Iron Mounted Tennessee Rifle

[Fullstock longrifle]

I know a lot of you guys like this type of rifle that I just came across on Gunbroker, so I thought I would post it here.  I have no connection to this and don't plan on bidding on it.  I do think the patchbox is interesting, I haven't seen one like it before. I really don't know much about these, I'm curious what the rest of you think.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=214592828

[G-Man]

I have seen a very similar patchbox on an Elisha Bull rifle once.

Neat rifle - can't tell much from the photos. Probably had a nosecap at one time so the barrel has probably been cut a bit.  Definitely not Rev War - I would put it at 1830s-1840s give or take a few years.

Hard to say but the stock looks to have been refinished or maybe even a restock, or at least aggressively cleaned - too bad. 

Even so, if the bag and horn went with it, cool group.

Thanks for posting.

Guy

[Fullstock longrifle]

Yes, it looks like the stock has been skinned down pretty good, but it does appear to be the original stock.  I don't see anything Rev War about the gun either, but the price didn't seem that hateful, especially with them throwing in the bag and horn set.

FK

[WElliott]

I agree with Guy.  This is a late rifle. The guard is the best thing about it.  The stock appears to have had the finish removed and the box is ill-fitting. It is possible that it was disassembled, vigorously cleaned, and then poorly reassembled.  Not unlike some of the things I did to old guns when I was a teenager.  I don't see "Bean" in this.  However, the price (particularly with the bag and horn) is not crazy.  If the bag and horn have discended with the rifle, that alone makes it collectible.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I don't think the barrel has been cut.  I spoke to the owner who measured it- think he said it was 44 inches, but can't remember.  I think it has been restocked.  The lock is held on with a single bolt- older rifles seem to have had two lock bolts.  The decoration on the muzzle is great, as is the guard.  I tried to buy it a few weeks ago, but couldn't get him to budge on the price.  The bag and horn are average.  I think the fact that he photographed the rifle in the direct sunlight reveals a lot of the gun's flaws.

Bill

[Curt J]

I was on the phone with Jerry Noble as I was looking at the photos of this rifle. He asked about the trigger guard extensions and toe plate, but they are not shown in any of the photos.  He said he was inclined to think that it's not necessarily East Tennessee, could be further west or perhaps even Alabama.  He also said that single bolt flintlocks are not uncommon in these rifles, and that this rifle is probably later than you might think.

[JCKelly]

The cock, frizzen & frizzen spring look like new castings, maybe Siler, to me. I'd guess that it was an original percussion lock that someone "reconverted" to flint. That relieved area in the stock for the cock looks like a new cut. Great rifle to let Someone Else buy.

[BGC]

If the barrel was cut at all, it was cut at the breech. The muzzle is most probably original.

[G-Man]

Yes - the muzzle is probably original.  If it was cut it was cut at the breech and moved back (common on many old mountain rifles I have seen - even those with swamped barrels).  Very rare to find one that has not been cut a bit.  It is an interesting set.

Guy