Author Topic: SMR sideplate (Read 3578 times)

GANGGREEN · « **on:** November 09, 2018, 08:03:43 PM »

OK, starting a southern mountain rifle. The stock's going to be really pretty and I'm excited about the built. I've got the barrel and tang in, the barrel pinned, the lockplate inlet and the lock bolts in. I'm using two 8-32 lock bolts and I'm curious what to do with the sideplate. Most of the catalogs seem to treat the SMR as interchangeable with the Tennessee rifles and offer the short TN sideplate that's made for one lock bolt. If you have two lock bolts, do you just use the TN sideplate and ignore any treatment to the front bolt? Could you use the TN sideplate for the rear bolt and a Hawken style escutcheon for the front (I happen to have one or two of them lying around)? If you did that, in which direction is the little pointy thing on the escutcheon pointed? I thought straight down, but I'm not sure it really matters.

I'm using the round bolt heads that are thick and stand fairly proud of the stock and I suppose I could just use them with no sideplate or escutcheon, correct?

Marcruger · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2018, 09:55:55 PM »

I recall seeing one SMR with a comet and tail for the sideplate. I think it was 1835 that Halley's Comet went by, and I am guessing that is what that rifle carried the cool sideplate. I always figured if I had a SMR built it would carry that sideplate.

God Bless, Marc

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2018, 10:21:35 PM »

I agree about the little TN side plates. How about one of the cresent moons, half moon etc. One that I have used on my Gillespiebis a small "tombstone" shapped side plate. Or design your own.

If my side plate is not long enough for the front lock bolt I usually use a brass or steel washer.
Dennis

sqrldog · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2018, 10:38:14 PM »

Not sure how authentic it is but the late Jack Rouse often used this sideplate on his southern rifles. It's probably copied after one Jack saw on an original but I'm not sure. I like it well enough that I have used it.

Greg Pennell · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2018, 10:39:28 PM »

There are so many options for sideplates/ lock bolt washers that I don’t think you could go wrong. Just look at some rifles from the general area you want to represent.

Here’s one I did recently (only one lock bolt though).

Greg

GANGGREEN · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2018, 11:12:34 PM »

Thanks for all of the replies. I'd love to see more photos. The fact that I used 2 lock bolts is really the issue here, in hindsight, maybe I should have just used one and stuck with the TN sideplate.

bgf · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2018, 11:28:21 PM »

SMR gives you lots of options, from none to full 2-screw design, even an occasional full panel. Depends on what you're copying. What do the rest of the mounts look like?

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2018, 11:41:43 PM »

SMR is a very generic term, covers KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, VA, WV, AL. You need to zero in on a specific area as the sideplates can be very specific to "schools" and individual makers. You need to buy some books, there are easily a dozen or more available on the subject. If you're just going to stay generic it doesn't make any difference what you put on it.

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #8 on:** November 09, 2018, 11:46:06 PM »

What Mike said. You need books.

Hungry Horse

GANGGREEN · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2018, 12:39:48 AM »

OK, fair enough then. To be honest, I'm relatively inexperienced in all of this and I sheepishly admit that I tend to loosely follow schools of gunbuilding, but I've yet to really try to duplicate one rifle or even a tight school of guns. For what it's worth, I'm using iron furniture, a Chamber's Late Ketland lock, a steel southern mountain rifle buttplate (not sure which one it is) and a single trigger with a SMR triggerguard (again not sure which specific guard, I ordered this stuff from TOTW). I'm not completely sure yet, but I think I'll pass on an entry thimble and I'm not sure about a muzzle cap. I had actually considered a black horn muzzle cap or a poured pewter cap, but I don't know if that would be historically accurate either.

Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2018, 12:43:12 AM »

... books are great, and I buy every one relating to my interest,... however this old hillbilly finds a lot of reference on the interweb, which I save to my computer, then can enlarge and print for future reference,.... here are a couple pix of what is considered "classic" Tennessee style side-plates,........ regards,... CCF

GANGGREEN · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2018, 12:57:24 AM »

Thanks Fiddler, I'm glad you responded and you certainly ought to know something about that style of rifle, living where you do. So it is apparently OK to use the TN style AND a washer or Hawken style escutcheon for the forward lock bolt. I'll have to consider half moons and the like, but I'll definitely look at some more photos of originals and keep my mind open, I don't have to inlet that stuff yet.

little joe · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2018, 01:27:47 AM »

Google Robin Hale Tennessee Rifles and you will see several rifles with a full side plate and 2 screws

GANGGREEN · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2018, 02:17:07 AM »

Interesting, thanks Little Joe.

galudwig · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2018, 04:46:52 AM »

Some Bull rifles. These were attributed to John Bull (the son of Elisha Bull). The pictures were taken at the 2016 CLA Show.

GANGGREEN · « **Reply #15 on:** November 10, 2018, 04:51:54 AM »

Nice, I greatly appreciate the photos. Now I feel less crazy about what I had in mind.

mountainman70 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 10, 2018, 05:00:23 AM »

Hi friend,welcome aboard. Here are a couple of my builds,might give you an idea. Have a goodun, Dave f
Cherry 40cal

Walnut 50 cal

galudwig · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2018, 05:20:32 AM »

Here's an option you might consider for those extra Hawken side plate escutheons. Not specifically TN, but "southern" and inspired by Joseph Whitson from NC. In Jerry Noble's book, there is a Whitson rifle with a teardrop shaped washer for a single lock bolt. On my own "Whitson-ish" build, I used a couple of steel Hawken side plate escutcheons for the lock bolts. I modified them by filing the "bumps" off the sides of the escutcheons to make them straight and to look less "Hawken-ish."

Huntschool · « **Reply #18 on:** November 10, 2018, 07:54:40 AM »

Correct me if my assumption is incorrect but it would seem liberties with things like side plates on SMR's may not be liberties but rather as yet unfound, HC, interpretations..... Given the seemingly huge variation in the genera of the gun in and of itself as Mr. Brooks mentioned.

Ones story could easily be its a "one off" of "Sazrack Heathcliff".... Although we may not have seen a rifle by him..... but have found notes that he did build some rifles.......

Just some questions and thoughts.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #19 on:** November 10, 2018, 05:07:38 PM »

SMR is a really bad term, I hate it. (yes, I'm a hater

) It groups all kinds of guns together that are so tremendously different you could be talking about anything. Your question is sort of like asking "what kind of sideplate for a Pennsylvania rifle?" You have to narrow it down some. BTW, you'll notice all of the guns pictured have set triggers.....

But, there has probably been thousands generic "SMR's" built , far more than "correct" guns from a specific area or maker, and that's fine....I've made a few myself.

In the end, it really doesn't matter what sideplate or mounts or architecture you use if you're going generic, as long as you're satisfied with the results. "Lately", I find building a gun that represents a more specific school, shop or maker to be far more satisfying.
Get a copy of Bill Ivey's book on NC guns. You'll wear yourself out building all the mountain guns from that area.

alyce-james · « **Reply #20 on:** November 10, 2018, 10:03:05 PM »

GANGGREEN: Sir, Listed below are three books I have used to referenced builds, SMR's. A) "GUNMAKERS of BUFFALO VALLEY & GREASY COVE". Unicoi country, Tennessee. by David Byrd. Copyright 2012. B) "Guns And Gunmaking Tools Of Southern Appalachia"". by John Rice Irwin. Copyright 1980 & 1983. C) "The Gillespie Gun Makers of East Fork NC". by T. Dennis Glazener. Copyright 2004. Good reading. Have a great week end. AJ.

alyce-james · « **Reply #21 on:** November 11, 2018, 12:10:14 AM »

GANGGREEN; Sir; I found one more book I'm sire you will find of great interest and very informative. From the journal of Mr. Jim Webb. The journal was started around 1997 and became a book in 2009. " DRAWINGS of - Rifle Gun - Triggers, Locks, Fittings & Etc. Observations & Notes". by Jim Webb copyright 2009. Note limited copies of 500, numbered. This book is packed full of detailed information. Good luck with your build. AJ.

GANGGREEN · « **Reply #22 on:** November 11, 2018, 11:49:36 PM »

Thanks for all the continued input folks, it's greatly appreciated. My build is moving along and so far I'm reasonably happy with it (and typically I'm ready to throw them away by this point in the build).

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Author Topic: SMR sideplate (Read 3578 times)

galudwig

galudwig