Author Topic: I could use some help identifying a contemporary southern mountain rifle's maker  (Read 5214 times)

Offline Jim Curlee

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I purchased a used southern mountain rifle.
I'd like to find out who made the rifle, and who made the components.
I'm having some lock issues with the rifle, see section under shooting.

The rifle I have is 56"s overall.
It has a 7/8ths by 39", straight 50 cal barrel, supposedly a Rayl barrel.
All iron parts.
It has a tall blade style front sight, and an adjustable rear buckhorn sight.
The plain ramrod thimbles are held in place by small screw blocks cut, then punched into place on the barrel. They are held on with an allen head screw.
The barrel has a recessed touch hole liner.
Somebody used what looks like an epoxy bedding compound to level out the area under the barrel.
It has a trigger guard with the number 34 inscribed on it.
It has a double set trigger no marks, other than the number 34.
It has a flintlock, on the inside of the lock plate is a capital D, the lock has the number 92 peened into it with a punch.
It also has a very thick butt plate.
That's about all I can tell on my end, hopefully someone can give me some info on my rifle?
Sorry, can't do pics. If someone can help me put them on the site, I can send them to an e-mail.
Thanks
Jim


Offline rich pierce

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When you reply to this post look below the text box. There’s a line that says Add image to post. Click that. Follow directions and poof, pictures in your post.

However it’s very unlikely we can identify an unsigned contemporary rifle.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Mike Brooks

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Could be one of several thousand people. No way to tell.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Jim Curlee

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Any ideas on the components, especially the lock?


Thanks for the pic assistance.




photo hosting sites

How about the trigger?



Thanks again
Jim

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Don't know about the lock.  The trigger set looks like R.E. Davis.

-Ron
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Offline rich pierce

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That’s not a lock from Chambers, Davis, or L&R.  I’d have to guess Dixie Gun Works.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Jim Curlee

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Never thought about Dixie.
I'll check them out.
Thanks Rich.
Jim

Offline Hungry Horse

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All I can say is if anybody did drilling, and tapping, or stakeing, on a 7/8” x.50 cal. barrel, I would do a serious inspection before I tried to shoot it. The features you describe lead me to believe this gun was “duffer built” more than a few years ago. Most of the procedures you describe aren’t standard practice with most builders.

  Hungry Horse

Offline Tim Crosby

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 Pix of the entire rifle may help. TC

Offline Roger B

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I'll bet the lock is a modified Davis assembled Siler.  There is a "D" stamped in the back of the lockplate.
Roger B
Never underestimate the sheer destructive power of a minimally skilled, but highly motivated man with tools.

Offline EC121

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If it was a Siler, wouldn't it have a separate pan assembly.  I don't see any  screw.  Also the frizzen screw head is on the outside.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2017, 09:15:38 PM by EC121 »
Brice Stultz

Offline Tim Crosby

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 Send me the Pix. TC

Offline Jim Curlee

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I contacted Dixie, the other day.
Sent them pics, haven't heard back yet.

The lock plate, the bolster, and the pan, are all cast as one unit.

I have the trigger ordered from Tim, at RE Davis.

Jim


Offline lowcsp

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It sure looks like it could be an older version of this Barker ~ Whatley lock that davis builds I just the take off the tail for a lock that resembles a jj henry