribution, or is it an "educated" guess without seeing a signed rifle? Shelby Gallien
I concur. My wife was doing some genealogy research on the name last night, and I said "of course, we're basing all this on something unsubstantiated. If he had said it was a "Fred Gump" rifle, we'd be searching him..." We decided to talk to the previous owners some more before doing anything else. Thanks for all the conjectures and educated analysis, it's seeming to narrow down to either upstate SC or the Rowan/Burke co. area of NC. Dating will come later.
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I was going to post this picture last night, because it sounds like you might not have seen an actual Flint to Percussion conversion, but couldn't get to it.
So, this is a very typical conversion, on one of the guns I have.
On the front end of the lock, the two red arrows are where the Frizzen spring was mounted, and the mounting holes are now plugged.
Above that, the small black arrow is the threaded hole were the frizzen was mounted, now plugged also. The Pan would have been where the percussion drum is now.
The bolt end at the far right hand side is the end of the forward lock plate mounting bolt.
The dark circle between the two red arrows is the end of the Main Spring mounting pin.
And just as a point of history, the practical use of percussion locks in the US didn't come about until late 1820's / 1830 in rural areas, and even later in the back woods.
Good luck with your search!
John
(https://i.ibb.co/zNGLjmD/Flint-conversion.png) (https://ibb.co/rv4LTQN)
computer screen dimensions (https://whatsmyscreenresolution.com/)
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Thanks a lot. You are right, I was spending a lot of time googling images and trying to figure out the "tells". Your guide makes it easy!
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It arrived from UPS, safe! Talk about bubble wrapping, there were like 5 layers, sandwiched between sheets of cardboard for stiffening, in a large outside box. Costly to have UPS pack, but at least this store knew what they were doing.
Putting it on the rack beside my others, it seems to be just as long. Will need to reassess if it was cut down.
(https://i.ibb.co/qJNn6X3/51299399536-43ff3e5238-b.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8YrBkTL)
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Long rifles are so hard to photograph in their entirety.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51300111104_4c6b90c687_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51300413860_3719d742fe_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51300299402_86c851a81e_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51301231823_e2b339f2e5_b.jpg)
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Details. The barrel is swamped.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51300110854_813115a2c4_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51298658422_647f349008_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51299399596_1fc1005f0d_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51300413755_f2bf6995a0_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51298658477_6e4b005983_b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51298658492_daf037d182_b.jpg)
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Appreciate the extra pictures, and the picture of where the ramrod enters the stock, no pipe which isn't uncommon. I am really perplexed as to the circle with holes closest to the wrist in the heel plate. Does that piece turn? Is it a compartment of some sort? Or does that help mount the heel to comb? Haven't seen that before. Still think it has a NC feel to it.
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I also saw that disk with the dots on it, at the heelplate, and wondered. I assume it's a crew with a special tool needed. I have a spanner for Circlips, I may try to gently turn it. But don't want to break anything.
Oh yeah, I also found a dimple or hole in the toe, about 3" from the triggerguard. I assume this is a feather hole, but it seems shallow, or perhaps plugged with something. Again...hate to mess it up exploring too much.
One of the triggerguard screws has decorative filing. The other is probably a replacement, as is the rear tang screw.
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Mighty fine 'iron gun' with loads of condition suggesting that someone really took good care of it and appreciated it. About as fine as it can get. Thank you for the great photos which really show the attributes of this beauty.
Dick
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Very happy your gun got home safe. Good move getting it professionally packed.
I don't know much about SC guns, but nothing makes me think it was made in TN.
AND I cannot get over how much I like that heel-guard only treatment of the butt. I'm a devoted fan of the deep crescent in iron, but that's one gorgeous buttstock.
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Wade brought up an interesting point that may be part of the reason why this rifle [and others] is hard to locate. We know very little about South Carolina rifles, other than they probably have some characteristics of North Carolina rifles, and probably other "southern" details, and at times appear to be a "mixed bag" of details that throws a monkey wrench into efforts to identify them. We have no truly useful publication on South Carolina guns, other than Whisker's "Arms Makers of South Carolina," and that publication illustrates several military contract rifles, but no identified civilian rifles. The single civilian rifle, used as cover art and presumed to be a SC rifle, is not signed but rather attributed, undoubtedly based on the captured lid patchbox not seen elsewhere, and a general "southern" feel. Perhaps we need to start a thread on what collectors of southern rifles think are defining details on South Carolina rifles, and try to build a better understanding of what SC rifles probably look like. Then perhaps a few of these "kind of like a NC rifle" pieces of interesting design might fall into place better. Shelby Gallien
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Great suggestion, Shelby! So many fine southern guns are now coming in, it's a shame that there is a paucity of information about them. Quite possibly we may come to learn that all of the Southern states had their own schools in rifle making. Seems to be that whatever is learned would be a great contribution to the body of knowledge on these pieces. Should be relatively simple to create a research design to set up criteria by which to make some informed guesses.
Dick
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Shelby,
I think that's a great idea. As one who only collects SC stuff, I would be willing to throw in what I have researched and written down. Supply pictures of guns signed and attributed and see what sticks. All my notes are at home and I'm currently up at our place in Rhode Island, but I could go from memory on a few details and I may have a few photos I could post, I think.
Matt
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Great suggestion, Shelby! So many fine southern guns are now coming in, it's a shame that there is a paucity of information about them.
Dick
I'm going to to state some obvious points, so bear with me. :)
As someone who is very new to longrifle collecting, there has been far too much, by lightyears, concentration on Pennsylvania rifles. That has become very evident to me as I attempt to build a small library on longrifles. I've stated this before on this forum, the books available heretofore, have pretty much featured the same rifles over and over again.
Other than Mike Briggs great books, Southern Rifles are a mystery to me. if it were not for this forum, I would have never heard of them.
So to you guys who have been collecting them, go for it and get something published! It will be well received.
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There are a few books and experts, but they are few and far between. I started with Longrifles of North Carolina (Bivens), but it's a couple decades old. I also like the Briggs series, much better photos, in color.
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The Bivins book is from the 1960’s. Darned good book for it’s time.
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I am a little late to this party but here goes....
I am Brian Sherrill. Adam Sherrill (The Pioneer) is my ancestor thru his son Aquilla, thru his son ISAAC, thru his son John, thru his son John, thru his son Benjamin, thru my Grandad Harry and Dad Gordon.
I am doing research on my line. There are several Isaacs in our lineage so which Isaac is this? Not much information on my line. I would be interested to know if we had actual gun makers back in the day. If you have info please share with me
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Hi, nice to meet you. I still don't have any proof that this is who made the rifle, just attribution from the seller. I had to write him a letter to ask where he came up with that. Have not heard back, he's elderly and in poor health.
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The spurs on the triggers are suggested by Jerry Nobel to be a South Carolina characteristic. The Beardens, who spent some time in SC also took that style across the Blue Ridge into Tennessee. The swooping curves on the trigger guard also are consistent with other guns "attributed" to SC.
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Hi, nice to meet you. I still don't have any proof that this is who made the rifle, just attribution from the seller. I had to write him a letter to ask where he came up with that. Have not heard ba
ck, he's elderly and in poor health.
Please let me know when you hear back. I am truly interested by
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Almost a year later and I wanted to bump this post with what I've found since. Wayne Bryson wanted to get pictures of this rifle for his recent Long Rifles of the Blue Ridge book, but because of an electronic communication problem, he wasn't able to get the pictures in time for printing. Before printing he told me he will include another Isaac Sherrill in his book, and that he thinks mine is also Issac Sherrill. I just got one.
So if Wayne says he thinks my rifle is an Isaac Sherrill, and the person I bought the rifle from said Dave Byrd told him it was an Isaac Sherrill, that's a lot of expertise.